September 26, 2013
Thursday PM

Editor SitNews:

I am wondering how many citizens and hospital owners here in Ketchikan are aware that Peace Health regards them as second class patients in their own hospital?  I am referring to the policy that cruise ship passengers have preference over locals in emergency room treatment.  If you as a local go to the emergency room you will wait until all cruise ship passengers are seen before you will be attended to.  This means that you who are paying for the facility are neglected while Peace Health taps the money of the cruise passengers.

I also disagree with the statement made by Peace Health that it will not cause any new taxes.  That is just misleading.  The sales tax they want to continue tapping was to have ended now it goes on with no end.  I am sure they will have a new "remodel" project every time it approaches paying off the indebtedness.  Who else in private business gets to stick their hand in the public coffers forever?  

I also remember their last "remodel" when the contractor did such poor work (leakage and mildew everywhere) that it had to be completely redone.  Of course the city never went after his bond so we got to pay twice for one job.  Peace Health's oversight and the city's was completely inadequate although costly to the tax payers of Ketchikan.  Yet we have no process to insure that doesn't happen again.  I am afraid that does not instill sufficient confidence for me to vote to give them more money.

I do not wish to empower Peace Health further in their financial abuse of this town.  Although they are 'given' the entire hospital and continuing improvements that we pay for they charge twice (and more) the amounts of full "for profit" hospitals and specialists in the Pacific Northwest.  They take these atrocious fees and funnel it out of town to their corporate headquarters.  By all logic since we are paying for this entire installation we should be getting a reduced rate not an exponential increase!  

One of the council members is employed by Peace Health and we see no oversight by them of our investment.  I would like to see the administration of this hospital put out to open bid on a yearly basis.  I would also like to see the council advertise around the country for alternate administration.  This locked in abuse of Ketchikan citizens is a costly one.

I do not buy the whining argument that the "rooms are not big enough and need air conditioning" for the two weeks a year when it is hot.  They could open a door or window.  They are on the public taxes and should spend responsibly not dream about unrealistic luxuries.  They sound a lot like spoiled children always asking for more.

My suggestion is that the normal profits generated from 'normal' fees (not the greatly inflated and rapacious prices of Peace Health which would pay even quicker) should be kept by us rather than given to Peace Health to fill their greedy coffers and reinvested in the Hospital.  This would not require any taxes and yet pay for future improvements fully.  A competent administration would already be doing this.  

The early May issue (I believe the week of the eighth) of "Time" magazine points out many of the healthcare abuses by corporate entities which Peace Health has taken to a new and disgusting level.  There is no defending their greed and most especially so when we own the engine of their profit.

It seems shocking that while we make the entire investment Peace Health gets unlimited access to the cash flow with no investment on their part!  

In conclusion I recommend voting no on the bond issue and any future ones until these problems are solved.

Sincerely,

Douglas J. Thompson
Ketchikan, Alaska

Received September 26, 2013 - Published September 26, 2013

Representations of fact and opinions in letters are solely those of the author.
The opinions of the author do not represent the opinions of Sitnews.