Letter | Speikers works hard for hospital board

Published 12:36 pm Wednesday, July 15, 2015

We have been attending Hospital District #4 meetings for several years and two things have become very apparent to us: First, the website gave little information to the public about hospital affairs; and second, only a minimum amount of time was offered for public input at the meetings of the board of commissioners.

We made several recommendations over the past years and were met with open hostility by the administrative employees.

Commissioner David Speikers showed support for these recommendations.

The Snoqualmie Valley Hospital has lost money every month for years*. When Speikers became chair of the finance committee, he cut administrative overhead and was able to pressure the administration into becoming more efficient.

Please join us in voting to retain this hard-working commissioner for the financial success of our new hospital.

Carol and Charles Peterson

Snoqualmie

* Hospital CEO Rodger McCollum has confirmed that the hospital has lost money, but points out that the hospital is a non-profit,  providing free charity care valued in the millions to the community each year. Partial cost reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid are also factors.