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Bolstered by a strong financial performance report, the San Benito Health Care District board unanimously approved at its Nov. 20 meeting a 3% cost of living salary increase for CEO Mary Casillas, and an 8% bonus in incentive-based compensation for Casillas for meeting certain performance metrics.
Director Victoria Angelo was not present and did not cast a vote.
Casillas, whose contract was extended in November 2024 for three years with a salary of $463,500, was eligible for up to a 10% incentive bonus based on her base salary.
According to a staff report, Casillas met the maximum goals related to the hospital’s net income, recruiting two physicians and the average census at the skilled nursing facility. She also met the minimum goal for patient satisfaction rate.
“We’ve had one of the best years of financial performance this hospital has ever had,” Director Devon Pack said regarding the net income criteria. The hospital reached a 15.6% profitability measure, doubling the district’s goal of 7.5%
He added the hospital has a “reasonably high level of patient satisfaction,” that its staff retention rate is better than most hospitals and that the hospital has had a high patient count in its nursing facility, which he said is among the hospital’s “principal earning sectors.”
Also during the meeting, the board approved by unanimous vote a new confidentiality policy and response letter to its Medical Executive Committee involving concerns about a board member disclosing information relating to the medical staff’s credentials report.
The letter was written in response to the hospital board’s Medical Executive Committee allegation that Director Nick Gabriel disclosed confidential information pertaining to a medical staff credential report following a closed session.
The letter states, in part, “This breach of confidentiality has undermined the trust that the Medical Staff places in the board. The MEC operates in good faith, providing transparent and candid reports to the Board with the understanding that such information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality and discretion.”
According to the district’s letter, all directors were provided Brown Act materials that address confidentiality of closed session meetings, as well as revised district bylaws to ensure compliance with state law, and the board verified all directors have kept current with required Brown Act training.
The letter also added the board’s code of conduct now includes provisions regarding the prohibition against conflicts of interest, against sharing confidential information, and a process for discipline if the policy is violated.
Board chair Bill Johnson summarized the concerns of the MEC letter but the board did not discuss it further.
Before the board voted on the letter, Johnson asked if any board member wanted to recuse themselves but there was no answer. It is atypical for directors to be asked if they want to recuse themselves.
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