SP Hospital proving successful, Bankers Investment still at the top
March 30, 2007
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Santa Paula Hospital is proving successful, and a longtime money management company is still at the top, those attending Good Morning Santa Paula learned at the March meeting.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesSanta Paula Hospital is proving successful, and a longtime money management company is still at the top, those attending Good Morning Santa Paula learned at the March meeting. Phil Caruso of Bankers Investment Counseling hosted the Chamber-sponsored event held at the Grove restaurant.Caruso said that Bankers Investment Counseling offers financial asset management of portfolios. “We’re a conservation money manager... we’re called bankers. In the 1960s when Bank of A. Levy started their trust department,” Bankers Investment Counseling was the operations advisor. “We had our office in Ventura for about 20 years and finally got smart and moved to Santa Paula,” noted Caruso.Rules for managing money “don’t change and have prevailed for the last 50 years... there are highlights in each profession when you think job well done,” and a benchmark for Bankers Investment has been booking client returns increases in spite of serious adjustments on Wall Street. “I have many clients for many years,” including those that have stretched through three generations.A Santa Paula resident for about 25 years, Caruso said his wife used to own the telephone answering service. “That was our college education for the kids... as soon as they graduated from college and cell phones came in” his wife closed the business.Santa Paula Hospital Executive Director Mike Borelli said that since the Hospital on the Hill opened under county leadership in July, there have been about 5,400 visits to the Emergency Room. The hospital has 49 licensed beds and river valley residents represent about 90 percent of its patient base.
Borelli said that the hospital is holding a “Baby Fair” on May 12, “an opportunity for expectant mothers and children to come and tour and take advantage of a lot of service providers,” offering everything from parenting glasses to nutritional information. “We’re very excited about this upcoming event.”The hospital has three clinics, including a Women’s Clinic open five days a week that offers both prenatal and maternity care. The Orthopedic Clinic is also staffed five days a week, and the General Surgery Clinic is open Tuesdays.At Santa Paula Hospital “we do serve most insurance carriers,” as well as Medicare, Medical, the underinsured and those lacking insurance. The Auxiliary has about 23 members who “come on a daily basis and are really appreciated.”The hospital does have equipment needs - new or for replacement - and has “developed a very good relationship with the Santa Clara Valley Wellness Foundation.... One of their key missions is to raise funds to help support our equipment needs.”Being part of the Ventura County Medical Center and clinic network is “really showing evidence of ramping up the volume” of patients served, with increases seen in admissions and surgery. With initial utilization higher than expected, “All indications are that we’re on a very successful track and will continue that growth.”The hospital also has a “very good payer mix, a good percent of Medicare and private insurance... the percentage of uninsured patients is lower than VCMC is seeing,” Borelli noted. “We’re seeing a very good payer mix at this hospital. And I really appreciate the opportunity... I can’t tell you how proud I am” to serve the community and staff.