Soul searching needed to find what’s best hospital

In the paper there was an excellent article on the Hospital board and the action it took regarding the hospital administrator.

I want to be very clear, I did not and do not support the action of the old board and administrator in the contract negations with Dr’s Eckley and Sackmann. I believe it was handled poorly with little thought given to the hospital or community at large. I also do not support the action taken by the new board members.

I, for one, choose Ritzville as my city for retirement in a large part due to the hospital. That has not changed.

I also have been privy to many of the issues at the clinic and hospital due to a relative working at the clinic for a number of years. It was not smooth sailing with staff divided, weak administrators, or administrators that felt they did not have the backing of the board. That and farming out functions to companies out of area that have cost thousands with little benefit to the hospital.

I believe that Mark Barglof was a good choice even though I disagree with some decisions. That is inevitable in any organization. And that is what a strong board is for, to set policy and direct overall operations in the clinic and hospital.

I feel the old board did not do that. The new members are going in the same direction by terminating Mr. Barglof. For years the staff did not back the administration that has now changed. The revenues are going up, that’s a great change.

I do not agree with the never-ending contract to find new doctors, which is a waste of time and money. By now there should have been a decision and that again is a board function that has not happened. Will the new members prove to do better?

I would urge the entire board to sit down and review the entire series of events that brought us to this state in an effort to create the best hospital we could possibly have. A major part of that is the vision Mark Barglof brings to the table. Find out what that vision is, does it need to be modified, and how.

The board uses its oversight function to keep the clinic, hospital, and administration following that line. If the board cannot do that they should resign in mass to get a start with people who have the best interests of this city and area in mind.

My point is this; Mark Barglof should be retained at the pleasure and direction of the Board of Directors. This avoids a number of issues that infuriate me to no end, another administrator search with no end in sight. The Board should set goals for the Administration to meet, and they should be ones that benefit all the area. 1. Spend no more than 60 days to get permanent Doctor for the Hospital and clinic. 2. Add back Drs Eckley and Sackmann as part time staff at least one day a week. I know they support the hospital and send patients there; I am a witness for that.

With staff support and a board that carries no grudges yet expects performance from the administration this could be a winning combination for the future.

Again, I urge deep soul searching for what is best for the hospital not things that were said or not said in the heat of the battle during contract negations. We cannot afford these second grade vendettas to derail the clinic and hospital from moving forward.

To be frank, I am a supporter of building a new hospital and clinic. One that shows Ritzville and the surrounding area are not dead and looking for growth. Without a reasonable board this will not happen.

I would enjoy sitting down with the board to discuss options and I’m sure the staff would like to have their input also.

Al Seaton, Ritzville