Grand Jury Blasts Tri-City Medical Center Board

The Tri-City Healthcare District's current board of directors is dysfunctional, according to a report released Wednesday by the San Diego County grand jury.

According to the report, many Tri-City board members have been disciplined and sanctioned and rendered ineffective by conflict of interest, or compromised by personal issues involving professional and educational credentials.

Some board members have been barred from closed meetings or are currently barred from all meetings for inappropriate behavior, and one board member must participate in meetings from another room under guard, according to the report.

Tri-City officials had no comment on the report.

The grand jury recommends that the Board of Directors adhere to board policies and procedures, conduct its meetings using Robert's Rules of Order, and seek professional training aimed at team-building and appropriate meeting conduct.

The grand jury also recommends that the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission convene a panel consisting of representatives from the cities of Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and one or two members of the public, along with a representative of the Tri-City Healthcare District, to evaluate the governance of the District to determine if an elected board is its best option.

The grand jury also recommends that Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista and the Board of Supervisors conduct informational campaigns to underscore the necessity of encouraging qualified candidates to run for the Tri-City Healthcare District board.

In its report, the grand jury also commended hospital personnel for maintaining high standards of care in the face of negative publicity.

-City News Service