We are learning as one agency after another investigates San Bernardino County’s hospital, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), that the place is falling apart. There are several reasons for this situation but perhaps the most important is the fact that a hospital of this size needs a full-time medical director. I believe we already have a full-time medical director, Dr. Dev Gnanadev. Continue reading
Well another “I told you so” for iePolitics.com and inlandpolitics.com. We’ve been called liars and such over accusations about patient care, billing, and malpractice at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC). Now we learn that ARMC’s Medi-Cal and Medicare contracts are in jeopardy.
Both hospital director, Patrick Petre, and San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor, Josie Gonzales, attempt to downplay the significance of the actions taken by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; however, a loss of these contracts would be substantial. The hospital is required to provide care whether it gets paid for the services it provides or not and that includes care to Medicare and Medicaid patients. Continue reading
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) continues to be the subject of numerous investigations and inquiries. The hospital, once a shining star in our county, has lost its luster in wake of accusations of mismanagement, malpractice, patient abuse, and fraud. Much of the controversy involves the empire-building by former County Administrative Office Mark Uffer and ARMC Medical Director Dr. Dev Gnanadev. Both men are known for their tyrannical control of every aspect of hospital operations, with Gnanadev even running roughshod over the always-despotic Uffer.
In their quest to gain recognition and respect for ARMC and, more importantly, themselves, both men plotted to contain any negative publicity about the hospital. Employees who question practices or report misconduct are themselves subjected to threats of discipline, using the loss of medical licenses due to phony accusations by hospital management as a means of control. Continue reading
iePolitics is starting a new, in-depth series on Dr. Dev Gnanadev and his destruction of Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC). iePolitics and InlandPolitics have received a number of tips during the past few months regarding the goings-on at ARMC but we need more specific information especially regarding the various medical groups he controls and that impact on patient care at ARMC, malpractice that has been covered up, free medical care given to politicians and their families, use of students to perform procedures required to be done by licensed professionals, etc. Continue reading
The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) complaints against San Bernardino County Second District Supervisor Paul Biane, Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales, and former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer have been resubmitted as it did not appear, based on their response, that the FPPC understood the basis of the first complaint. The complaint alleges the following: Continue reading
I got busy and didn’t follow up on a couple of comments posted to one of the entries regarding patient abuse at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Here are the comments:
The state came down one day and talked with one of the patients who was being kept in wrist to waist restraints 24 hours a day. This patient began to have skin (stage 1) break down on thier wrist and ankles. He began to behave like a caged animal, after three months. The patient was not being bathed daily, and was being mistreated daily. All this was being done to this patient at the demand of Paula Martin. The nursing staff was upset about this, but where told if they refused to do what they were told they would be fired. When the state came, Kilie Torres told the patient to tell them that he was happy being tied down like this.Lets take in account that this patients mental status was well below a normal 20 years. “Of course he would tell the state that, She came a gave him candy, right before the interview”.
As far a Paula Martin is concerned, if she stayed off the “ETOH”, she could have done a better job. When did Arrowhead start employing alcoholic’s to run the behavioral health? As far as Natilie, she stays so drugged induced,how could she even begin to do a professional job. Now Valerie Flory, who in the world would want someone so unethical, evil,lacking morals to care for their love one as a nurse. This women, promoted a employee in her department, only to place him back on probation, after years of employement, only to set him up to fire him.”She has that mans blood on her hands” she should be ashamed. Paula Martin catered to this women and allowed her to go to school, and work one day, only because Valerie knew to much about the malvolent things going on in administration.
The issues raised by this blogger are exactly what I’ve been talking about for months. These events are common knowledge among behavioral health staff but ARMC brass continue to cover up the patient abuse. Something needs to be done!
I promised this quick entry a while back but got sidetracked with life. I cannot say this situation is exclusive to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) as staff there who have worked in other hospitals say that it seems to be commonplace everywhere they have worked. I’m not sure if it can be chalked up to the stress of working in life and death situations or just the mentality of those that go into the medical profession, but it definitely is a very significant part of the culture at ARMC.
Of course, I’m talking about sex, sex and more sex. Sex on the job, sex in the parking lot, sex in the broom closet, sex in the patients’ bathrooms, sex in the staff lounge, sex anywhere there is not a camera and probably sex where there are cameras. I wonder if they ever do it in the morgue? Everybody is screwing everybody in that place and some of it occurs on county time. Continue reading
As we find out that San Bernardino County’s budget situation is far worst than we were led to believe by former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer, the situation at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) become even more disheartening.
Someone needs to correct me if I’m wrong, but as I understand it, ARMC is operated with an Enterprise Fund. This means that profits, if that is the right term, are turned over to the county’s general fund. Therefore, it is a good thing when ARMC is able to collect reimbursements from Medi-cal, MediCare, insurers, the state of California (i.e. state prisoners), and the federal government (illegal alien health care).
Unfortunately, the situation with billing at ARMC is an absolute mess. I know. I was involved in attempting to clean up one such mess as part of my assignment at ARMC. What I personally witnessed was over two years worth of medical billings that were never processed. So what does this mean? Continue reading
Well now the long-awaited Uffer claim has hit the presses will all the fan fare one would expect.
The April fool’s day filing is only fitting.
Let’s get this straight. Mr. Uffer wants to be made whole until his claim/case is resolved, meaning he wants full pay and benefits to continue beyond his one year severance.
As I was writing the articles today about Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) and Mark Uffer, the thought that came to mind was how much of a bigger story the ARMC situation is than the Assessor’s Office scandal or even the Colonies settlement. It not even just bigger from the standpoint of corruption, but also from the standpoint of a scandal that really would resonate with voters.
If one were to ask the average voter on the street about the Assessor’s Office or Colonies, likely he or she would not even know what one is talking about. Voters are too busy to care about shenanigans in the Assessor’s Office and don’t care to take the time to learn about Colonies. Continue reading
5150. When any person, as a result of mental disorder, is a danger to others, or to himself or herself, or gravely disabled, a peace officer, member of the attending staff, as defined by regulation, of an evaluation facility designated by the county, designated members of a mobile crisis team provided by Section 5651.7, or other professional person designated by the county may, upon probable cause, take, or cause to be taken, the person into custody and place him or her in a facility designated by the county and approved by the State Department of Mental Health as a facility for 72-hour treatment and evaluation.
5151. If the facility for 72-hour treatment and evaluation admits the person, it may detain him or her for evaluation and treatment for a period not to exceed 72 hours.
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) has a long-standing policy in effect that they say gives them the right to detain patients longer, sometimes much longer, than 72 hours as authorized by Welfare and Institution Code sections 5150-5151. San Bernardino County’s crack legal beagles has interpreted these code sections to mean that the 72 hours does not start until the patient is admitted. That seems like a minor problem unless one understands the “admission process.”
ARMC’s admission process often takes 24-48 hours. When patients are brought in to ARMC for evaluation, they go through what most would think is the evaluation process. They are searched; asked to change into hospital garments; asked about medications, etc.; urine and blood samples are taken; a medical, family and social history is taken; an EKG is performed; and they are seen by a RN, an MD, and a psychiatrist for evaluations. However, none of this is considered part of the “72-hour evaluation.” It is not until after all of this is done and the patient is transferred from a room in the Triage Unit to a room in a regular unit does the 72 hours begin.
I am going to be writing several Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) pieces today and in the days to come and thought I would take a moment to make one clarification. I suspect, based on previous articles, that some readers are under the impression that I have an issue with Patrick Petre. I do not.
As my sources on the ARMC articles can tell you, I always ask about Patrick’s involvement in this big mess because I really hope that he has been nothing more than a pawn in this cover-up. When I worked at ARMC I spoke with Patrick a couple of times and really like him. Continue reading
Is anyone besides me laughing hysterically about this turn of events? I mean we sort of expected it but now that it finally hit we have to wonder what the heck he is thinking. Well I’m sure we know what he is thinking.
Mark Uffer is the most hated county employee in county history. When his termination was announced, there were reports that employees in some offices stood and cheered at the news. He stands no chance of finding another job so he is looking for a quick buck. Continue reading
We have all read the stories about the “doctors” to the stars. You know the ones: doctors who would give the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson their prescriptions of choice whether it was medically advisable or not. Well it seems that our “VIPs” from the county of San Bernardino have their own doctor to the “stars” . . . umm VIPs . . . um Board of Supervisors.
VIP treatment for San Bernardino County members of the Board of Supervisors is provided by one of Arrowhead Regional Medical Center’s doctors, a Dr. James Evans. It seems that even if a board member or other politico has an obvious substance abuse problem, or it should be obvious to someone in the medical profession, they can still get prescription pain medication without a doctor’s visit. Another fine use of taxpayer money.
FPPC complaints have been filed against San Bernardino County Supervisors Josie Gonzales and Paul Biane as well as former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer. The complaints all allege that these three individuals, along with countless other politicians and department managers, have been the recipients of free medical services at the county’s hospital, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), and have failed to report the gifts on their Statements of Economic Interests (Form 700).
VIPs, as they are known at the county-run hospital, routinely have medical treatment arranged for them free of charge at the ARMC at taxpayer expense. Often, in order to hide the free treatment, no computer records or medical charts are created. VIPs, if being treated in the emergency room, are moved ahead of even critically ill patients. Continue reading
I had a different aspect of the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) mess planned for this installment but a new twist occurred before I could get internet access long enough to write it. I’ve written about falsification of records and patient abuse before but couldn’t name names because I might put others at risk. However, three of the problem employees apparently are no longer in positions of power.
First and foremost is Paula Martin, the former manager of the Behavioral Health Unit. She saw the writing on the wall and has left the employ of San Bernardino County. I feel sorry for the new facility she will run into the ground. Continue reading
The article below as well as the three-part series over at www.inlandpolitics.com scratch only the surface of medical atrocity and abuse at San Bernardino County’s only county-run hospital, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC). Unfortunately, I was very ill and unable to make the meeting with the good doctor and Jim as I would have liked have shared a few of my own war stories from my year of working at the facility and my few days as a patient to see if I could gain a better understanding of why the situation has become so dire. Continue reading
Since you asked, here is contact information for several local Federal Bureau of Investigation offices. FYI, numerous county officials have contacted the Riverside FBI office, interviewed with them, and have requested investigations into wrongdoing in San Bernardino County. So far, nothing concrete has happened. Because so many have already contacted that particular office, I would tend to think they could also stand to hear from some private citizens.
Los Angeles: (310) 477-6565
Riverside: (951) 686-0335
Victorville: (760) 951-7119
If you want to complain or offer evidence about wrongdoing, cover ups, Medi-cal and 1011 fraud at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center specifically, you need to contact the United States Department of Justice at (202) 616-2492, as that investigation is already ongoing.
I know we have a number of Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) staff, including some of its doctors, reading this blog. I need some advice.
I wrote a short while back how I was treated by Dr. Pham. I contacted Patient Rights at ARMC and was assured my complaint was being elevated. I was supposed to hear back by January 11 and still haven’t heard a word.
Many of my friends have been through the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at Kaiser and have highly recommended it to me. If it weren’t for county employees, those groups would be empty. I tried to go some months ago, but my supervisor at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center came unglued at the thought. More recently, my doctor all but insisted on it.
I know how many county employees suffer from depression and I can’t recommend the group enough. If you have a supervisor like mine, ask to see Dr. Belin. Mark Uffer ended her county career after 25 years, and as she keeps telling me, there are a lot better places to work than San Bernardino County. She understands what we are going through and will tell the county to “pound sand” on your behalf if she thinks you will benefit from the program.
Today we were given a list of “Assertive Rights.” I thought some of you might find them interesting. Continue reading
I have finally had a chance to talk to a few of my sources. Additional information is being brought forward regarding falsification of records, including commitment records for behavioral health patients. It seems patients are being kept past their 72-hour commitments based on forged records by nurses rather than by actual doctors orders. More to come . . .
There is one especially nice thing about Jim and I having separate blogs and that is I can write about anything I want to write about without grief from Postmus, Stout, Erwin, Derry or Burum for writing about the “personal” stuff. This is one of those “personal” posts that makes those guys cringe but I don’t have to worry about it because they will never see it as they are busy with their own blog. I’ve been inundated with questions so I’m going to take a few minutes to explain all that has happened to bring about two separate blogs.
Back in October after I was laid off from work I had a bit of a meltdown. Under normal circumstances I would have taken the action with stride but 2009 was anything but a normal year for me. For the first time in a couple of decades, not having a county paycheck to rely upon was financially devastating for me. I have always had multiple sources of income including my businesses, savings earnings, rental income and second/third jobs. But 2009 was the year of financial hell and the layoff caught me off guard and unprepared. On top of that, not only did they lay me off, they also messed with my final paycheck, shorting me a lot of money. Thus the meltdown. Continue reading
At the top of my priority list right now is revealing the corruption within San Bernardino County’s Program Integrity Division, better known as the Welfare Fraud Unit, headed by Virginia Lugo. Welfare Fraud is the lowest of priorities in this county even though both internal and external fraud runs rampant.
I was discussing the issue with former San Bernardino County Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Bill Postmus this morning. It seems the two administrations since his have reduced the number of fraud investigators by over 75 percent in the past few years. This is just another example of how out of touch our current Board of Supervisors is with the public they have been elected to serve. Continue reading