The real issues with the hospital

Let’s get down to the real Hospital issues.

1. I truly believe we need a critical access hospital in this community. I do not agree that another bond issue combined with the tax dollars that have already been collected should be spent on a new hospital facility. We should meet the State and Federal requirements and, as Jerry Snyder said when he was running for office, “Save our hospital.”

2. The voting public is expecting this hospital to remain open. If the board and administration does not heed the 45-day warning and the doors close, you will have an extremely unhappy community. Hoping for another extension is not the answer. Instead of campaigning for another bond, you should begin repairing our present facility.

3. We truly need a new doctor at this facility, a young enthusiastic practitioner without all the baggage and history. Someone willing to help turn this facility back into a community health center. The administrator should begin a full-fledged search – today.

4. This hospital needs to make a profit. Building a new facility for a hospital that is losing money on a regular basis is insanity. What are other small hospitals doing to keep their facilities in the black? How about a part-time pediatrician? Couldn’t that keep some of our younger families doctoring here in town? Surely there are other, better ideas that could persuade people to stay here in town. Isn’t this what the CEO should be doing?

James Preston, Ritzville