Adventist CEO speaks to East Kern Economic Alliance

At the May 11 East Kern Economic Alliance meeting, Adventist Health president and CEO Charlotte Briggs spoke about the problems that the healthcare district has faced in getting the new hospital licensed and open. Thanks to the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD), many codes have changed since the beginning of construction and the hospital must meet all the codes before it can be licensed and "there is licensing for everything," she said. Most frustrating are the new pharmacy codes which went into effect at the beginning of 2017, causing many changes to be made in the hospital pharmacy. "However ,rules keep us safe," she reminded everyone. City Manager Greg Garrett added that Tehachapi has " better healthcare today than we had a year ago because of Adventist". It is still thought that the new hospital will open in early 2018.

Kimberly Maevers of the Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance reminded everyone that the deadline for information to be included in their Economic Roundtable Report is May 26. Last year some of Tehachapi's information was not received in time. Tehachapi and Ridgecrest are included in the triangle which makes up the Greater Antelope Valley.