In response to “Speikers works hard for hospital board,” letter published July 15:

As a public hospital district, Snoqualmie Valley Hospital is mandated to be good stewards of community tax dollars and operate the hospital and clinics responsibly. Our mission is not to make a profit off the community, but to provide the services residents need to stay healthy.

We provide millions of dollars in charity care each year as part of this mission. We also provide a cost-effective way for people to receive primary care services through our Affordable Access Program.

While it is true that the hospital has not been profitable the past few years, we are already experiencing increased patient volumes since the new hospital opened in May. Our patient rooms have been full and emergency department volumes are up 40 to 50 percent. We are also seeing an increase in our other services, such as imaging, lab, endoscopy/colonoscopy and specialty and primary care services.

This proves we are able to serve the community in our new location better than ever before due to better accessibility and more space to deliver the excellent care our community expects and deserves.

Rodger McCollum, CEO

King County Public District #4