To: Paul Cumming;
Leslie Morrison
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 12:14:00 PM
Contacted today - from my notes....Kathi
July 17, 2007 11:00 A.M.
I called Wing Ling Young (sic) 909-383-6701 and she answered the phone.
She is the supervisor for that area. She indicated that they are hesitant to issue a corrective action to ETS because this is a "community problem." I indicated it is not their job to determine whose problem it is, but to file an out of compliance. She said they are really busy and are behind. Indicated that is affecting a significant population of patients. She said, "I know it is." I indicated they are past the 60-day response date and I haven't received anything from them. She said it is still under investigation. I asked for a status letter in the meantime with a projection of a timetable when this investigation will be done. She said that she couldn't do that. She said that the investigator, Carolyn
McHugh, will be out of the office all next week and when she gets back she will be out again. So that nothing will be done at this time until the end of the month when Carolyn McHugh gets back. Wing Ling said they are hesitant to issue a corrective action because the hospital will discharge patients before they are ready. I indicated to her again, this was not her problem. Her duty is to issue whether they are in compliance or out of compliance. With this, again, she said they plan on issuing a plan of correction if the investigation warrants it but they are behind. I asked her if she would have Carolyn McHugh call me and Wing Ling said that I could leave a message for Carolyn on her phone. I indicted I didn't like that idea because in the past Carolyn has not been workable. I asked Wing Ling if she would call me by the end of the month and give me a progress update. She said she would. I gave Wing Ling my cell number. I indicated to Wing Ling that last time this took 8 months and it took heroic efforts on my part to get a plan of corrective action, and I will not tolerate this taking another 8 months.
I also indicated in the last corrective action, it was suppose to be complete by June of last year. The ultimate solution was to expand ETS or rebuild ETS, and neither one have happened. I asked her why they did not revisit ETS when the plan of corrective action time was up last June. Wing Ling said it was because they are too busy to keep track. I explained that this affects many clients on many days. This isn't like a one-shot deal type of complaint. It needs to go to the top of the pile. Wing Ling said there was nothing she can do until the investigation is done. She can't even end a status letter, but she will call me by the end of the month and give me an update. I indicated that I might have to call the state capital like I did last time because this office is very resistive to issue a plan of action. Wing Ling indicated that after the investigation is complete, and there is
A problem, they will send out request of a plan of action.
I indicted I needed that to approach the Board of Supervisors to remedy
this problem, but I can only do that AFTER I get their out of compliance letter.