The League of Women Voters of Washington each election cycle compiles an online voters’ guide. It can be found at www.vote411.org. The voters’ guide is scheduled to go live no later than October 18th. Below are the questions and answers from my section in the voters’ guide.
Why did you decide to run for this position?
Answer:
I am running for the Hospital Commissioner position because healthcare matters. The foundation of healthcare in a community is its hospital. Several members of our community including nurses, physicians, and other support personnel encouraged me to run. Currently our board lacks a commissioner with hands on experience in a hospital.
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We are fortunate to have a hospital in our community. The value experienced by our community in the relationship with their local provider must be strengthened with meaningful retention efforts. I have personally experienced the frustration and barriers to obtaining healthcare when retention efforts fail. Provider retention is a better investment than spending money recruiting and replacing providers and far less disruptive to the community. Recruiting and retention of providers will be a personal focus for me as a Commissioner. The connection between KVH and our providers must be strong and when it appears to weaken it is imperative it is addressed.
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What are three major issues that will face your hospital district?
Answer:
The items listed were obtained by chatting with members of our community. They are not in order of importance, as each carries its own importance to each member of our community.
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1-Payment for services while not bankrupting our community. Our hospital must stay solvent while dealing with the constant changes in the cost of doing business. KVH is a public hospital district which has the duty to the taxpayers to make sure every dollar is spent as effectively as possible. 2- Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders, impact, and treatment through advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels. New regulations which are more appropriate to big cities than rural areas make it difficult for hospitals like KVH to succeed. 3- Healthcare provider access, workforce recruitment and retention. Our nurses, doctors and other support staff need to get paid what they deserve and are respected for the work they do. For our hospital to succeed everyone who works at KVH must be valued and respected.
Of the three, which one is the most urgent?
Answer:
The current economic environment in healthcare will continue to be a challenge for KVH. The challenges we see in our political environment regarding the Affordable Care Act forcefully challenges the Board of Commissioners to be financially responsible and nimble in their management of our community healthcare system.
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Most County residents are interested that they have access to healthcare only when it is needed. The primary mission of a hospital is to restore health to its patients and prevent them from getting sick. Community members want their healthcare to stay local. By keeping healthcare local this will assure that our hospital stays relevant. The fact regarding localness and people-powered is more important now than in the past for healthcare. There is much discussion about “patient-centered care” and having a strong hospital that aligns itself with each physician on staff will create patient loyalty and binds itself closely with the community’s physicians.
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How will you work with the commission to solve what you see as the most urgent issue?
Answer:
As a KVH Board Member, I will emphasize access for our community to quality healthcare. It will be core to my membership of the Board of Commissioners to solicit and be accessible to the multiple perspectives of our diverse community. I will welcome input from our community to be able to ask the specific and important questions that are being discussed around the dinner table on a daily basis. As a representative of our community I will voice the concerns I hear from our community which includes our providers and staff.
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Commissioners must work as a team. During my career I have built and participated in numerous healthcare teams which has allowed them to save lives and stomp out pestilence. The word listen contains the same letters as the word silent. Being a commissioner for Hospital District No. 1 I will listen to our community needs and not be silent. I am committed to the transparency in the actions of the Board and open communication with the community and staff.
What unique qualities do you bring to this job?
Answer:
My interest is supporting my community by bringing my experience as an accomplished Board Certified Doctor of Pharmacy with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. I bring a life time of experience in the health care field including; Bi-Mart Pharmacy manager for ten years, Director of Pharmacy at Kittitas Valley Healthcare for twenty-two years, interim management at several hospitals throughout our state, 40 plus year membership in the Washington State Pharmacy Association, 20 year membership to the multi-state Amerinet Northwest Pharmacy Council, I have supported a diverse group of volunteer organizations in Kittitas County over the years and was the Chairman of the Hospice Friends Board. My membership in the Washington State Pharmacy Association and 20 year membership to the multi-state Amerinet Northwest Pharmacy Council has given me insight into other healthcare systems throughout the state which will help me bring this knowledge to our community.