Health WatchPajaro Valley Community Health Trust

FALL/WINTER 2019

With great reluctance, the Pajaro Val-ley Health Trust Board of Directors announced earlier this month that

it would need to withdraw from negotiations to purchase Watsonville Community Hospital from Quorum Health.

The board’s decision was announced just prior to the 45-day deadline in which the Health Trust would have been required to sign a definitive agreement with Quorum Health and make a $4.5 million non-refundable de-posit to proceed to the next step in the pur-chase.

The Health Trust reported to the community on August 29th that after a period of due dili-gence that included the engagement of outside operational, financial and legal consultants, the board determined that its acquisition of Wat-sonville Community Hospital was infeasible due to the limited time frame in which to secure financing for the acquisition and to gear up for operations.

“The Health Trust engaged in a good faith effort to find a path forward to acquire and operate Watsonville Community Hospital on behalf of our residents, stakeholders and community. We have exhausted all avenues in arriving at this very difficult decision.” says Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, Chair of the Health Trust Board of Directors. “Unfor-tunately,” she adds “the financial challenges were too significant, and the time frame too short for us to move forward.”

The opportunity to purchase the hospital

arose earlier this year when Quorum Health announced its plans to sell the facility to the Southern California-based Halsen Healthcare Group.

Under the 1998 agreement established when Watsonville Community Hospital was converted from a not-for-profit hospital to privately held, for-profit ownership, the Health Trust reserved the right to match the purchase price of any future offer to buy the hospital.

Quorum’s announcement last summer trig-gered the Health Trust’s 45-day period of re-view and evaluation which led to the board’s de-cision in July to proceed with a purchase offer, giving the Health Trust an additional 45-days to conduct due diligence on hospital operations, available financing and an array of other issues.

According to Health Trust Executive Direc-tor, De Andre James, additional research re-vealed a number of challenges facing the Health Trust,

“The timeframe to acquire financing for a purchase of this magnitude was completely in-adequate and could not be extended under the 1998 agreement,” says James. “We also learned that the $45 million cost to purchase the hos-pital did not include many of the essential electronic systems needed to operate a hospital, such as patient billing, medical records, person-nel management and more,” he says.

James says establishing those systems would have increased the cost of acquiring the hospital by approximately 40 percent.

While purchasing the hospital to restore

it to its nonprofit roots would have pleased many health care advocates in the community, “It simply wasn’t feasible or prudent,” says Caroline Eiskamp, former Health Trust Board Chair and current member of the Board. “As much as the board would like to have pro-ceeded with the purchase,’” she says, “we also have a legal fiduciary duty to use the Health Trust’s assets wisely and continue to serve the community effectively.”

“We are deeply disappointed this acquisition could not be completed,” said James. “However the effort has had the positive affect of deepen-ing our partnerships with healthcare stakehold-ers in the community and strengthening our commitment to work together to ensure quality care for our community.”

It is presumed that Quorum Health, a pri-vately held for-profit corporation based in Ten-nessee, would now proceed with a previously negotiated sale to Southern California-based Halsen Health Care Group.

The Health Trust remains committed to making sure Pajaro Valley residents have access to quality health care. “We stand ready to as-sist Watsonville Community Hospital in mak-ing sure that objective is met now, and in the future,” says James

The Health Trust will continue its mission to ensure health equity and to improve the health and quality of life for all people of the greater Pajaro Valley by working to reduce disease, pro-vide for early intervention and treatment and establish quality, culturally-responsive services.

Health Trust Reluctantly Withdraws Bid to Acquire Watsonville Community Hospital

David Adams SalonInce AkAnonymousAladdin NurseryNina AlamilloDamarius AlcigaAldina Real EstateMegan AlisagoDonna AlmJudy AlsterSaul AlvarezAmerical FloralClay AngelAnnieglassAptos Wine & SpiritsPhoenix ArtemisiaArts Council of Santa

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CompanyElla’s at the Airport

RestaurantJohn & Caroline EiskampJames EmersonLeonard EnglishEquinox ChampagneElva EscarenoAmelia EspinozaEventscapesFrancisco EstradaMary EvesExceedioDavid FallanFatima’s Fine JewelryJacqueline FernandezRamon FernandezFiorabella FloralFoodWhat?Wayne & Diana Fourney

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ConfectionsLaura FriendPaul FurmanMarie GabrielleDavid GalavizDr. Joe GallagherGina GallucciDr. Cristina GamboaMichael GarciaRebecca GarciaCaroline Garcia-HaroGayle’s Bakery &

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FilkowskiRivas GuadalupeRosa GuerreroSandra GuillenGordon & Alene

GuthmillerFabian GuzmanSylvia GuzmanMike HadleyMimi HallHallcrest VineyardsNancy HansenPete HarrisDrs. Jennifer & Julio

Porro HastingsMichele Hausman

Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust DonorsTHE HEALTH TRUST GRATEFULLY RECOGNIZES GIFTS RECEIVED FROM JULY 1, 2018, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2019. GIFTS TO THE HEALTH TRUST ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE TO THE FULL EXTENT ALLOWED UNDER IRS REGULATIONS.

Mission & VisionFounded in 1998 as a nonprofit health foundation, the Health Trust works to improve health and quality of life for people of the greater Pajaro Val-ley. The Health Trust embraces a broad definition of health – to include whole person health, wellness and prevention, and psychological, so-cial and economic well-being – to address both the symptoms and root causes of the healthcare needs in our community. We envision a greater Pajaro Valley where all people have the knowledge and resources they need to live healthy lives, health problems are prevented, and there is access to culturally competent healthcare.

We pursue our mission through three interdependent programs: direct health services, through the Diabetes Health Center; grantmaking, to support preventative and holistic approaches to address health con-cerns and encourage a strong pipeline of culturally competent health professionals; and convening, to facilitate collaborative work to improve health outcomes.

Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County

Frank HendersonRichard HenthornHernandez HydrangeasCarmen Herrera MansirKevin HeuerDr. Laura HofmeisterBrad HubbardKevin HueuerJohn & Kathy HuntingDenise HurleyLowell & Wendy HurstHarold HydeChristine HydeLuz IbarraImura RestaurantInsight PlannersIntegrity WinesCynthia IsbergJ. E. FarmsIsabel JacintoBarry JacksonPeter JenksJoel JimenezRon & Bambi JonesDeborah JonesKristina JosephSefla JosephJulie JuddKaiser PermanenteScott KajisaShebreh Kalantari-

JohnsonJanet KallRobert KampfJeff KaneJohn Kane IIIShirley KaneKayak ConnectionKAZUKB FarmsKBK Insurance AgencyDoug KeeganBob & Audrey KennedyBrandon & Trisha KettJayalakshmi KhannaShara KhosrowpanahDr. John & Jackie KielyElaine KiharaNorman KikuchiKathleen KingKissed by an Angel

WinesJohn KlelyDr. Gerald KondoDr. Brooke Kondo

RainesMatthew KongLaara KonoRick KrulickiEllen KureshiBrenda La GrangeLa Vida Bella WineryLake Flower ShippersLakeside Organic

GardensKathryn LanthropRichard & Kathy LathropClaude LardinoisRichard & Kathy Lathrop

New Healthy Farmer’s Market on the Horizon

The Food, Farming, and Health Policy Collaborative (FFHP), a group of stakeholders working to improve the local food system, is currently in its second year of existence thanks in large part to

a generous grant from Kaiser Permanente. The collaborative has been able to successfully engage and count among its members representatives from the agriculture industry, the City of Watsonville, local non-profit organizations, and food policy advocates with decades of experience.

Working in conjunction with Jesus Madrigal, manager of the Wat-sonville Farmer’s Market, the collaborative is working to bring a second farmer’s market to the Pajaro Valley that will emphasize healthy eating and active living. The proposed project, the Pajaro Valley Farmer’s Mar-ket, has created significant buzz and momentum throughout the com-munity. Health Trust staff have been meeting and recruiting a number of agencies to bring much-needed services to our community at the new market, establishing true partnerships and working in unison to support our most disadvantaged populations.

Among the services to highlight that will be offered at the new Pajaro Valley Farmer’s Market: Prescription Produce, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes, Market Match incentive program, CalFresh enrollments, WIC Program vouchers, non-profit community outreach services and informational booths, as well as other health-related benefit programs.

The Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust and the FFHP hopes to have the Pajaro Valley Farmer’s Market up and running by the Spring of 2020. If you’d like additional information or would like to support the project, contact Gustavo Indarose, our Program Associate.

Lester Family VineyardsJeff LeuchiChristine LevanRonald LevesqueDr. Robert & Nancy LeyRose LeybagLighthouse BankEleanor LittmanLiUNA!Live Earth FarmsDr. Drew & VIrginia

LogueThea LuitenM&M Party RentalsMartha MacambridgeAmy MacDonaldMichelle Maitoza-

NadolskiMary Ann MalcolmDamian MaldonadoAllyn MalloryDavid ManningAnn MarcielMarinovich Cooling and

StorageRobert MartinJohn & Megan MartinelliMartin Ranch WineryJorge MartinezTeresa Martinez-

RodriguezTom MayAnnette McCandlessDrs. Clayton & Ann

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PhysiciansMonterey Bay Research

InstituteMonterey Peninsula

FoundationJulian MontoyaStephanie MontoyaPaul MorenoBeatrice MorrisRose MurphyRosa Murtha

Dominic & Martha Muzzi

My Mom’s MoleNob Hill/Raley’s FoodsNicholson VineyardsRose NilsonPhyllis NgaminiZora NoarbeWilliam O’GielowLuz OlivarezO’Neil Yacht ChartersZane OtaPacific Coast TherapistsPajaronian NewspaperPalace Art and Office

SupplyPanda InnLorenia Parada-

AmpudiaTom ParraJulie PazPebble Beach CompanyDick & Marisela PeixotoGary PeixotoPelican Ranch WineryEmilia PenaSilvia PerezPhil’s Fish Market &

EateryPoertry in Motion

CateringJoey & Sarah Stevens

PonzioSteven PonzioMichael & Rosemarie

PozziCharles PrentissBill ProulxJosh & Annie PuckettMartha QuintanaRabobank, N.A.Radiology Medical

GroupDavid RamirezDonna RamosKuzette RamosBetty RatherMike ReedReiter Affiliated

CompaniesZiggy Rendler- BregmanChristine ReyesSkye Rhodes-RendonGiselle RiberoRidge VineyardsJessica RidgewaySean RidgewayAntonio RivasRiver Run VintnersRoaring Camp RailroadsJose Rocha

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PhotographyShear-Yashuv RubinLorena RussoRVS ThecnologyS. Martinelli & CompanyDr. Stuart SakumaAdrian SalesVaughn SallyGabriela SanchezJorge SanchezSalud Para La GenteKevin SanchezSandbar & GrillSanta Cruz BaalsamicsSanta Cruz Community

Credit UnionSanta Cruz County BankSanta Cruz NaturalsSanta Cruz Seaside

CompanySanta Cruz SentinelSanta Cruz SymphonySanta Cruz WarriorsBeth SchatzmanKristine ScopazziMark & Laurie ScurichSeabright BrewerySecond Harvest Food

BankJulio SerritenoSeverino’s Bar & GrillSi Se PuedeAmy SibigaSilver Mountain

VineyardsCharles SingerKaren SkillicornRobert SmetDr. Jeff & Dora SolinasSones CellarsSoquel VineyardsDr. David & Mary SouthCharlie SouzaAlyssa SowersbyDr. Daniel SpilmanSplash CafeAlice St. CatherineJinny StoneStorrs Winery

Kelly StricklingMendi Suber-VenturaSunrise NurserySharon SurwaldSutter Maternity &

Surgery CenterDrs. Donna Takahashi &

Norman KikuchiCharlotte TakemotoGeorgina TalamantesElaine TaylorSteve TaylorTaylor’s Office CityTerry TeitelbaumChristine TerryTerry Mechanical Inc.The Turkey Boat

RestaurantAmy ThompasMoira ThomasThomas FarmsJacqueline ThompsonShirley ThomppsonGwendolyn Tornatore

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WeberMike & Cindy WelchWells Fargo Bank, N.A.Rachel WilliamsJonathan & Susan

WittwerThomas WoessnerSamuel WrightWrights Station WineryJames YarnellGanze YazganPhil & Shaz Roth YbarraNancy YellinLupita ZamoraLorena ZamoraFrank & Elia ZamudioBruce Ziegelman

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit #146

Watsonville, CA

85 Nielson StreetWatsonville, CA 95076

P A J A R O V A L L E Y

C O M M U N I T YH E A L T H T R U S T

PROMOVIENDO UN FUTURO SALUDA

BLE

PROM

OTING A HEALTHY FUTURE

Tickets are now on sale for

An Evening of Wine & RosesFriday, November 1, 2019, 6-9 p.m.

Crosetti Hall, Santa Cruz County FairgroundsWe hope you will join us again this year to sample wines from notable Santa Cruz Mountains’ Vintners

and delicious bites from local eateries. Pair these tastes of the region with opportunities to bid on excursions and fine items offered via live and silent auction — all amidst a background of

beautiful locally grown roses and other cut flowers.

Special Décor this year: This year, the Wine and Roses Event will fall on the same day as the Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos celebrations. In honor of the Mexican cultural holiday, we are

adding décor accents that reflect the bright colors and celebratory mood of the yearly tradition of remembering departed loved ones.

We encourage those who wish to dress up or make up their faces in this tradition to do so!

The Evening of Wine & Roses is a collective celebration of our mission of good health for all!

100% of net proceeds support programs of the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust

501 (c)3 Tax ID: #94-1149702

Don’t forget to try your luck in the

“Cash is King Raffle”Purchase one or more tickets to try your luck on winning up to $1,000 CASH!

Only 250 tickets will be offered for saleCash is King Raffle Tickets: $40 each

Winner will be drawn at the Wine & Roses Event. Need not be present to win!

Event & Raffle Tickets can be purchased at https://pvhealthtrust.ejoinme.org/2019 or call us at 831-761-5639