To: Dick Jones, President, Board of Commissioners
NO NEW SNOQUALMIE HOSPITAL
We ask the Board of Commissioners of Snoqualmie Valley Hospital to reassert its control over the self-serving hospital administration and listen to the public on this issue. At every opportunity, the public has said NO NEW HOSPITAL. The new 175-bed Swedish/Issaquah Medical Center is only 10 minutes farther on a 6-lane freeway. It makes absolutely no sense to commit taxpayers and residents to the risks of a 30-year lease/purchase scheme for a $38.5 new hospital that will actually cost $101.4 million. Even then, doesn't add one hospital bed. What a waste of scarce health care dollars to feed the egos and personal agendas of the administration and board!
Why is this important?
The hospital's administration has created, and presides over, a culture of corruption. To feed their egocentric narcissism and keep receiving their exhorbitant salaries, they continue to manipulate a weak, co-opted board. Over the last 6 years, the board has voted unanimously 99.5% of the time for everything the self-serving administration has proposed. The new hospital decision was reached in secret meetings to avoid a vote or public input. A new hospital would be only nine (9) miles from Swedish/Issaquah and cost $38.5 million, or $101.4 million with the lease-purchase scheme. This is beyond stupid and wastes scarce health care dollars, including Medicare & Medicaid.