News & Events

Join us at our Job Fair!

Friday, May 30th, we are hosting a Job Fair for all those looking for a meaningful career in the Mountain Area. Event will be from 9AM - 2PM at the Coarsegold Community Center (35610 CA-41 Coarsegold, CA 93614). Come meet professionals from our team to see what a journey into healthcare will look like for you.
Click here to view event flyer!

Happy Hospital Week!

This National Hospital Week (May 12th-May 17th, 202), we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate you — the heart and soul of John C. Fremont Healthcare District.

Your unwavering commitment, compassion, and resilience shine through in everything you do for our patients, families, and community.

Hospitals are more than buildings. They are centers of healing, pillars of strength, and places of hope — made possible because of extraordinary individuals like you. Whether you are on the front lines or working behind the scenes, your dedication saves lives, restores health, and offers comfort during life’s most critical moments.

This year, we are proud to celebrate meaningful milestones that reflect the dedication of our staff. Most notably, we successfully passed our recent California Department of Public Health (CDPH) survey — a direct result of your commitment to excellence, attention to patient safety, and quality care. Achievements like these are possible because of the collective hard work and pride each of you brings to John C. Fremont Healthcare District every day.

To show our appreciation, we’ve planned a week full of special activities, including daily giveaways, gratitude stations, and complimentary meals and treats. We hope these small gestures reflect the deep appreciation we feel for each and every one of you.

“We’re incredibly inspired by the resilience and dedication of our teams,” says Pat Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, Interim, of John C. Fremont Healthcare District. “Your commitment to health and healing reminds us daily why we’re so proud to work alongside such compassionate and talented individuals. You are the heartbeat of this organization.”

From clinical care teams and administrative staff to environmental services and support personnel — thank you. Your work touches lives in profound ways, and this week, we celebrate YOU.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Your Leadership Team

Happy Nurses Week! (Tue, May 6, 2025 – Mon, May 12, 2025)

To Our Nursing Staff,

You are an essential part of who we are. With strength, compassion, and dedication, you guide patients through their most vulnerable moments. Your care brings comfort, hope, and healing.

Your impact is profound, and we are deeply grateful.

Happy Nurses Week — thank you for everything you do.

Community Meet and Greet to take place with Home Health and Hospice Agencies

Friday, March 28th, 2025 we invite you to our Community Meet and Greet. This is for you to learn about the Home Health and Hospice agencies that are available for Mariposa County, in the event you or a loved one needs care.

Date: 3/28/25
Location: Mariposa Senior Center - Activity Room
Time: 1 PM to 3PM

Get to know representatives from home health & hospice agencies who offer caring & quality support for our community. The following agencies will be in attendance:

-Ardent Hospice and Home Health
-Compassionate Care Home Health Agency
-Merced Hospice
-Progressive Home Health & Hospice Care

Light refreshments and drinks will be provided.

Contact 209-966-3631 x5101 for more details.

JCFHD Announces Discontinuation of Home Health & Hospice Services

Mariposa, CA – February 13, 2025: Following a comprehensive assessment of our operations, the Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to terminate our Home Health and Hospice divisions. This decision was made carefully; it followed an in-depth evaluation conducted by a specialist in home health services in collaboration with financial advisors from Warbird Healthcare Advisors. Their analysis uncovered substantial financial shortfalls in these departments, which, when considered alongside JCFHD’s overall financial health, necessitated this action to protect the essential healthcare services we provide.

Why This Decision Was Necessary:
JCFHD operates as a Critical Access Hospital, which is required to provide emergency services, acute care, and swing bed care. These vital services are key in maintaining the health and safety of residents in Mariposa County. Nonetheless, the financial difficulties facing the Home Health and Hospice departments threaten our capacity to uphold these essential services, vital for preserving our designation as a Critical Access Hospital.

The financial difficulties encountered by these departments include:
- High operational costs that are not sustainable.
- Persistent financial deficits revealed through a comprehensive review.
- Insufficient cash reserves, which are vital for the District’s overall financial health.

Further details can be found in the Board Meeting Minutes here.
View Board Meeting recording here.

Next Steps for JCFHD and the Community:
Currently, we have decided to voluntarily relinquish our Medicare provider numbers to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Furthermore, the California Department of Public Health will suspend our licenses for the Home Health and Hospice departments. This allows us the possibility of reactivation within 12 months if our conditions improve.

It’s crucial to highlight that JCFHD is not the only provider of Home Health and Hospice services in Mariposa County. Other agencies are available to assist patients and families requiring these services. During this period, most patients will be discharged home, while those needing care through April will be transitioned to another local agency.

Hospital Administration and JCF Home Health Leadership have been working closely with other home care agencies to ensure our community continues to receive the care and support they need during this transition. Our priority is to make this process as seamless as possible for patients and their families

Meanwhile, JCFHD is proactively reviewing all departments and service lines to ensure optimal efficiency. We are actively investigating additional service lines and revenue opportunities to improve our long-term support to the community.

Our Commitment to Mariposa County:
We acknowledge the importance of this change for our community, especially for those who have relied on our Home Health and Hospice services. It is essential to recognize that this choice was made with the overall welfare of Mariposa County in mind. By focusing our resources on the primary services of our Critical Access Hospital, we strive to ensure vital healthcare access and ongoing sustainability for all residents.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to transparency throughout this transition, and we will keep you updated as new information becomes available.

Questions or Concerns?
If you have any questions or need assistance in locating Home Health or Hospice services in the area, please feel free to contact us. We are here to support you through this process. Together, we will work towards a healthier future for Mariposa County.

Update on the COVID-19 outbreak at John C. Fremont

Mariposa, CA – September 16, 2024: We would like to give an update on the COVID-19 outbreak at our facility that went into effect Monday, September 9. This outbreak declaration was reached through a joint effort involving our local public health office, Dr. Carter, our Public Health Officer (PHO), and the Infection Control team at John C. Fremont. Upon evaluating the circumstances, both sides concurred that there had been an outbreak.

-Up until last week, we had 13 employees who had contracted COVID-19, which accounts for slightly more than 5% of our around 230 workforce.

-Out of the 13 instances, it is probable that 7 employees acquired COVID-19 at their place of work, whereas the remaining 6 instances were linked to interactions with individuals outside of work or community spread.

-Most of these employees have now recuperated and are back on duty.

-Safety Precautions: In order to guarantee a secure atmosphere for our employees and the public, we chose to enforce universal masking at the facility.

-Due to our reduction in cases, as of Monday, September 16, universal mask-wearing has been discontinued. Masks are not necessary for the community entering our facility unless they have respiratory symptoms. Masks will still be provided at all entry points.

-We urge everyone to keep practicing proper hand hygiene and stay alert, as COVID-19 is still circulating within our community.

Additional COVID-19 vaccine clinics will be provided for John C. Fremont Hospital staff at no cost in response to the outbreak. The finalization of these dates is still in progress. Furthermore, a COVID-19 vaccine clinic will be conducted on October 8, 2024, by the Health Services Advisory Group (HSAG), a CMS supporting entity.
We also urge community members to keep current with their COVID-19 vaccinations to safeguard themselves and others.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to safety as we work through this situation together.

John C. Fremont Healthcare District’s Suzette Prue Nominated for Trustee of the Year

Mariposa, CA – September 12, 2024: The John C. Fremont Healthcare District is pleased to share that Board member Suzette Prue has been selected as a nominee for the esteemed Trustee of the Year award by the Association of California Healthcare Districts (ACHD). This
nomination recognizes Suzette for her outstanding leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to enhancing healthcare services for the Mariposa community.

Suzette Prue has been a member of the John C. Fremont Healthcare District Board for many years, where she has been crucial in leading the district through difficult periods and important changes, such as leading the way for Measure O. She has shown a strong dedication to the well-being of Mariposa County residents through her leadership in patient care and community health.

The award for Trustee of the Year is given to those who show exceptional leadership and governance as trustees of healthcare districts. Suzette's nomination shows how she takes initiative to meet the changing needs of the community, promotes quality healthcare, and encourages teamwork and creativity in the district.

JCFHD Board Chair, Wendy Ryder-Priola stated, “She knows everything. All these years she has been involved with the hospital, she just knows what to do. She is so dedicated to the point that she even helps educate the rest of us. We are so lucky to have her on the board.”

Thanks to Suzette's guidance, the John C. Fremont Healthcare District has seen notable progress in enhancing and broadening healthcare services, making sure that residents can receive the necessary care. She has made significant contributions in building strong connections among the district, healthcare providers, and the community, with a continued emphasis on transparency, accountability, and patient-focused care.
"To say I was surprised is an understatement. I am truly humbled to be recognized by such an esteemed group. I remain dedicated to fighting for the healthcare of the citizens of Mariposa County and hope to continue to do so for years to come," Suzette remarked on her nomination.

The ACHD Trustee of the Year award ceremony will take place during the upcoming ACHD Annual Meeting (September 25-27, 2024). This nomination recognizes Suzette Prue's efforts
and underscores the valuable impact healthcare district trustees have on California's healthcare
future.

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About the Association of California Healthcare Districts (ACHD):
The Association of California Healthcare Districts (ACHD) represents healthcare districts throughout the state of California. As a nonprofit organization, ACHD advocates for the unique needs of healthcare districts, which are vital public entities tasked with providing access to healthcare services in local communities, particularly in underserved and rural areas. ACHD supports its member districts through legislative advocacy, educational programs, and
resources that help improve the delivery of care and overall health outcomes for millions of Californians. With a focus on local governance and community-based healthcare solutions, ACHD plays a critical role in shaping healthcare policy and ensuring that healthcare districts remain responsive to the needs of their communities.
For more information, visit www.achd.org

Click here to download PDF of Press Release on Suzette

John C. Fremont Healthcare District Welcomes Three Esteemed Physicians to Enhance Inpatient and Emergency Services

The John C. Fremont Healthcare District is excited to announce the arrival of three highly qualified physicians, each bringing extensive expertise to our inpatient and emergency departments.
This development marks a significant step in their ongoing commitment to providing exceptional healthcare to the Mariposa community. Starting August 1, 2024, these physicians have officially joined the district, contracted through eRX, and are poised to enhance the quality of care available to our patients.


Dr. Josh Minyard
Dr. Josh Minyard has taken on the role of Interim Medical Director of the Emergency Department. Dr. Minyard’s impressive background in emergency medicine and leadership makes him an outstanding addition to our team. His training includes an Emergency Medicine Residency at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering from the United States Naval Academy.
Dr. Minyard’s career spans various roles, including serving as an Emergency Medicine Physician at Loma Linda University Medical Center and North Valley Hospital. He also boasts a distinguished career in the United States Navy, where he provided critical emergency care to service members and their families.
His certifications include American Board of Emergency Medicine diplomate, Basic Life Support (BLS),
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Advanced Trauma
Life Support (ATLS).



Dr. Ehsan Hazrati
Dr. Ehsan Hazrati joins our team with a robust foundation in internal medicine, characterized by his commitment to patient-centered care. He earned his Medical Doctor degree from the State University of New York, Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY, and completed his Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School. His academic journey also includes studies in Germany and California State University of Northridge.

Dr. Hazrati’s career highlights include roles as a Research Associate at California State University of Northridge, a Research Coordinator at Mount Sinai Medical Center in NYC, and an Internal Medicine Physician at Finger Lakes Medical Associates in Geneva, NY. He is board-certified in internal medicine and has served in various capacities, including as a hospitalist and medical director at multiple medical centers across California. Dr. Hazrati’s expertise in managing complex medical cases and his dedication to exceptional patient care make him a valuable asset to our community.


Dr. Naile Barzaga
Dr. Naile Barzaga is a highly experienced internal medicine physician with a distinguished career in both private practice and hospital settings. Dr. Barzaga earned her Medical Doctor degree from Instituto Superior de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara in Santa Clara, Cuba, later transferring to Ruprecht-Karl University in Heidelberg, Germany. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency, including both internship and residency years, at Flushing Hospital Medical Center in New York.

Dr. Barzaga’s career includes notable positions such as Research Coordinator at Mount Sinai Medical Center in NYC, Research Associate at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, and Internal Medicine Physician at Internist Associates of Central New York in Syracuse, NY. She has also served as an Internal Medicine Physician at Jose Munin, MD PC in North Bergen, NJ, and as a Diabetes Care Coordinator at Northeast Valley Health Corporation in Los Angeles, CA.

Both Dr. Hazrati and Dr. Barzaga are fluent in Spanish and German, which will be a significant asset to our diverse patient population. Their combined experience, dedication, and multilingual capabilities are expected to greatly enhance the quality of care we provide.

Dr. Barzaga stated, “Serving the community, that’s medicine in the first place. Being in this community which I understand sometimes has issues related to access to care, for us, it is quite the privilege.”

The John C. Fremont Healthcare District is thrilled to welcome Dr. Minyard, Dr. Hazrati, and Dr. Barzaga to our team. Their expertise and commitment to excellence align perfectly with our mission to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the Mariposa community. We look forward to the positive impact they will have on the lives of our patients.

Click here to download PDF of Press Release on our 3 new Physicians


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