![L to R: AVH Chief Executive Officer Dennis Knox and ACHD Executive Director Tom Petersen with AVH Board of Directors Dr. Mukund Shah, chair; Dr. Abdallah Farrukh, first vice chair; Dr. Don Parazo, treasurer; and Dr. Doddanna Krishna, secretary. (Not pictured: Berna Mayer, MN, CFNP, second vice chair) [Contributed]](https://www.theavtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/AVH-Certified-Healthcare-District.jpg)
To be designated as a Certified Healthcare District, the district must demonstrate, among other things, compliance with best practices in governance, as defined by the ACHD. These best practice criteria address the obligations that healthcare districts have in conducting business transparently to the public being served.
In presenting the certificate, ACHD Executive Director Tom Petersen commended the Antelope Valley Healthcare District for its “demonstrated commitment to best practices in governance for a public entity.” He noted that Antelope Valley Hospital is an example of an “exceptional governance model” as not many hospitals in California operate in such a transparent manner.
Dr. Don Parazo, Antelope Valley Healthcare District board member, extended his appreciation to the ACHD for their support and recognition of the efforts of Antelope Valley Hospital. “We are honored to be one of the first healthcare districts in California to attain this distinction,” he said. “Our board is committed to transparency and doing the right thing for our shareholders, which is the community we serve.”
The ACHD represents 78 healthcare districts throughout California, operating 43 district hospitals. Healthcare districts were created after World War II to address a shortage of access to acute hospital care for many parts of the state, particularly rural areas.
Founded in 1955, AVH serves 218,000 patients annually. The 420-bed hospital offers a full-service emergency department, heart and vascular care, obstetrical services including neo-natal intensive care unit, a trauma center, diagnostic imaging services, critical care units, mental health, cancer care, and many other medical/surgical services, including outpatient surgery, and occupational and physical therapy.
AVH employs more than 2,500 individuals. Collectively, California’s district hospitals employ more than 32,000 individuals in 40 counties.
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M13 says
I guess the Los Angeles Times and the independent group that did this survey has another opinion on the care they give at least.
http://graphics.latimes.com/california-hospital-scores/