CHC: Unraveling misinformation

The rift between CHC’s board and CEO isn’t necessarily news, but when a doctor spouts misinformation that assumes epidemic proportions, it turns newsy!

For instance, Dr. Sherleen Osman, director of Medical Affairs, and cronies said that under Esther Muña’s leadership positive changes were realized.

The ignorant would believe Dr. Osman under the presumption that she is a credible source given that she’s a doctor. Not so fast, Dr. Osman, for we can “trust but still must verify” information.

Some 19 months ago, CHCC had a $5 million appropriation with a huge debt incurred by the new CEO. Ms. Muña was the beneficiary of millions of dollars from the CPE that was initiated and negotiated by former CEO, Juan N. Babauta with the regional director of Region IX.

Dr. Osman and medical staff ignore the fact that it was Babauta who bought critically needed equipment such as defibrillators using funds secured from MPLT. The certified lab with a pathologist was the work of the Commissioned Corp with funding from OIA. Ms. Muña was simply a beneficiary or recipient and not the innovator of funds for much needed equipment.

Appalling how doctors took sides without diagnosing the growing disease of misinformation. At day’s end, it’s sad the woefully poor prognosis. And the position they’ve taken without verification of information gets juicier as I dig my journalistic surgical knife deeper into the wound. I found out that they were given an advance 2013 Christmas presents in salary increases of between $15,000 to over $40,000.

Hey! Hey! Hey! With such generous increase I’d put the CEO’s name on a huge billboard and parade up and down the hospital to the traffic lights praising Muña’s generosity. I mean it takes blind courage giving chosen staff people huge salary increases while CHC incurs a $6 million deficit annually. Moreover, why was it limited to the favored few? Isn’t a global increase the more appropriate thing to do?

The CEO doesn’t enjoy the board raising a red flag—increase when the hospital is underwater in filthy thick red ink—and must have sought empathy from recipients of her ill-conceived fiscal decision. It should have dawned on the CEO that her action was the perfect recipe for bankruptcy. And doesn’t the hospital also owe CUC some $11 million? Do you see the asymmetry in your decision?

Definitely, the board would be flagging the issue not because it wants to micro-manage CHC but because each member has a fiduciary duty to ensure adequate delivery of healthcare services with fiscal integrity. The fact that CHC could no longer look upstairs for legislative appropriations or anywhere else exacerbates the sensitivity and insecurity of future funding issues. In brief, it isn’t in sound financial posture, meaning a fiscally poised system isn’t in place.

Each is also mindful that at some point we’d all be using the facility. With this mind, we want to ensure that it is equipped with the wherewithal to help all patients consistently. I’m sure this too is the view of the CEO and doctors who came out waving the wrong surgical knives.

Policymaking at its lowest

“He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehood and errors.”—Thomas Jefferson.

When the elected elite is disoriented over fiduciary duties I was ready to dismiss it with “they’d learn sooner than later.” It hasn’t happened! The retarded setback is envenomed by the lack of decent understanding of relevant issues of substance adversely affecting the livelihood of people they represent. I’m sure most of you would be in agreement that policymaking is at its lowest in the developmental history of the NMI.

I’d take these guys and gals to task before Nov. 4th just to test their understanding of real issues. I’m sure most would be groping and struggling for answers. No worries! I’m tolerant, especially of the ignorant. Forgiving even with highly esteemed policymakers who can’t figure out “what’s north?” This is insult to injury, isn’t it?

Can any of you honestly stick to what’s known in Latin as “gravitas”—integrity to leadership—and declare your signature accomplishments that include major cuts in power bills, health insurance, price of basic goods, salary adjustments to aid underemployed folks; repayment of 25-percent cut in retirees’ pension; an appropriation to cover health deductibles costing $1,000 per four-member families; or did you just ignore the entire nine yards?

MJ in lunacy land

“To know that you do not know is the best. To pretend to know when you do not know is a disease.”—Lau Tzu.

Ambrose Bennett, the “educated” political scientist/economist, struggled to refute my views on marijuana and why it must be stopped dead in its track. His delusional and disoriented economic theory focuses on the so-called “economics” of MJ, completely ignoring the huge cost of health in subsequent years.

MJ leads to assorted cancer, brain damage, and heavy drugs, and encourages drug cartels to engage in violence for turf and profit. We can’t even send our medical referees because of budgetary shortfall and you callously wish to add to this list? That you’re not an MD but equipped with the gall to push destruction makes your spout a “disease”!

His woefully shortsighted view is best described by an intelligent blogger who said, “In life if you were to make the right decisions, all you need are two things: 1) A good vision, and 2) Good common sense. Ambrose your article is the most idiotic I have ever read! WHAT MJ? Don’t even go there and call yourself an economist!”

I don’t mind debating the power of ideas that would constructively enhance the wellbeing of our community. Delusional and ghetto type economic plans such as Bennett’s are best left in the trash bin for transfer to the landfill up north. Leave MJ in lunacy land!