Health and Human Services Committee Final Report - Trinity Hospital*

R1

The Grand Jury commends the administrator and management team for the positive changes made at the hospital over the past two and a half years. Financially, the third quarter of the fiscal year 1999 / 2000 is encouraging. The Grand Jury commends the hospital administrator for the substantial improvements in equipment and programs made during his tenure. The Grand Jury urges the hospital Administrator to initiate an effort to improve employee relations and create a cooperative atmosphere throughout the organization.

R2

The Grand Jury would like to see the employee evaluation process incorporated, with appropriate security measures, into the new computer system as opposed to using the present card file system. We compliment the administration for its development of a more effective evaluation system. The Grand Jury recommends establishment of a program in which the employee is given written notice of the desired changes in their performance and a time established for a follow-up review.

R3

The Grand Jury believes that the supervision of employees, including their evaluation, should be delegated to their immediate supervisors. The Grand Jury recommends that the Administrator focus on business matters. Supervisors, with good personnel management skills, can stimulate workers to be more productive and to take pride in their work. With skillful handling of employee concerns, job satisfaction could be maintained, while getting the job done in the way the administration deems appropriate.

R4

The Grand Jury agrees with the doctors and the hospital administrator that more doctors need to be actively recruited and hired. The present doctor recruitment program needs more vigor, specifically from the Hospital Board of Directors and the Hospital Administrator. Doctors' admission of patients to Trinity Hospital is of utmost importance to the financial stability and overall vitality of the hospital. The hostilities between local doctors and the Hospital Administrator are counter productive and should be resolved by the Hospital Board of Directors, the doctors and the Hospital Administrator. With regard to the employee morale situation, it is the Grand ٠,` Jury's position that low morale affects a wide spectrum of issues ranging from productivity to quality of patient care. Immediate corrective action is needed.

R5

A shortage of experienced nurses, if it occurs, could have an impact on the quality of patient care and any problems in this area should be corrected immediately. The Hospital Board of Directors should implement a program to recruit and retain experienced nurses to staff the hospital facility.

R6

The present laboratory supervisor is complimented for the upgrading of this department. The current laboratory standards should be maintained to ensure quality service. To maintain and uphold these standards a qualified replacement for the laboratory supervisor should be actively recruited.

R7

The Grand Jury commends the working relationship between the Administrator and the Hospital Board of Directors. The Grand Jury is concerned that members of the hospital Board are paid a $100 monthly stipend in addition to their expenses. The Grand Jury believes that the $8,400.00 per year paid to the hospital board would be better spent on the operation of the hospital. 30-DAY RESPONSE REQUESTED FROM: Trinity County Hospital Board of Directors; Trinity County Hospital Administrator; Trinity County Board of Supervisors; Trinity County CAO; Trinity County Hospital Chief of Staff. TRINITY COU OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Administration — Human Resources — Risk Management Grant Management — Information & Technology Weaverville, CA 96093-1613 P. O. Box 1613 County Administrator Phone: (530) 623-1382 Human Resources Phone (530) 623-1325 FAX (530) 623-4222 JEANNIE NIX-TEMPLE, County Administrative Officer To: Honorable John K. Letton, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court From Jeannie Nix-Temple, County Administrative Officer Date: August 7, 2000 RE: 1999/2000 Grand Jury Final Report of Trinity Hospital In my role as County Administrative Officer, I have been asked to respond to the Grand Jury's report on Trinity Hospital. My responses are as follows: Recommendation # 1 I appreciate the Grand Jury's recognition of the positive working relationship between the Hospital Administrator and the Trinity Hospital Management Team. That same relationship exists with the Hospital Board of Directors and the County Management Team. I am aware that there has been criticism of some of the Hospital Administrator's interactions with some employees. These have been primarily related to discipline. The reports involve a very small percentage of the employee population of Trinity Hospital. The Hospital Administrator has a very difficult job. I have confidence in his ability to do the job.