Since its inception in 1953 there has been continual growth in stature, technology, quality and has always remained a community oriented healthcare institution.
Any institution that is governed by a publicly elected membership including special district boards such as a healthcare district is inevitably going to be subject to very public scrutiny every election cycle. We have had tumultuous elections in the past and there have been times that our focus on the overall community health has been lessened. Groups that some may describe as special interest have sought control over varying aspects of the hospital itself. In the past 8 years that I have been on the current hospital board the turmoil of the recent past has abated and remarkable results have been developed for the benefit of the entire community.
Financial losses have been stopped and profitability regained, employee pension plans have remarkably improved by over 20 million dollars, an excellent high level trauma center is a major goal that has now been reached, the renowned City of Hope Cancer Center is being established, a superb heart center is functioning well, and being expanded, and older parts of the hospital are being replaced or reconstructed.
Although we recognize that much remains to be done I take pride in the many significant changes that have been done and I look forward to building a truly great medical center and to return to our original mission of assisting in the healthcare of the entire community.
|