CAMARILLO : 2 on Hospital Board Won’t Block Audit

Two Pleasant Valley Hospital board members said Wednesday that they would not block an independent audit of the hospital’s financial records if it would quell community opposition to a proposed hospital merger.

“We have nothing to hide,” said Pleasant Valley board Chairman Thomas K. Dodds Jr. “The district is welcome to come in and take a peek.”

“We don’t want a peek, we want a long look,” said attorney Jim Jeffries, who represented the Camarillo Health Care District when it managed Camarillo’s only hospital.

About 20 physicians and residents attended a joint meeting of the hospital and district boards Wednesday. The meeting was called to discuss the audit in light of community concerns about the proposed merger with St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard.

Dr. Richard Loft suggested that the hospital delay the merger three to six months, go into what he called “panic mode,” and start cutting management positions to save money.

Two residents, who cited billing problems with the hospital, questioned whether the hospital could improve its collection practices to keep the facility on its feet for the long term.

“The billing is a problem, there’s no question about that,” Dodds said, adding that the hospital is working to eliminate computer bugs.

District board member Gary Norris estimated the cost of an audit at $100,000, which would come from the district’s general fund, which in turn comes from tax revenue. Norris said the audit would also discuss pros and cons of the district seizing control of the hospital by eminent domain.

The district board will decide at its May 27 meeting whether it wants to spend that much on the audit. Norris encouraged residents to offer their opinions.

The Pleasant Valley board will formally decide whether to allow the district to audit the hospital’s books at its next meeting May 26, but Dodds and board member Freda Fisher said they would support an audit.

The hospital on Monday submitted the merger application, which must be approved by Federal Trade Commission.