Bettie Wells named GHD representative to Grossmont Hospital Corporation board of directors

El Cajon resident Bettie Wells has been appointed to serve on the Grossmont Hospital Corporation (GHC) board of directors as a representative of the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD). GHC is the legal entity for the hospital lease agreement between Sharp HealthCare and GHD, the East County public agency that serves as landlord of the hospital on behalf of taxpayers.

Wells, a psychological therapist, will serve on the GHC board as a representative of GHD board member Virginia Hall, who was elected to the GHD board in November.

El Cajon resident Bettie Wells has been appointed to serve on the Grossmont Hospital Corporation (GHC) board of directors as a representative of the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD). GHC is the legal entity for the hospital lease agreement between Sharp HealthCare and GHD, the East County public agency that serves as landlord of the hospital on behalf of taxpayers.

Wells, a psychological therapist, will serve on the GHC board as a representative of GHD board member Virginia Hall, who was elected to the GHD board in November.

“I’m very interested in the health and welfare of our community, so this is a wonderful opportunity to contribute towards coalition building that will promote positive change and maintain excellent patient care at the hospital,” said Wells. “I look forward to serving on the hospital board of directors, supporting a culture of health, and leveraging the strengths and resources available in our community in strategic coordination for the benefit of our citizens.”

Wells, a San Diego native, was born at Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa and was raised in East County. She attended El Cajon schools, including W.D. Hall Elementary School, Madison Avenue Elementary, Montgomery Middle School and Granite Hills High School (class of 1984). She has a bachelor’s degree in human development from San Diego Christian College and a master’s in counseling psychology from Southern California Seminary.

Wells has more than 20 years of experience in counseling and social work. Her career has included working as a case manager at Paradise Valley Hospital preparing psychological evaluations and working with families and caregivers on discharge planning and ongoing treatment options. She has operated her own therapy and counseling practice as a licensed psychological assistant. She also has volunteered as a counselor at San Diego Rescue Mission and Veteran’s Village San Diego. A longtime member of Skyline Church in La Mesa, Wells is currently a candidate for ministerial ordination in the Wesleyan Church denomination, as well as a doctoral candidate in psychology from Southern California Seminary. After finishing course work, she is currently writing her dissertation.

Wells is married to El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells. They have three grown children and three grandsons. Bill Wells, who works as a mental health professional in both clinical and administrative roles, was elected to the El Cajon City Council in 2008 and has served as mayor since 2013.

As a member of GHC, Wells also will serve on its Finance Committee, according to Dave Grundstrom, GHC chair. GHC, a non-profit corporation, has operational responsibility of the 540-bed Grossmont Hospital on behalf of Sharp HealthCare. The 15-member GHC board consists of Sharp HealthCare leaders, physicians, community leaders and GHD board members or their designees. Among its many responsibilities, the GHC board oversees, evaluates and recommends proactive quality measures and performance initiatives for all quality improvement activities throughout the hospital.

GHD, the public agency that represents more than 500,000 people residing in the district’s 750 square miles in East County, monitors the health care services provided under contract at Sharp Grossmont Hospital to assure that patients’ needs are met and that their reasonable expectations are exceeded. In 1991, GHD opted to lease the hospital’s operation to Sharp HealthCare under a 30-year lease that runs through May 2021. Voters extended the lease agreement between GHD and Sharp HealthCare in 2014 for an additional 30 years. For more information about GHD, visit www.grossmonthealthcare.org.