I moved to Vashon 25 years ago and the clinic was locally managed. It had financial difficulties, and Highline came. CHI Franciscan took over Highline. CHI Franciscan left. We voted for a Health Care District, and there was finally tax-based financial support. Neighborcare came and left. Sea Mar came. That’s five different systems!

Now Sea Mar wants to own its clinic with no community input or control and no subsidy. Really? Can they do that without a $1.5 million subsidy? The community would like to know how they plan to accomplish this.

Every time the system changes, the employees’ benefits change, and they often lose seniority. No wonder they move for more stability. We are fortunate that our practitioners stay through thick and thin. It’s horrendous for everyone when policies and computer systems change every three or four years. Are our memories that short? Healthcare has been unstable for 25 years.

Many rural communities have a hospital district that collects taxes. If you live in Seattle or Tacoma, you pay tax to support large healthcare systems from which we benefit.

It was a huge lift for the community to create our Health Care District. Our elected commissioners are a dedicated, hardworking, ethical, committed group. They work for us. Attend a board meeting and witness all the work. I observed the district do the marketing when SeaMar thought it unnecessary to introduce themselves to the community. Requests such as Spanish interpretation and extended hours have not been addressed.

I hope that Sea Mar will return to the table. Let’s support the commissioners through a challenging time and not walk away from a solid solution to a very long-term problem.

— Jane Neubauer, executive coach, former health care executive