Believing that healthy behaviors are important to residents of all ages for quality of life, the healthcare District seeks to address health and wellness issues for children, adolescents, parents, adults, and seniors in realizing its mission to improve the health and wellness of the Morongo Basin.

A healthy Morongo Basin means that all members of the community have access to basic healthcare resources, health education and activities related to nutrition and food choice, physical activities, and social support for the family.

Towards implementing that vision and encouraging healthy behaviors, one of the initiatives the healthcare District is focused on is improving access to ambulatory care services such as primary medicine for adults and children, preventive medicine, and dental care. Through the services of the Morongo Basin Community Health Centers, patients are offered access to a growing list of specialty services.

Ms. Schmall has been with the Morongo Basin Healthcare District over five years, most recently in the position of Chief Operating Officer. She has more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience, including serving human resources positions at Hi-Desert Medical Center from 1993 to 2006 and again in 2015 to 2016. She holds a Masters of Management degree from the University of Phoenix.

The public can talk about anything within the jurisdiction of the Morongo Basin Healthcare District, but the Board of Directors generally cannot act on or discuss an item not on the agenda. The Brown Act does allow members of the legislative body, or its staff, to briefly respond to comments or questions from members of the public, provide a reference to staff or other resources for factual information, or direct staff to place the issue on a future agenda. XX

At board meetings, the public can talk about anything within the jurisdiction of the Morongo Basin Healthcare District, but the Board of Directors generally cannot act on or discuss an item not on the agenda. The Brown Act does allow members of the legislative body, or its staff, to briefly respond to comments or questions from members of the public, provide a reference to staff or other resources for factual information, or direct staff to place the issue on a future agenda.

The public comment portion of this agenda provides an opportunity for the public to address the Board on items not listed on the agenda that are of interest to the public at large and are within the subject matter jurisdiction of this Board. Board members are prohibited by law from taking action on matters discussed that are not on the agenda, and no adverse conclusions should be drawn if the Board does not respond to public comments at this time.

The Governing Board for the Community Health Center takes responsibility for the oversight of the federally qualified health center, MORONGO BASIN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER. The Board is comprised of Health Center patients (51%) and non-patient community members (49%). Members are appointed by the Governing Board. Both patients of the Health Center and the community are invited to apply to serve on this volunteer board.

In enacting this chapter, the Legislature finds and declares that the public commissions, boards, and councils and the other public agencies in this State exist to aid in the conduct of the peoples business. It is the intent of the law that their actions be taken openly and that their deliberations be conducted openly.

The people of this State do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created.

As your healthcare District, the Board of Directors and Staff endeavor to be transparent in managing the public resources entrusted to us and to facilitate an open partnership with our constituents. This website, and its pages, are dedicated to facilitating communication with those we serve and provide transparent documentation of the healthcare District's business.