Press release

Devon Mathis, Inyo County’s representative in the State Assembly, toured Northern Inyo Healthcare District in late June. In meeting with the district’s leadership, Mathis got a first-hand look at the advances the District has made in improving access to modern technology and provider services during the last year.

Assemblyman Devon Mathis, left, Inyo’s representative in the state Assembly, and Dr. Kevin S. Flanigan, Chief Executive Officer of Northern Inyo Healthcare District, listen as Dr. Allison Robinson, NIHD’s Colorectal Surgeon, details use of NIHD’s da Vinci Robot-Assisted Surgical System. Assemblyman Mathis met with NIHD leaders and toured the healthcare facility recently. Photos by Barbara Laughon/Northern Inyo Healthcare District

NIHD Chief Executive Officer Kevin S. Flanigan, MD MBA, led the 45-minute tour, showing Mathis the 25-bed critical access hospital, Diagnostic Imaging, Laboratory Services and the Rural Health Clinic. Mathis was shown the new da Vinci robot-assisted surgical system and given details on the Infusion Center, Breast Health Center, CAREShuttle transportation am and the future Pharmacy.

Also joining Assemblyman Mathis for the tour were Pete Watercott and John Ungersma, president and vice president, respectively, of the NIHD Board of Directors, as well as NIHD’s Chief Operating Officer Kelli Huntsinger.

Mathis and the NIHD leaders discussed the state of healthcare in rural California and the nation over lunch at Perry’s Italian Café. Dr. Flanigan stressed the importance of developing partnerships between rural healthcare providers and state officials while Huntsinger discussed challenges smaller facilities face in meeting some state mandates.

Dr. John Ungersma, Vice President of the NIHD Board of Directors; State Assemblyman Devon Mathis; Dr. Kevin S. Flanigan, NIHD’s Chief Executive Officer; Kelli Huntsinger, NIHD’s Chief Operations Officer; and Pete Watercott, President of the NIHD Board of Directors, chat with Earl Dougherty, Diagnostic Imaging Manager, as part of the Assemblyman’s tour of the healthcare district .

Watercott and Ungersma urged Mathis to champion legislation that would reduce the cost of expanding healthcare and help make employment in rural areas more attractive to physicians.