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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
San Diego County, CA November 2, 2004 Election
Smart Voter Full Biography for Marcelo R. Rivera, M.D.

Candidate for
Palomar Pomerado Health; Palomar Pomerado Health System; Full Term

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This information is provided by the candidate

Marcelo R. Rivera, M.D.

  • Board Certified Internal Medicine

Dr. Rivera received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1972 from the University of Illinois, where he graduated with High Honors. He received his Doctor of Medicine Degree in 1976 from Rush University of Health Sciences in Chicago, Illinois. For the past 25 years, Dr. Rivera has provided patient care services as a Board Certified Internal Medicine Specialist to patients in Ramona, Poway and Rancho Bernardo. He resides with his wife, Luan, in Ramona and has two children, Sheyna and Michael.

Dr. Rivera has been actively involved at Pomerado Hospital, where he served as Chief of Staff. He was elected to the PPH Board of Directors in 2000. During his four years on the Board of Directors, he has served on the Strategic Planning Committee, Ad-Hoc Nursing Future Committee, Human Resource Committee, and Quality Management Committee.

In addition, Dr. Rivera has been Chairperson of the Hospital Board Finance Committee for 2 years. As Chairperson of the Board Finance Committee, he successfully oversaw a $350 million operating budget and helped develop the financing plan to meet the expansion and seismic safety standards for facilities in our Hospital District. Through his involvement with the Strategic Planning Committee, Dr. Rivera has also been intimately involved in developing the current Master Facility Plan.

Complete professional biography curriculum vitae:

  • Residency Internal Medicine Rush-Presbyterian Medical Center, (1976-1979), 1743 W. Harrison, Chicago IL 60001
  • Doctor of Medicine Rush University of Health Sciences, (1972-1976), 1743 W. Harrison, Chicago, IL 60001
  • Undergraduate University of Illinois, Bachelor of Science, with High Honors (Major- Chemistry), (1968-1972), Champaign-Urbana, IL

  • HEALTH SYSTEM BOARD OF DIRECTORS Experience:

  • Trustee, Palomar-Pomerado Health (PPH) Board of Directors (2000-2004). Serving approximately 500,000 people and 800 sq. mile service area (1400 sq. mi Trauma Service Area). Comprehensive Health Care System with approximately 3000 employees, 600 hundred physicians, two hospitals (one tertiary care and one community based hospital with total of 443 beds, two skilled nursing facilities, one Surgery Center located in Inland North San Diego County. PPH is the largest Public Hospital District in the State of California.

  • Chairperson, Health System Board Finance Committee (2002-2004). Oversight of $350 million operating budget. During my tenure as Chairperson, the Health District obtained an A2 Moody's rating with net return from operations of $14 million (FY2004). Directed the development of the financing plan for Proposition BB, part of an integrated plan of finance to meet the financial needs of major hospital expansion, facility repair and expansion of comprehensive clinical services. Proposition BB will double Critical Care capacity, Trauma and Emergency Service capacity and increase hospital bed capacity by 70%. Proposition BB will also build Community Urgent Care Centers. This plan was adopted by the Board August 2004 and includes a proposal for a $496 million general obligation bond, $210 million tax exempt Revenue Bonds and $70 million cash from operations and philanthropy.

  • Member, Health System Board Strategic Planning Committee (2002-2004). Participated in the needs assessment and development of major hospital facility expansion plan, Proposition BB, to address seismic retrofit and safety requirements of the Sate of California mandated by SB 1953. Helped develop a plan to replace 75% of the bed capacity at Palomar Medical Center and increase the current 431-bed capacity by over 70% to 736-bed capacity. Including the design of a new 453 bed "Hospital of the Future." Pomerado Hospital will be remodeled and expanded from 107-bed facility to a 211-bed hospital. This plan also includes increased Trauma, Emergency Room, Critical Care, Operating Room, related diagnostic, treatment and outpatient services. Urgent Care facilities in the surrounding communities of Ramona, Valley Center, Pauma Valley, Rancho Penasquitos, Escondido and San Marcos California are also part of this comprehensive plan.

  • Member, Health System Board Quality Management Committee (2003-2004). Participated in "Balanced Score Card Quality Improvement Initiative." The Committee established "customer satisfaction" focus throughout the Health System. Coordinated with staff and Medical Staff quality indicators in compliance with JACHO guidelines and standard of care focus.

  • Member, Ad-Hoc Nursing Future Health System Board Committee (2002-2003). Participated in the Health District's successful partnership with California State-San Marcos University to develop a four year (BN) School of Nursing opening in 2006. This effort was initiated by Palomar-Pomerado Health in conjunction with the University to address the urgent need to educate more nurses to alleviate the current nursing shortage.

  • Member, Health System Board Human Resource Committee (2000-2001). Participated in development of policies to address programs to improve employee morale and to increase salaries for hospital employees. The Health System also made the successful transition to employee representation by organized bargaining units of California Nurses Association (CNA) and California Hospital Union Employees (CHUE).

  • Member, Health System Architectural and Building Committee, (2004). Committee established August of 2004 to provide oversight of the implementation of the Master Facilities Plan, adopted by the Health System Board July 2004. Anshen-Allen Architects is the firm involved in the Health System expansion project.

  • Member, Health System Ad-Hoc CEO Search Committee (2002). Participated in developing CEO Job Description, qualifications and search criteria. The Health System worked with Witt-Kieffer and Associates to recruit and hire Michael Covert, an outstanding CEO who had previously worked at the Washington Medical Center in Washington D.C. and Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

  • Physician, Private Practice: Internal Medicine, Private Practice, Solo Practitioner, Board Certified Internal Medicine Specialist with offices in Ramona and Poway. A member in good standing of the Active Medical Staff of Pomerado Hospital with full admitting privileges since 1979.

  • NORTH COUNTY INTERNAL MEDICINE Inc. (1997 -1999) I was President of North County Internal Medicine Inc., a group of nine Internists incorporated February 1997. The group provided Primary Care Internal Medicine services for the areas of Ramona, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, and Escondido in northern San Diego County.

  • PALOMAR-POMERADO HEALTH CENTERS (PPHC) (1993-1997) A nine-member Internal Medicine Group working as employees of the Palomar-Pomerado Health System, a Public Hospital District System. The intent of the group was to develop an adult primary care service for a Public Hospital District in the Inland North County area of San Diego County.

  • Staff Physician: (1979-1981) North County Health Clinic, Ramona California Employed by the North County Health Clinic as part of the National Health Corp providing General Internal Medicine Services.

  • Physician Representative: Administrative Physician Representative Board of Director for Palomar-Pomerado Medical Associates (PPMA) (1997-1999). This IPA represented approximately 250 physicians serving the Inland North County areas of Poway, Ramona, Rancho Bernardo, and Escondido.

  • Scripps-Health First: (1993-1994) Represented the PPHC Medical group in this county-wide effort to develop an integrated health care network in the service areas of Palomar-Pomerado Health System, Mercy Health Care, Scripps Health System and, Paradise Valley Hospital. Along with the hospital systems, Physician groups representing 350 Primary Care and 720 Specialists were involved in this attempt to create a fully integrated health care system serving San Diego County.

MEDICAL STAFF LEADERSHIP:

  • Chief of Staff: (1992-1994) Pomerado Hospital (Poway, California) Represented a Medical Staff of 250 Physicians providing hospital services in a 107-bed community hospital. During my tenure, Pomerado Hospital successfully completed a Joint Accreditation Commission of Hospital Organizations (JACHO), accreditation review. Additionally, I was involved in a reorganization of Medical Staff Quality Management Program and helped introduce the concept of Continuous Quality Management.

  • Chairperson, Utilization Resources Committee: (1994-2004) Pomerado Hospital Participated in Health Resource Utilization (UR) activities for the Medical Staff at Pomerado Hospital. Worked with Medical Staff and Administrative Staff to establish Patient Care Pathways to maximize quality care and minimize cost of care. During this time, the Hospital also established a "24 hour Observation Unit," improved Case Management activities and improved utilization of Home Health Services.

HOSPITAL MEDICAL STAFF COMMITTEES:

  • 1995-2004 Chairperson, Hospital Resource Committee (Utilization Review Committee)
  • 1994-1996 Past Chief of Staff Pomerado Hospital
  • 1994-1995 Chairperson; Medical Staff Credentials Committee
  • 1993-1995 Member, Hospital-Board Finance Committee Palomar-Pomerado Health System
  • 1992-1994 Chief of Staff, Pomerado Hospital
  • 1992-1995 Member, Medical Staff- Administration Partnership Committee
  • 1991-1992 Chief of Staff Elect
  • 1991-1992 Chairperson, Medical Staff By-Laws Committee
  • 1992-1993 Member, Palomar-Pomerado Hospital Foundation
  • 1991-2000 Member, Medical Staff Executive Committee
  • 1990-2004 Member, Quality Management Committee
  • 1990-1991 Member, Infection Control Committee
  • 1987-1988 Secretary-Treasurer Medical Staff
  • 1986-1987 Chairperson, Medical Staff Pharmacy, Therapeutics and Nutrition Committee
  • 1985-1986 Chairperson, Department of Medicine
  • 1984-1985 Chairperson, Quality Management Department of Medicine

PAST COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEER SERVICE:

  • Elected School Board Trustee Ramona Unified School District K-12, (1981-1994)
  • Member, Olive Peirce Middle School SITE Council, (1995-1997)
  • Ramona-Julian Health Advisory Council, (1990-1994)
  • Continuing Service Award Sun Valley Council PT A, (1994)
  • Chairperson, Ramona Medical Center Scholarship Committee, (1984-2000)
  • Sponsor and Coach Youth Recreational Soccer and Basketball League
  • Chairperson, Admissions Committee Rush Medical School, (1977-1979)
  • Member, Admissions Committee Rush Medical School, (1975-1979)
  • Health Care Provider Fritzi Englestein People's Clinic -Chicago, IL, (1972-1979)

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 25, 2004 14:51
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