A special hearing of the Board of Supervisors heard concerns over the impending transfer of three OC hospitals, including one in the Fourth District.

West Anaheim Medical Center, La Palma Inter-Community Hospital and Huntington Beach Hospital had long been operated by Vanguard Health Systems until their recent purchase by Dr. Prem Reddy and his Victorville-based Prime Healthcare Services, Inc.

Most of the speakers expressed concerns about the practices of Prime Healthcare, and Dr. Reddy himself came under intense scrutiny. Concerns included inter-hospital patient transfer practices, cancellation of HMO contracts, emergency room admittance practices and the continuance of County-contracted services for the indigent.

Dr. Reddy spoke at the conclusion of the 3-hour hearing, vigorously defending his level of care and business practices. Final issuance of the license to Dr. Reddy to operate the three OC hospitals is still pending before the State of California Health Services Agency. Opponents of the sale are urging the Board to write a letter to the State expressing concerns about the transfer.

The Board balked at imposing a smoking ban on County beaches by a 2-2 vote (Silva abstaining). I joined Supervisor Campbell in opposing the ban at this time, unconvinced of the need and doubtful as to how it would be enforced.

Is second-hand smoke a real problem in open areas buffeted by constant sea breezes? I have yet to hear a single constituent complaint about this. The ban would also have applied to parking lots and to smoking in cars on County beach property.

While fully cognizant of the health risks smokers take in this unsavory habit, I remain skeptical of feel-good laws that impose ever-further restrictions on legal adult activities. I remain open to the issue, however, especially the impact of non-degradable cigarette butts on beach and sea life. Supervisor-elect John Moorlach would be the swing vote on this issue, which could come up again next year.

The Board of Supervisors approved a resolution clarifying voter qualifications, but did not authorize a letter to the 14,000 OC voters who had received a letter from the Tan Nguyen for Congress Campaign. That letter erroneously stated that “immigrants cannot vote”, was printed in Spanish and was mailed only to foreign-born voters with Spanish surnames. Local activists had demanded that the Board send an official letter of refutation, to reassure all of their right to vote.

The original letter—signed by an unknown “Sergio Ramirez”-- was widely criticized as a ham-handed attempt to suppress Hispanic voter turn-out in the 47th Congressional district race, where Nguyen is challenging Loretta Sanchez.

A subsequent letter of reassurance was sent out by Secretary of State Bruce McPherson, which made any County action unnecessary. In addition, Board members were concerned that an official County letter would establish a precedent which would draw future Board of Supervisors into becoming a “truth squad” in future campaigns.

Bert Ashland scored the highest on the OC Quiz, published in last week’s Norby Notes.

Answers:

1. Largest city without its own high school: Yorba Linda
2. Largest lake: Lake Irvine
3. City named after an author: Dana Point
4. Council member been in office the longest: Norm Eckenrode of Placentia (28 years)
5. Number of years the Rams played in Anaheim: 15 (1980-1994)
6. Alligator Farm was located in: Buena Park
7. Ruben E. Lee: Floating restaurant in Newport Harbor.
8. Two high schools nicknamed “Aztecs”: La Quinta & Esperanza
9. Largest unincorporated community: North Tustin
10. Name of Lake Forest post office: El Toro