According to Eastern Plumas Health Care’s CFO, Jeri Nelson, “We reached out last week to our Auxiliary to fund a replacement bathtub for Portola skilled nursing care residents. The existing bathtub was in need of constant repair, and replacement parts were becoming hard to find. The replacement would cost $14,400–not your normal bathtub!” Nelson said that the Auxiliary voiced some concerns about the future of EPHC’s skilled nursing facilities because of the possible State Medi-Cal rate cuts. She explained that the hospital’s 2014 budget takes the cuts into account, and balances by restructuring some departments, cutting any unnecessary spending, and working to increasing volumes in the hospital and clinic. She assured the Auxiliary that the hospital and the skilled nursing facilities would not close.
The Auxiliary wrote the check out before leaving the building. “How wonderful it is to have that kind of support and belief in us,” said Nelson. “The Auxiliary’s commitment to patient care in this community helps us continue to provide the quality care our patients and residents deserve.”