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SVDH board may reconsider eye surgery decision
Second meeting to be held today at 8 a.m.
About a dozen concerned area residents and medical professionals were in attendance at a special meeting of the Board of Directors of Sierra View District Hospital Monday afternoon, voicing their concerns about plans to eliminate eye surgery at the hospital.
The special meeting included a closed session and was a prelude to the board’s regular monthly meeting to be held at 8 a.m. today.
On Nov. 10 the hospital announced plans to renovate its outpatient surgery center, making room for a new endoscopy facility, but ending ophthalmology services.
At the time, hospital Marketing Director Ramona Contreras said the hospital’s Ambulatory Surgery Department (ASD) – where about 700 outpatient surgeries took place in Fiscal Year 2008-09 – will be closed and workload (except for ophthalmology) absorbed into the hospital’s main operating room to allow renovation of the facility into a new Endoscopy Center.
The decision followed action by the board on Oct. 27 which Contreras said was consistent with the hospital’s master plan.
In response to public concern about the elimination of a facility for eye surgeries, the hospital issued a press release in November indicating that the planned elimination of ophthalmology services has been moved from Jan. 31 to March 2 — and that the board might reconsider its decision at its Dec. 22 meeting.
On Friday, the board issued an agenda for a Special Meeting held yesterday at 3 p.m. During a public comments session which lasted more than 30 minutes, board members heard from Dr. Wallace Ruminson, one of three eye surgeons who performed a combined 350 or so eye surgeries at Sierra View within the last year.
He said he believes the problem isn’t ophthalmology — but the need to accommodate an increasing number of endoscopy procedures. He suggested that other space at the hospital could be converted to handle endoscopy, a diagnostic procedure.
“Endoscopy is important,” Ruminson said. “But its diagnostic. Ophthalmology is a quality of life issue for 95 percent of patients.”
Renee Zachary, who works in Ruminson’s office, agreed. Holding the hand of patient Jose Cueva, she told directors the 68-year-old man was in misery before his life-changing eye surgery. His daughter said having to go out of town for the surgery would have been very difficult for their family, and others present made similar statements.
Kent Sorrels, who is a member of Sierra View’s Foundation Board of Directors told directors that he believes it is important to keep services available locally for a growing community.
“If money’s the thing, there are ways to overcome that,” he said. “We need to look a little harder and do a little soul-searching.”
Board Chair Richard Hatfield told those gathered that the comment time on the agenda was for the board to hear comment — not to enter into discussion. He added that the board’s eventual decision will be made in public session.
“We cannot make a decision in closed session behind your backs,” he said. State law, however, does allow the board to discuss certain matters, including those pertaining to “trade secrets” in closed session.
Monday afternoon’s meeting agenda referenced two closed session items — one pertaining to medical staff quality of care peer review and another regarding discussion of trade secrets.
Following more than 30 minutes of public comment, Director Brent Gill told those present that lack of response from the board during the comment period did not mean that the board wasn’t listening.
“We’re elected to represent you,” Gill said. “We’ll do all we can to make the right decision.”
Although the agenda for Monday afternoon’s meeting included an item for a report of action taken during the closed session, Hospital Administrator Dennis Coleman said at 6:15 p.m. that the board meeting ended with no action taken.
“If — and that’s an if — action is to be taken it is likely to be at [this morning’s] meeting,” Coleman said.
Hatfield said public comment would also be accepted at this morning’s meeting.
Today’s agenda includes two closed sessions, as well as regular business items including various reports and the annual organization of the board. On a lighter note, today’s meeting includes a presentation of the hospital’s “Shining Stars.”
The meeting begins at 8 a.m. in the board room at the hospital.
