LETTERS TO THE EDITOR – 11-3-11

Palm Drive concerns
Editor: Is Palm Drive crashing again? Sadly, the answer is yes. In
September, Palm Drive lost $570,000 from operations. To put this
number into perspective, the hospital was, on average, losing
$500,000 a month from operations when it went into bankruptcy in
2007 and it had a good deal more parcel tax to work with. Early
reports indicate that October will most likely be even worse than
September. At this rate, it will not be long until Palm Drive is
once again out of cash only this time there will be no bailout, no
bonds to be sold and the hospital will close.
There is a ray of hope in this gloom and that is an alliance with
another hospital system. But to be successful, this will have to
provide an immediate cash infusion of at least $2 million. It will
also have to bring a dynamic leadership team that will supplant the
existing administration and grow the business rapidly. Anything
less will simply not work. From what I have seen, only one of the
possible alliance partners can execute on such a plan, Adventist
Health.
While some have questioned a faith-based operator for Palm Drive,
as a lifelong atheist, I have to say that at this point I would
prefer a successful mission-driven organization that believes in
God and service to humanity over a failed Tennessee corporation
that believes in (our) money.
Dan Smith
Sebastopol
A bright future
Editor: I’m delighted to say that by the time you read this, Palm
Drive Hospital will have two new people on the Board of Directors.
They will fill the spots vacated by Jared Dreyfus, who passed away
in September, and Dan Smith, who resigned in October. I am
especially encouraged by the exceptional slate of applicants who
have put their names forward to serve on the board, clearly a
reflection of deep community support. The appointments will return
the Board to its full complement of five members, a very important
step as we move forward toward a possible new affiliation that we
expect to shape the future of local health care and bring
additional medical services and physicians to West County.
As you may remember, the board discussed, in open session, the
formation of an ad hoc committee to explore potential affiliation
opportunities for the district. We entered into this process in a
deliberate fashion, hiring expertise to help structure and guide
the process, proactively reaching out to the Medical Staff to
include local physicians in the process, and inviting leadership
from the Palm Drive Health Care Foundation.
The ad-hoc committee is in the process of vetting five health care
organizations that have expressed an interest in affiliating in
some manner with us. The ad hoc Committee and the hospital’s
medical staff have met and talked at length with each of the
applicants. The process has been thoughtful and rigorous and I look
forward to receiving the committee’s comprehensive report at our
next regular board meeting on Monday, Nov. 7. At that time we will
also review for you the next steps in the selection process. Our
goal is to maintain a focused, professional process that remains
open and effective in securing the best future for the
hospital.
One of the lessons Jared Dreyfus impressed on the board was the
need to reach out to the entire district, and in keeping with that
thought, the next regular board meeting will be held in
Guerneville, at the Guerneville Fire Station, 14100 Armstrong Woods
Rd., Guerneville.
Please join us as we continue along this exciting path for a new
sustainable future for Palm Drive Hospital.
Chris Dawson
Treasurer
Palm Drive Health Care District
Sooooo fun
Editor: Thank you so much Apple Blossom School, for the fabulous
Halloween Carnival. Our 6-year-old grandson, Jake, had such fun.
Everything was well thought out, prepared for youngsters to enjoy
the holiday in a low-key, fun, atmosphere. What we loved the most
was the Book Lady. She had a table full of “gently used books” that
served as prizes. Jake had his choice of a candy, little toy or a
book coupon. At the end of the evening, he got to choose 28 books.
What a wonderful memory of a good time and a good value for his
Papa’s $20 family book of 50 tickets. We can hardly wait for next
year. Jake told his 3-year-old sister, Lola, “just wait and see …
it’s sooooo fun.”
Suzan Lewis
Sebastopol
Go solar
Editor: The U.S. has been pledging since Gerald Ford was President
to become energy independent. The best way to do that is to do that
and create jobs while doing so is to invest in solar energy.
Investment in solar energy creates seven times more jobs than in
old dirty energy like coal and oil. Clean energy like solar and
wind power employ more than 100,000 Americans throughout the
country and it is an area of business that is growing. Be forward
thinking and go solar.
Jody Weisenfeld
Petaluma