Q&A with candidates for public hospital board position 2
Published 9:37 pm Tuesday, October 13, 2015
(Editor’s Note: Candidates were given a word limit to answer the six questions posed by the Journal, listed here. Responses have not been edited aside from AP style. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.)
1. Why are you running for the hospital district commissioner position?
Michelle Loftus: The selection of PHD Commissioners will affect every islander’s sense of wellbeing. I am an experienced and compassionate candidate with a resume that fits this position like a glove. My business sense will watch our tax dollars closely and negotiate legal issues carefully. My administrative and managerial skills from corporate and private institutions will aid EMS needs. My medical training allows me to speak the same language as EMS and PIMC leadership. My political experience provides recognition of threatening forces challenging our district. Community leadership roles have ingrained a love for my friends and neighbors. We must have quality healthcare in our district. I will enjoy defending our island way of life passionately for you.
Barbara Sharp: I am running for Commissioner Position # 2 because I firmly believe that I can make a positive difference in providing the best possible range of health care services to all islanders, delivered efficiently and in compliance with the law. I am a retired attorney, and relish the opportunity to use my analytic thinking, along with a rational and pragmatic approach to decision-making in a manner that serves my community.
Further, in considering the district’s issues and policies, the Public Hospital Board can benefit greatly from my specific legal abilities and knowledge of the law – a claim that no other current candidate or board member can make. Since moving here to this unique and special place thirteen years ago, I have served with a number of organizations devoted to public service. I want to continue my mission of giving back to our community as a commissioner for our Public Hospital District.
2. What is the role of the hospital board commissioner?
Michelle Loftus: The SJ PHD commission monitors the two hospital district levies and has oversight of EMS. One levy is for EMS services. One levy is for hospital services with PIMC. The commission meets monthly for reporting from EMS and PIMC. Budgets and projects are reviewed. The commission also hears public input at the monthly meetings. SJPHD reports are available to all on the website.
The commission will need to be prepared for the ACLU suits against communities like ours that depend on a faith based hospital. We will need to defend ourselves when the threat comes. I am ready.
Barbara Sharp: By law, the purpose of the Public Hospital District is to provide for the medical needs of the district’s residents. Commissioners are responsible for ensuring the delivery of health care services, either by directly operating medical facilities or by contracting with providers. RCW §§70.44.003, .060. A critical responsibility is overseeing the prudent and sensible use of tax levy funds.
Also, a commissioner must constantly communicate with all islanders to remain aware of their health care needs, and always look for ways to make health care better and more accessible for the District’s residents, whether or not it disturbs the status quo.
3. In this nonpartisan race there has been heated debate on issues like abortion and end of life directives. How will your beliefs on these subjects affect you in the non-partisan role as commissioner?
Michelle Loftus: SJCPHD commissioners must follow the law no matter what their religious or political beliefs. I am fair and compassionate. I know the law. I am honest. I make tough decisions by careful listening and analysis daily. In my term as SJCPHD Commissioner I will be beholden to only district constituents. I have taken no political party or special interest group endorsement for this election which could affect my judgement. Publicly I have stated that I am a Pro Life supporter. For this decision of faith I have received great criticism and a few screamers at my fair booth. I believe we need prolife and prochoice supporters to come together for our island needs. Women’s healthcare needs are presently being met by private providers, PIMC, the County Health Department and Planned Parenthood.
There is no need to rock this boat here. PIMC honors Patient End of Life Directives relating to CPR, ventilation, nutrition and pain relief issues.
The Death with Dignity Prescription is only prescribed by certified physicians. If you want this service you must travel to such a physician. It is not unlike traveling to a specialist for other needs. SCJPHD has no power to interfere with this matter.So you see that voting for me is a good decision whether we go to different churches or vote a certain way. I will be honored to represent all islanders with compassion and truth within the law.
Barbara Sharp: I strongly believe in supporting and following the Washington State Constitution and the Revised Code of Washington, which is the ultimate non-partisan position. Two Washington State laws are relevant: The Reproductive Privacy Act, RCW § 9.02.100, which states, in part, that “every individual has the fundamental right to choose or refuse birth control” and “… to choose or refuse to have an abortion. . . .”, as well as the laws regarding end of life directives.
RCW 70.122.030 states, in part, “any adult person may execute a directive directing the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in a terminal condition or permanent unconscious condition.”
Additionally, the Death with Dignity Act allows competent Washington state residents suffering from terminal diseases to choose to end their lives “in a humane and dignified manner” by fulfilling the requirements of the law. RCW 70.245.020.
Because the public hospital district, and its commissioners, are created and bound by state law, I will approach issues in ways that will respect the law and find acceptable solutions for the district’s residents.
4. Name three goals for your term as commissioner?
Michelle Loftus: Write, promote and pass the EMS levy.
Maintain fiscally prudent use of public funds to provide quality healthcare to all SJCPHD constituents.
Support veteran, hospice and mental health care needs in our district.
Barbara Sharp: The most critical goal is to write an EMS levy that will reflect wise and efficient use of taxpayer funds and work for its passage through a forthright, transparent education of district voters.
I will work with the board and the new EMS chief to ensure that the EMS budget is realistically sustainable, that there are sufficient reserves, and that expenditures are kept within income without sacrificing essential services.
I want to work with PeaceHealth/Peace Island Medical Center to offer opportunities for affordable care for working islanders. Many islanders have insurance but have high deductibles that force them to pay full price for preventative care and urgent care. One way to accomplish this is to work with PeaceHealth to form a more structured urgent care component to the current clinic/emergency department systems. Another way is to offer lower costs for some basic preventative care, such as flu and tetanus shots.
5. What is your plan for transparent communication with the hospital board the public and other entities of interest?
Michelle Loftus: All reporting of EMS, PIMC and the PHD is presently public and transparent. The public occasionally desires a special meeting or increased public access time which I would support. Written communication is also encouraged. I will follow the Open Public Meetings Act that provides transparency. I live here full time and will be available for you.
Barbara Sharp: Transparency of process and open communication with the public are essential to keep District residents informed and hold their trust. Many people, due to their work schedules and family commitments, cannot attend Public Hospital District Board meetings and participate in the public comment time.
The online news media could feature a regular column on Public Hospital District news, perhaps with important highlights from monthly board meetings or EMS activities. The Public Hospital District web site could be structured to have a place to leave comments or ask questions.
Social media has become a major platform for communications. The commissioners should consider disseminating information via a Twitter account, just as San Juan County has announced that they will maintain a Twitter account to communicate with residents.
6. What is one problem and solution for the district?
Michelle Loftus: Our district is presently threatened by outside interest groups such as the ACLU. Defending our district against these forces will require careful work to avoid costly legal battles.
The Women’s Reproductive Privacy Act supporters never intended bankrupting small hospital districts to supply a special interest group with their legal language to grow their political and financial holdings. However that is the threat. The Women’s Reproductive Privacy Act supporters here want to continue to receive reasonably priced and accessible health care.
The ACLU halted their local grassroots groups because they knew they could not get support from local members. We need to keep people off the SJCPHD Commission who are in step with the ACLU. Pro life and Pro choice supporters must come together to save our district. I will represent you all fairly. Vote for Michelle Loftus for SJCPHD commissioner position 2!
Barbara Sharp: The most critical problem facing the commissioners is passing an EMS levy in 2016. There have been two failed levies largely because the Public Hospital District lost the public’s trust. It is a paradoxical situation because all islanders love and appreciate the skilled and compassionate EMS staff.
The first step in regaining trust is establishing a sustainable EMS budget that demonstrates prudent expenditures that are within income limitations and that preserve essential EMS services. The levy must be written so that it is understandable and acceptable to the voters; many voters are wary of a permanent levy. To facilitate passage of the levy, the Commissioners and the EMS should plan a very specific program to educate voters in at least three areas:
1) most importantly, explain how funds are allocated in a sustainable budget and emphasize the cost-saving measures in place, such as the purchase of a new ambulance and the use of grants to obtain equipment and/or training; 2) describe the EMS facilities, vehicles, specialized equipment and their required maintenance; 3) describe and explain EMS essential services, including ground ambulance, air ambulance, and outreach programs. Commissioners and EMS staff should jointly participate in every avenue of publicity, including public meetings and presentations at the many organizations in our community.
Commissioners could look to the efforts of Island Rec in their recent, highly successful levy campaign as one example. While passage of a levy is not a sure thing, the possibility of losing one-third of funding for EMS makes it a critical goal. The reality is that developing and passing a levy successfully will take a lot of hard work and good communication.
To read about the San Juan County Hospital District Board candidates for position 5, go here.
To read about the San Juan County Hospital District Board candidates for position 3, go here.
