Survival of the Sequoia Healthcare District

By Jerry Shefren

The survival of the Sequoia Healthcare District is at risk in this election. It is important for voters to understand its mission and the candidates who support it.

I have lived in this community for over 35 years and have spent my entire career in the healthcare environment. I am a practicing physician and I have extensive experience as a healthcare executive in our community serving in leadership positions at three area hospitals, a major not for profit health plan, as well as managing a very large outpatient clinical service. I have also served on the grants committee for the Sequoia Healthcare District Board in the late 1990's and 2010 and I was a member of the Sequoia Healthcare District Board from 1998 to 2002. I am running again for this position because I believe in the mission of the District and feel that my background and experience will allow me to be an effective Board member and promote the efficient use of our tax dollars.

The mission of the District is to promote the health of our community and its members. Originally the mission envisioned that this could best be accomplished by building and operating a hospital. In the 64 years since the formation of the District, the delivery of healthcare has changed dramatically and the District has changed under the law to move away from running a hospital toward other health objectives. This is common in California where approximately 1/3 of all Healthcare Districts no longer own or operate Hospitals.

I think there are 3 main healthcare objectives that the District should focus on, they are access to care, preventive care, and healthcare education. I believe we need improved access to care whether it be in hospitals, outpatient facilities, physician offices, or other provider clinics especially for those living at or near the poverty level. In spite of the excellent care available to many in the District there are also many community members who do not have access to that care. Those objectives also include an emphasis on preventive care which can include traditional examinations and testing for disease as well as identifying specific issues for a population that can lead to health risks. Examples of this include structural problems that can lead to falls in the homes of our elderly citizens, mental illness which aside from being a problem on its own is also a cause of other serious medical problems, and issues concerning spousal abuse. If preventive measures are not employed the community will inevitably pay much more for the care in other ways. Another area of concern is the education of district members on important healthcare issues such as diet, exercise, food preparation, obesity, pregnancy and STD prevention. This is especially important for our children and those with language barriers that make it more difficult to access traditional services.

The unmet needs for many of these services in our community remains significant and has not been helped by the current economic climate. The District current receives approximately $7.2 million each year from a population base of 230,000. That comes to an average of only $31 per district member. The specific role of the District Board is to identify the most important areas to focus these resources, identify the programs that are most likely to have a real impact on those areas and then follow up to make sure that the resources were used appropriately and effectively.

This years election for the Healthcare District is especially important for the voters because of the 7 candidates running for the 3 seats, four candidates +including myself, Art Faro, Alpio Barbara, support the District and the work being done with your tax dollars. The remaining 3 candidates have clearly expressed a desire to shut the Healthcare District down.

It is important to remember that the Sequoia Healthcare District has always been about the wanting to live in a healthy community and understanding that community involvement is the only way that can occur. When the district was formed in 1946 that meant building a hospital but the specific interventions needed to have a healthy community have changed and the Districts mission and function has changed with it.

Voting for Barbara, Faro, and Shefren will ensure the survival of the Healthcare District and the fulfillment of its mission.