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Love and animosity were high during the May 20 San Benito Health Care District meeting.
While the four-hour board meeting did not end with a buyer or partner for the hospital, members of the board of directors openly expressed criticism of the county’s joint powers authority (JPA) proposal. Of the 14 public speakers, three voiced concerns that the board targeted the county and went easy on Insight Health Systems.
Robert Bernosky, a county resident, pointed to the board’s questioning on recruitment.
“I don’t even know where to begin, but the recording will say it all,” he said. “The animosity that you showed towards the county; the in-depth questions like about recruitment … you drilled and drilled and drilled, but then you ask Insight and, oh, it’s not a problem.”
County resident Stacie McGrady echoed Bernosky’s claim.
“I noticed during the presentations this evening, there were so many parallels between the JPA presentation and the Insight presentation,” she said.
During Insight’s presentation, Nadir Ijaz, Insight’s chief government and public affairs officer, spoke of the Michigan-based health agency’s primary core value: love.
“For us, love is a key component of the driving force of what we do and why we do it,” Ijaz said. “We do everything through the lens of love.”
Insight is a 501(c)(3) “based upon universal Islamic teachings that are inclusive, respectful, and inviting of all faiths and non-faith communities.”
Ijaz said Insight focuses on patient care and community needs, treating patients and medical staff like family. Patient care is rated at 94% satisfactory, he said.
Four meeting attendees spoke in favor of Insight.
Mary McCullough, identified as a former hospital board member, said she welcomes Insight’s expertise.
“I think it’s time we go back and bring in some outside experts that know what they’re doing and will consider the thoughts and reasoning of the community,” McCullough said. “I’m all for supporting Insight to help us out.”
Gordon Machado, also a former hospital board member, said he supported Insight due to its “presentation and expertise.”
Cecila Montalvo, the consultant representing San Benito County, said the county’s proposal kept local control over the hospital by appointing a new governing board, leaving the decision-making in the hands of the community.
Supervisor Kollin Kosmicki said the county’s goal is to keep the hospital public, allowing for local control and local accountability.
“There is no more important issue to San Benito County right now than keeping this hospital public and keeping our hospital doors open,” he said. “And that’s why we’re involved. We’re committed.”
BenitoLink sent Insight officials additional questions about its plans. When asked if Hazel Hawkins would remain a hospital—something community members have expressed concerns about—Bawahab said: “Yes, Insight is committed to continuing Hazel Hawkins in perpetuity in line with our presence in all of our communities.”
In addition to keeping the current services, Insight will offer more specialty services including neurosurgery and oncology, Bawahab said.
Board questions
Director Jeri Hernandez was openly critical of the county’s proposal. Hernandez claimed that the county was responsible for the loss of state funds for the hospital.
“So why is the county stepping in to help the district?” she asked. “For the last 15 years the county has not assisted in the district’s behavioral health, even though it received funding. My understanding is that the county received $12 million in funding from the state, yet didn’t utilize the funds for the programs. You actually sent the check back.”
Kosmicki replied that the actions Hernandez referenced did not involve the proposal now being considered, or the current board of supervisors.
“We’re not here to look to the past as far as mistakes by, perhaps, prior boards,” Kosmicki said. “We’re here for solutions to the future.”
He continued by asking the hospital board to explain its motivations. “Why,” he asked, “are you so intent on selling the hospital to a private entity when it’s not necessary at this point?”
Kosmicki claimed that the county was receiving rhetorical and argumentative questions after Hernandez said it would be inappropriate for the hospital board to answer his questions since the meeting’s purpose was for the supervisors to ask the suitors questions.
“It is board questions right now, sir,” Hernandez said. “We’re going to continue with our board meeting, and we’re going to allow the board to ask questions to you. This isn’t a Q&A back and forth with you and I.”
Hernandez pressed on, questioning the supervisors’ support for the hospital’s medical staff, and asking whether the supervisors feel that “the physicians and nursing staff are not qualified, are not providing quality care.”
Hernandez did not mention that a survey compiled by Dr. Michael Bogey, Hazel Hawkins chief of staff showed that a large majority of the hospital’s 60 staff doctors voted to ask the Hospital Board to choose the county’s proposal.
Supervisor Angela Curro said she had confidence in the current physicians, but said county residents needed reassurance that healthcare services in the county are as good as neighboring counties.
Insight was asked by Mary Casillas, Hazel Hawkins’ chief executive officer, to clear rumors about its closure of the obstetrics department at its Chicago hospital.
Atif Bawahab, Insight’s chief strategy officer, said the company didn’t close the obstetrics department, but that Chicago’s obstetrics unit was suspended by the hospital’s previous operators.
“We did not close that service line down nor did we suspend the license, it’s still active and we have plans to open that up by the end of this year or spring of next year,” Bawahab said.
Dr. Jawad Shah, Insight founder and chief executive officer, said Insight would continue to grow and sustain obstetrics at Hazel Hawkins.
If the hospital board decides to sell Hazel Hawkins to Insight, the sale must be put before voters in November. A decision to go with the San Benito County JPA would be final.
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