HomeMy WebLinkAboutM022472February 24, 1972
The Board reconvened at 7:30 p.m at the Municipal Auditorium, with all
members of the Board present, as well as Clifton Nickelson, Administrative Officer,
Dan Blackstock, County Counsel, Everett W. Bosworth, Assistant Administrative
0£ficer, and Clark A. Nelson, County Clerk, by Oriel Elkins, Board of Supervisors
Clerk pro tem.
72-372 - PIFBLIC HEARING ON WHETHER OR NOT TO CLOSB BUTTB COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL
A majority of the 500 persons in attendance seemed to be in favor of
keeping the hospital open as exemplified by applaus for remarks made by
some of the following speakers:
1. "Happy" Stock, 2223 Quincy Road, Oroville. Said he had been a
tax payer in Butte County for 20 years and opposed to closing
the hospital.
2. Mrs. Jim Crew, a Butte County tax payer for 22 years.
3. Ruth Mi11an, physical therapist at the Butte County General
Hospital, told ways to get service.
4. Matthew Meyers, 1255 - 7th Street, Chico, asking about reasons the
hospital might be closed. Answered by Mr. Bosworth, Supervisor
McKillop, Supervisor Gilman and Supervisor Reynolds.
5. Jim Clumm, 1687 Grand Avenue, Oroville, directing questions to Mr.
Bosworth and Mr. M.ckelson about hospitals in Napa, asking where
narcotics patients were sent and the names of the hospitals in Napa.
6. Wentworth Keller of Paradise, spoke of mental patients.
7. Clive Slack of Oroville, asked where the "out patients" would go.
This was answered by Chairman Gilman and Supervisor Reynolds
referred to Item 4 and Item 7 of the Report turned in by the
"Blue Ribbon" committee appointed by the Board.
8. Mrs. Robert Dawson, 128 Valley View Drive, asking about patients
who have a mental break down and have suicidal tendencies.
9. Carl Gallheher, 1650 - 20th Street, Oroville, asking who would
take care of the impoverished persons, impoverished alien, and
others. He is definitely not in favor of closing the hospital.
10. Dr. A. T. Dietle, Optometrist, made complimentary remarks regard-
ing personnel at the Butte County General Hospital, saying there
was more dedication indicated than at other hospitals, including
the acquisition of a round bed through the efforts of the employees.
11. Dick Salzman, has been a resident of this area 56 years. He had
a prepared paper. His mother was asked to move from the Medical
Arts Center to Butte County General Hospital because there was
a therapist there and none at Medical Arts Center. Against
closing the County General.
12. Maureen Shreve, asked where the young people who cannot pay the
hospital bill would go if they are in need of care.
13. Steve Lampkin of Gridley expressed concern about patients over 65
on Medicare with cancer or paralyzed who is suddenly pronounced
terminal. His question, "What are we going to do with them?"
14. Dr. John E. Patrick, a general practioner, with offices at the
Medical Arts Center in Oroville, questioning adequate care of the
mental health problems.
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15. Paul Hildegard, owner of the Gilmore Lane Rest Home in Oroville,
Said we have to bring the problem down to an economic Level. The
Butte County General Hospital has to be run in competition with
private hospitals:. Get an extended care facility and keep the
hospital open.
16. James E. Martin, 6961 Lincoln Boulevard, Oroville. Wants to go
on record as opposed to closing County General Hospital.
17. A gentleman who gave his address as 2799 Marsh Avenue said people
need a doctor willing to sit down and explain diets and how to
take care of themselves. Private doctors do not take time (he said)
but just hand you a diet sheet and say "follow this." Further,
he said when Butte County General Hospital was built, it was one
of the best. No other facility in this section of California can
give the kind of care received at Butte County General.
18. Ruth Millan, the therapist again speaks of the care and how to get
it.
19. James Hanson of Oroville, asking how long it would take to get
to the hospital from Oroville to Chico and if the doctors in
Chico would be cheaper.
20. Barbara Childs, 1129 Broadway, Chico. Asking what are the needs
if the hospital were kept open. And, she asked if the police
would be notified if someone came into the hospital because of
an overdose of drugs.
21. Dr. Irena Heindl answered the above question in the negative,
Chairman Gilman also answered the above.
22. James Hart, 811 Plumas Avenue, Oroville, asking what the hospital
building would be used for and what it would cost to bring the
buildings up so that they are good enough for offices.
23. Dorothy Paridis, 10 Central Way, Oroville, inquired about money
spent previously and was answered by Chairman Gilman.
24. Marian Wojcik of Feather Falls commented about money available to
be spent for a Courts Building we do not need (she said) and no
money for a hospital which we do need.
Recess was called from 9:15 p.m. to .9:40 p.m.
25. Juliet Julian, 5272 Walnut Street, Oroville, asking why the tax
payers do not have the right to have their taxes raised if that
is what it would take to keep the hospital,
26. Lewis Folks, 3064 Greenwood Street, Oroville, thinks the voters
should have the right to pass an opinion as tax payers to ex-
press themselves.
27. Dr, Jack Morgan, Butte County Community Hospital Board of Trustees,
spoke on reports of recommendation to phase out the hospital in 1970.
A Board of Trustees was appointed in January, 1971. In September
of 1971, AB 949 was passed by the State legislators and the Board
of Trustees studied the bill and it became quite evident that there
was no alternative but to phase out the hospital. We were paying
twice for some of the patients, We send the State a million dollars
for Medical and we receive a million dollars from Medical, There
are some patients who do not qualify for Medical and the tax payers
have to pay for their care. His appearance before the board was
quite lengthy, Policies have to be established, standards to govern
Page 396 February 24', 1971
the facility requirements and admissions that agree with those
that the state has set. In the present structure, the hospital
facilities themselves are outmoded, to remodel the building
would require approximately two million dollars and to re-build
would require approximately four million dollars. Mr, Nickelson,
Supervisor Reynolds, Supervisor McKillop, Supervisor Maxon and
Chairman Gilman all were involved in answering questions and
making other informative statements during this appearance. The
Audience became restless and made comment about the length of
Dr. Morgan's appearance before the Board.
28, Clarence McDaniels of Paradise asked if the grivate hospital
could provide medical services equal to or better than those
available at Butte County Hospital at the same costs,
29. Robert Charlebois presented a "minority report" to the "blue
ribbon" committee report. He is in favor of keeping the hospital
even if it is necessary to build a new building on a lease-purchase
basis.
30, Stanley Sedor, an attorney from Oroville, in favor of keeping the
hospital open, asking what is going to heppen to the patients
not included in the medical program; is the county going to pay
those costs; are there any doctors who have agreed to take care
of slow-pay or no pay patients. He placed a box before the
Chairman of the Board presumably containing getitions in .favor
of keeping the hospital open, with over-9,000 signatures. He
asked if a study had been made of the costs necessary to keep
the hospital open as compared to the costs of closing it. Can
the patient be assured the doctor would follow him into the
hospital any time of day or night, Indigency cases would be
under the Welfare Department and the county will pay.
31, Doris Amur from Bangor area inquired about out-patients and
was referred to Paragraph 3 and Paragraph 7 of the "blue Ribbon"
committee report
32. Phil Stone, 145 Acacia Avenue, Oroville, in favor of keeping the
hospital open.
33. John Long, 1201 Gardner Street, Oroville, asked if a survey had
been made of the doctors in Oroville to determine what percentage
will take patients from the butte County Community Hospital, He
was told that information had been released that two years ago
85% would take them but that today the figure was 35%.
34. Jordan Peckham, attorney, knows of no law that requires a private
hospital to accept any patient, emergency or otherwise. He knows
of no law that will try a non-profit hospital for refusing to take
a slow-pay patient,
35. Dr. Todd Bailey of Omville, hospital administrator and Medical
Director at Butte County General Hospital, Contacted 87 doctors"
offices, selected from the yellow pages in the telephone directory,
inquiring if they would make appointments for Medical cases,
indigent cases, slow-pay or no-pay patients and got all kinds
of answers. He said it takes from four to six weeks for the
Welfare Department to get approval back from the State,
36, Guy Hard of Lfi30 Lower Wyandotte Road, Oroville, speaking in favor
of keeping the hospital open. He said, "If we attempt stringent
regulations as prescribed by the State, we are going to raise the
costs to the patients and to the tax payer. The question should
be put on the ballot." It was his hope there would be more
petitions signed and turned in.
37. Mr. Peckham again. He drew up the Resolution that was acting as
a petition and said the wording could be changed if it would make
it more satisfactory,
38. Dr. Bailey was asked to come forward again so that some figures
could be given him by Supervisor Madigan. He made a few comments
,, ~;, ~
and returned to his chair.
39, Frank Dingfelder, chairman of the Butte County Hospital Board of
Trustees, explaining a method of closing the hospital, proposing
a continuing of the out-patient clinic, There were 78 patients
at the hospital yesterday. He thought the acute section could
be closed in about sixty days but for the therapy department and
such, a minimum of nine months would be required. He said the
acute patients should be sent to the Oroville Medical Arts Center.
He suggested the need for the doctor to live on the premises (or
sleep on the premises) for emergency to be operated 24 hours a
day. He said preventative medicines and curative medicines should
be combined, There would have to be a health plan approved by
the Board of Supervisors,
40, Dr, Bailey again appeared, saying the figures handed him did prove
to be more helpful than he had thought they would, Made a few
more comments and sat down,
4l, Wentworth Keller thanked the people for attending the meeting and
participation and for their orderly conduct and suggested the
meeting close,
42, James Hanson of Oroville spoke 'briefly again.
Chairman Gilman adjourned the meeting at 12:25 a.m, until next regular
meeting on Tuesday, February 29, 1972, at 9:00 a.m,
ATTEST: CLARK A. NELSON, County Clerk
By: )
Board of S pervisors Clerk
Page 398 February 24, 1972