photo by: Rochelle Valverde

Heartland CEO Julie Branstrom speaks with Commission Chair Shannon Reid and Commission Vice Chair Patrick Kelly as part of the commission's meeting Jan. 19, 2022. Commissioner Shannon Portillo participated virtually.

County leaders have approved a funding request from Heartland Community Health Center, but they were clear that the conversation was not over when it came to ensuring that Heartland works toward greater transparency.

As part of its meeting Wednesday, the Douglas County Commission voted unanimously to grant Heartland, which is a safety-net health care provider, an allocation of $227,003 for 2022. Commissioners have discussed concerns about leadership turnover, equity and transparency with Heartland leaders in recent months, and though commissioners approved the funding request, they also wanted to make more progress on those issues.

“I would feel comfortable moving forward with this funding request, but I hope that we can continue the conversation about accountability and transparency moving forward,” Commissioner Shannon Portillo said.

The discussion began during the commission’s budget deliberations in June. At the time, commissioners questioned Heartland representatives about the departure of two top executives, former CEO Robyn Coventon and former COO Tiffany Lewis. Lewis later disclosed to the Journal-World that she had made a racial discrimination complaint against Heartland. Heartland leaders met with the commission again in October, and Wednesday’s discussion was a follow-up on that.

Heartland leaders provided the commission updates regarding actions related to transparency and equity that the center has taken since October. People of color make up 30% of the center’s patients, and commissioners previously asked several questions about the center’s diversity and equity efforts. The update included information about upcoming diversity, equity and inclusion training; development of an internal equity advisory group; and plans to create a demographic database of its employees and of those who apply but are not selected.

However, Heartland’s update expressed concern about a suggestion that board members’ contact information be listed on the Heartland website, saying that policy and procedures were being considered before that information was added. Heartland CEO Julie Branstrom said the concern was regarding board members acting or responding individually when issues should be brought to the board as a whole during its meetings. In response, County Administrator Sarah Plinsky asked whether Heartland’s website provides information about when the board meets, and Branstrom said it did not.

Commission Chair Shannon Reid said the request was based on concerns from a community member about not being able to locate information about who was on the board or how to contact them with issues. Reid suggested that there be an email address for the board or some other contact mechanism for people to send a message to the board directly, rather than go through Heartland staff.

Portillo asked for an update on the county’s request to place a county staff member on the Heartland board in ex-officio capacity. Branstrom, after clarifying that the ex-officio member would not be a voting member, said she thought that would be fine and she didn’t think the board would take issue with that.

During public comment, the Rev. William Dulin, of Calvary Church of God in Christ, expressed concerns about transparency and the function of the board. Dulin said a member of his church was on the board in capacity as a Heartland client, but was terminated and didn’t get clarity as to why. He said his concern was not about the county providing Heartland funding, but rather about who is running Heartland, what are hiring and firing criteria, and what are the guidelines and power of the board.

“When people need help, there should be a place they can go get it, and I appreciate the county supporting it,” Dulin said. “But at the same time, I think there needs to be some more clarity for the community to know how Heartland is really being guided.”

Commission Vice Chair Patrick Kelly asked Branstrom if she could provide some clarification about grievances, and she said there is a process in place for patient grievances, but she recognized there needed to be additional avenues.

“We recognize that there needs to be transparency and that there needs to be a way for community members maybe who are or aren’t patients to have access to the board,” Branstrom said. “And I hope that providing email addresses and that direct contact for folks will help remedy that issue.”

Commissioners said they appreciated that Heartland was engaging with the county. Reid said questions were being raised in various venues and conversations, and that it was important to have the conversation about accountability and transparency in a public forum. Kelly said that because Heartland was one of the county’s community partners, it was important that concerns be addressed when raised. He said it seemed that Heartland recognized that process was important too.

“I appreciate the responsiveness of Heartland,” Kelly said. “I think we still have work to do.”