Sierra Kings hospital leader faces protesters

Published online on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009

The chairwoman of Sierra Kings District Hospital faced pickets Tuesday who asked her to resign, saying the bankrupt hospital needs new leadership.

A group of about eight people attending the board meeting called for Trish Johnson to step down. The board has scheduled a meeting at 12:30 p.m. Thursday to discuss board reorganization.

"It's under her leadership that we've gone into Chapter 9 bankruptcy," said Carol McCain, a retired college instructor and one of those picketing at Tuesday's board meeting. The hospital filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy Oct. 8. Hospital officials have said the filing will give the hospital time to recover from a $3 million debt. Chapter 9 of the bankruptcy code covers municipalities and other government entities. The hospital qualifies because it is a taxpayer-supported district hospital established under the state's district laws.

Johnson, a nurse/educator, has been on the board for 19 years. Her current elected four-year term expires next year. Johnson said anger directed solely at her is misdirected.

"This is leadership as a whole -- not leadership by one," she said when contacted after Tuesday's board meeting. "I just happened to be the chair. I just happened to be a nurse, and I'm fair game because it's a public office."

The hospital is governed by a five-member board of directors -- Dr. Jacob Friesen, pizza restaurant owner Israel Lara, retired social worker Kathleen Omachi, retired law enforcement officer and former Reedley Police Chief Forrest Brown and Johnson. Brown said after the meeting that said he supports Johnson.

"I don't want to see her off the board," he said. But Brown said the board could ask her to step down. "Our concern is the hospital and what's best for the hospital."

Omachi said the decision would be Johnson's to make. Friesen and Lara could not be reached to comment.

McCain, who serves on the Sierra Kings Hospital Foundation, said she was not representing the foundation in the drive to get Johnson to resign. But the community wants her to step down, she said.

Johnson was handed a petition with 300 signatures in support of her removal at Tuesday's board meeting, McCain said.

"We've basically lost our community support, and we're a district hospital, and we need that community support," she said.

The board hired consultants to run the institution this fall after placing CEO Pamela Ott on unpaid administrative leave until the outcome of a criminal case against her. She faces felony elder-abuse charges in connection with her previous employment in Kern County. Chief Financial Officer Barbara Jennings was fired.

Pamela Melville, owner of a Reedley gift store, said she wants Johnson to resign. "We just want people to be held accountable for their actions," she said.