Where does Jane stand on the issues? Click the links below to find out:
Jane Parker on Natividad Medical Center
Jane Parker is a leader who brings a proactive focus to planning and a collaborative, pragmatic approach to problem solving. Her service on county-wide boards and as a senior executive at nonprofit organizations gives her the expertise and perspective we need to make smart budget decisions and make Monterey County strong today, tomorrow, and well into the future.
Like communities all across the United States, Monterey County is struggling to provide adequate healthcare. All four of our hospitals in Monterey County provide crucial services, but in many ways Natividad Medical Center is the lynchpin. Natividad, our only public hospital, serves individuals at greatest risk. People of average and below average income, many of whom are under-insured or completely uninsured in Monterey County, deserve the quality healthcare provided at our public hospital. The loss or cut-back in services provided at Natividad would also damage the effectiveness of services provided at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP), and Mee Memorial Hospital because State law would require those hospitals to pick up many services, should Natividad be unable to continue providing them.
In addition to providing the safety net for the community at greatest risk, Natividad Medical Center is also renowned for its outstanding neonatal intensive care, long-term rehabilitation and physician training programs which are recognized among the best departments in the nation.
We must keep Natividad and the invaluable services it provides viable for the long term, and I am committed to keeping our public hospital and not out-sourcing or privatizing those services.
The Challenges: Currently, the Governor’s budget recommendation includes a 10% reduction in MediCal reimbursements, which are already woefully low. These reimbursements are a primary revenue source for Natividad.
Monterey County’s two largest industries are agriculture and hospitality. Most of the employers in these industries do not provide health care benefits for the majority of their workers. These industries provide direct and indirect economic benefits throughout the county, benefits that could not be realized without the efforts of the workers in these industries; and we have a moral obligation to ensure their access to the health services they need and deserve. Natividad Medical Center is the heart of the health care system for them, and for all underserved residents of Monterey County.
The challenges faced by Natividad are not new. Much progress has been made recently by the Huron consultancy group in improving the performance and cost effectiveness of the hospital. It is critical that the Board of Supervisors continues to focus attention and resources on Natividad to build on our investment and ensure a sustainable future.
My Approach: I believe the elements necessary for Natividad to thrive include:
• Stabilizing the hospital’s operational budget, ensuring effective governance and acquiring the capital equipment so desperately needed for patient treatment and effective billing.
• Filling the gap between the cost of providing services at Natividad and the amount that Medi-Cal reimburses. Revenue-producing services such as the Sam Karas rehabilitation center, Natividad’s neonatal expertise and specialized trauma treatment must be emphasized.
• Ensuring that Natividad is well managed. The Supervisors must delineate clearly their role and appoint highly qualified persons to any governing body charged with daily oversight and direction.
• Ensuring appropriate cooperation from other local hospitals to keep them from “cherry picking” services profitable to Natividad. Local hospitals have begun to understand the importance of Natividad to their own financial welfare.
With my executive management experience as Vice President of the largest Planned Parenthood in the country, I have the perspective, understanding and commitment to build on the progress that has already been made, and to forge a lasting, cooperative approach to the challenges Natividad Medical Center faces.
