JOBS AVAILABLE TO ST. HELENS AREA WORKERS

The only jobs left for local residents to fill would be janitorial, nurse aides and a combined Phone/Receptionist/Admitting and Records clerk. These would represent only about 10 FTEs. Given the annual operating budget as projected in the Study, of almost $10 million, the local area
economy would receive almost nothing in the way of economic gain from this proposed SHH and the jobs market would feel no effects whatsoever.

"CHAMBER OF COMMERCE" MINDSET

The only endorsements of this proposal by local doctors, contained in the Voter's Guide, appear to be from those who are already practicing in the Legacy sponsored clinic. As employees or contractors of Legacy, these are hardly "independent" endorsements. Most of the other endorsements appear to support the proposed SHH based on "desirability" of a new hospital, rather than "need". That is not a criterion to be considered by the State agency charged with making a determination on a "Certificate of Need."

Other endorsements appear to be based on a desire to give up some healthcare responsibilities and have them provided with public funds.

This proposal appears to be another case of someone having access to some public money and wanting to spend it to benefit the local community, but with hopes, desires and expectations not supported by careful planning and analysis. I am reminded of recent decisions by City leaders to forgo the poorly conceived and equally illogical "Convention Center" and an earlier bandstand/kiosk/??? on the City Plaza. In both of these and the hospital instances, it seems that the underlying belief is "We want one and if you build it (hospital/convention center/bandstand, whatever) they will come to it". Nothing could be farther from reality with respect to a hospital (I reserve judgment with respect to the convention center and bandstand, but I am highly critical of those notions also).

HOSPITAL ADMISSION NOT A PATIENT'S CHOICE OR DECISION

People do not choose to go to a hospital, nor do they self-admit; they do so only because they are directed there by a doctor. It was apparent to me very early on in my hospital administration career that "hospitals do not have patients...hospitals have doctors and doctors have patients." A hospital's "customer" is the doctor, not the patient. A hospital's first loyalty is always to the doctor. The whole concept of a hospital relies on the availability and willingness of a doctor to use the hospital as his or her workplace. All hospital decisions are driven first by the needs and desires of doctors. The proposed SHH must be no different from any other hospital or it will again collapse from disuse and the lack of adequate funds. The Hospital Coalition's first responsibility, if they want to have a viable institution, is to satisfy the needs of the doctors, not necessarily the local community.

VOTE "NO" ON MEASURE 5-123; VOTE "YES" ON MEASURE 5-128

I urge a "NO" vote on Ballot Measure 5-123 and a "YES" vote on Measure 5-128.

A hospital is a luxury that we cannot afford and simply do not need. Needed hospital services are available within a reasonable distance and driving time. The proposed SHH will create few if any real jobs and will contribute little or nothing to the local economy. Yet it will consume a great deal in public funds and property taxation. There are better and less expensive alternatives to solving the perceived problems of transportation and access that have not been adequately explored. There has been a "rush to judgment" on the question of building a hospital, perhaps because loss of the old one has such painful memories for some residents. Nostalgia is not a sufficient reason for this enormous new expenditure that the County or the small SHH service area and taxable base, can afford.

The Hospital District's reason for existence appears to have ended some 14 years ago after the affairs of the old hospital were finalized. In that case, continuation of the District was a waste of taxpayers' money for the 14 years or so since that closure. That waste should end now.

Very truly yours


Christopher J. Armstrong-Stevenson