Archive for June, 2012

By now you may have heard the radio advertisements on KOZT, the Coast, jointly promoting the services of Mendocino Coast District Hospital (MCDH) and Frank Howard Memorial in Willits and Ukiah Valley Medical Center (UVMC) in Ukiah.

I heard a rumor the other day that some or our employees have wondered if this joint advertising campaign with Howard and UVMC (both Adventist-owned hospitals) is an indication that Adventist is buying MCDH. I would like to set the record straight on this. The answer is no. MCDH is not for sale and the Adventist system has not offered to buy our hospital. In fact MCDH cannot be sold to another company without a vote of the citizens of our coastal community first. And that is not being contemplated.

The reason that we are advertising together is that the CEOs of all 3 hospitals in Mendocino County have realized years ago that Mendocino County needs all 3 of our hospitals to be strong and healthy. As a part of this spirit of cooperation, I have maintained that the hospitals need to show respect for each other by refraining from competitive advertising in each other’s primary service area.

You may have seen advertisements from UVMC and Howard Memorial in our local newspapers in the past. However due to our mutual agreement to support each other, the advertisements have mostly stopped. (Every so often, 1 slips through and a reminder is issued). (more…)

Please join me in welcoming Robin Onstad as interim manager of the Mendocino Coast District Hospital Diagnostic Imaging Center. Robin started today, June 18, and was scheduled for a series of orientation meetings, including meeting the DI Center staff for the first time.

Robin comes from the two-campus, 360-bed Paris Regional Medical Center in Paris, Texas (about 90 miles from Dallas) where he was director of radiology.

“I’m looking forward to returning to California,” said Robin, a native of Antioch, California. “I was born in the San Francisco East Bay, but because my father was in the U.S. Air Force, we lived and traveled all over the world.”

I believe Robin’s experience will be a great asset to Mendocino Coast Hospital and our efforts to expand diagnostic imaging services.

Last week an agreement was reached on a qualified Neutral Evaluator (mediator) for the upcoming negotiations between MCDH, UFCW 8 and possibly other creditors.   His name is George Kalikman.  Mr. Kalikman is a partner in the San Francisco law firm of Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis. The announcement of an approved Mediator on Wednesday effectively began the 60-day mediation period established under section 53760.3(r) of the California Government Code.  “It is the sincere hope of MCDH that this Neutral Evaluation process, as defined by the State of California, will enable us to work constructively with our creditors to reach an agreement that will help us to become financially sustainable in the future” said Raymond Hino, Hospital CEO.   The appointment of Mr. Kalikman began a 60 day mediation period that will end on August 6, 2012.

About George Kalikman

Mr. Kalikman is the co-chair of the Firm’s Business Services Department and the managing partner of the Firm’s San Francisco office. He represents businesses ranging from closely held to publicly traded companies that are engaged in diverse industries including financial services, real estate investment, real estate development, telecommunications, information technology, manufacturing, music and entertainment, resort and hospitality, construction, oil and gas, agriculture, health care, and insurance.

Mr. Kalikman has substantial experience, both as a retained neutral and as an advocate on behalf of his clients, in the mediation of disputes between and among business partners and other parties seeking a negotiated resolution of complex business disputes. He also works closely with his colleagues in the Firm’s Financial Services Litigation practice group, in arbitration proceedings and in litigation cases.

L to R is CEO Raymond Hino, Herb Pedersen, Chris Hillman, Foundation Executive Director Jeri Erickson, Foundation President Steve Lund, and Foundation Marketing Specialist Sid Garza-Hillman.

If you weren’t in the audience May 26 for the concert featuring Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen, all I can say is that you missed an unforgettable musical performance that had feet tapping and hands clapping. Longtime friends, Chris and Herb have had distinguished careers both individually and performing together, making timeless contributions to rock, folk rock and country music. Their flawless vocal harmonies, rousing instrumentals and upbeat set of songs left the enthusiastic crowd begging for more.

The concert, presented by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, The Coast (KOZT radio), and Visit Mendocino County, netted $3,000 to be used for equipment and services at the hospital. We also manned a hospital wellness table in the auditorium lobby and had our new ambulance on display outside with EMTs selling 911 raffle tickets.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Chris and Herb, who donated their time and incredible talents (Chris also donated 100% of the night’s CD sales to the Foundation). I also want to thank all who worked so hard to make the concert a success, including Foundation Executive Director Jeri Erickson along with her staff and Board members, hospital employees who helped staff the Wellness table, our EMTs, and of course concert sponsors Visit Mendocino County and KOZT.