MCDH Survey Shows Strong Support for Local Funding Plan
2/4/2005

Fort Bragg, CA – In an effort to gauge community support for a local funding initiative, Mendocino Coast District Hospital (MCDH) conducted a community opinion survey with overwhelming positive results. Data from the 400 person poll, conducted on January 18 and 19, 2005 by telephone, were presented to the Board of Directors at MCDH’s planning meeting in late January. The purpose of the survey was to allow the community to voice their opinions on the hospital, its services and programs and to serve as a guide to determine the feasibility of a parcel tax measure to fund an ongoing budget shortfall estimated to be between $1.2 and $1.5 million.

When residents were asked whether or not they would be in favor of a parcel tax measure to allow MCDH to continue providing the current level of services, 68% were in favor of such a measure. “If successful, the parcel tax money can only be used exclusively for the benefit of our patients and community, and cannot be taken away by the State,” said Bryan Ballard, CEO. The measure will protect our community from services cuts by allowing MCDH to continue to:
· Staff the Emergency Room 24 hours a day, seven days a week for residents and visitors alike;
· Provide outpatient surgical services and chemotherapy for cancer patients;
· Keep the hospital’s laboratory open, which helps doctors treat and diagnose patients;
· Provide emergency paramedic and ambulance service from anywhere in the District; and
· Maintain nursing and staffing for the intensive care unit; and
· Maintain nursing and staffing for the obstetrics unit.

The overall quality of health care services provided by the hospital was rated as excellent or good by 74% of those polled. Interestingly, 76% of those surveyed felt it is crucial to have high quality health care services with adequate staff even if it means raising taxes. Doctors and nurses were rated excellent/good by 76% and 82% of survey respondents, respectively. The top five services most important to the community are the emergency room, outpatient services, intensive care unit, paramedic services, and clinical laboratory; all of which received above 80% level of support.

MCDH is the sole provider hospital for our north coast area, offering vital services on which coastal residents and visitors depend. Several factors such as the rising costs of technology and the limits imposed by third party and government payers have all added to the cost of health care. Declining Medi-Cal and Medicare reimbursements and increases in unfunded State mandates such as increasing nurse-to-patient ratios and seismic retrofits, have hurt hospitals across California, especially in rural communities like the Mendocino Coast.

These factors, taken together, result in an annual financial shortfall of $1.2 to $1.5 million for the hospital. In response, the hospital’s Board of Directors has implemented its long-term strategic plan that addresses the immediate and future facilities and programmatic needs of the hospital to improve the hospital’s financial performance. For example, the hospital has eliminated and reduced costs wherever possible, and is one of the lowest cost hospitals in the region. “The only step not yet taken by our community to increase revenue, which has been taken by other hospitals in the region that have managed to achieve a positive bottom line, is a parcel tax,” said Charlene McAllister, President of the Board of Directors.

At the February 24, 2005 board meeting, a public hearing is scheduled to take place and the Board of Directors is expected adopt a resolution to place the proposed measure on the June 7, 2005 ballot. The measure would require a two-thirds (66.7%) majority voter approval to pass. Voter safeguards will be in place including an independent oversight committee to actively ensure that the funds are used for their intended purposes. If the measure does not pass, the hospital will need to consider cutting health care services to the community, such as 24 hour/7 days a week emergency room staffing, paramedic services, and some inpatient and outpatient services.