August 26, 2024 – Mariposa desperately needs John C. Fremont Healthcare District, a skilled medical staff, and an administration to stabilize the hospital for our future community needs. 

Two of my goals are: First, ensure our community continues to have medical and long-term facilities to care for us. Second, improve public knowledge of what our hospital offers the community, and any changes needed to improve the facilities.

As a Mariposa County Resident my vision of the future for John C. Fremont is a community needs-driven hospital that is financially solvent.

I want to help secure a future of “Gracious Care for your loved ones.”

Key skills I will bring to the board are decision-making, communication, compromise, listening, and teamwork. Finally, my working knowledge of strategic planning will improve program growth.

Staffing has been and continues to be a difficult part of providing patient care. Those who are currently working at the hospital are doing their best to provide medical care to the community. We need to secure additional physicians and medical staff for the future growth of the hospital. As a member of the board, this issue would become a top priority for me to research and offer options for growth and hiring. Financial issues have long been a problem for the hospital, I will be utilizing my education and knowledge to research and offer suggestions to aid the hospital in becoming financially secure. I can compare the cost of what John C. Fremont currently offers and how changes can aid the hospital in gaining financial solvency.

I am a firm believer in open communication lines between the community and the hospital.  My past positions made me aware hospitals have multiple moving parts. I have studied, practiced, and adhered to multiple laws, rules, and regulations.  Within the military workforce and as a civilian member of boards and clubs.

I was previously selected to the Board at a Special Board meeting filling an interim position from 10 August 2022 through 8 December 2022. In the last two years since leaving the board position, I have attended and offered suggestions to improve or alter decisions brought to the board. When advised of concerns, by Mariposa citizens, I got those concerns to the board.

I have a bachelor’s in human resources from Friend’s University, Wichita, Kansas, and a master’s in administration from Central Michigan University, Ft Riley, Kansas.

My work history spans 34 years with the Federal Government. I have extensive knowledge of hospital administration through my position as Medical Expense Reporting System supervisor for Letterman Army Medical Center and Irwin Army Hospital. This position allowed me to research hospital usage and patient quotas. With the data, I compiled Letterman Army Medical Center was downsized to a clinic. This data aided in the stages of employee reassignment rather than releasing employees. These same skills were utilized when I assisted in Irwin Army Hospital's growth and patient care expansion. I have multiple levels of management experience, including the Employee Readiness Program Training Development Program, and Strategic Planning within the Federal Government.

I was a Toastmaster for 14 years and held club president roles in various clubs across the United States. I am currently a member of the Calaveras-Mariposa Community Action Board. I graduated from the Flinthills Leadership program collaborating with local communities to prioritize the growth and expansion of programs they offered.

I can be contacted on Facebook at TeresajohnsonforJCFhospital, or email tjnana580@gmail.com.

I look forward to speaking with you about your needs and concerns. Then working together to make our hospital the first and best choice for medical care.

Source & photo: Teresa Johnson