6 — Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Journal
OPINION Letters to the Editor
Steep price paid for medical ‘firsts’
On the subject of PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical center reaching their one-year anniversary and celebrating a series of “firsts” let me be among those, of presumably many, in relating my own experience of firsts with the new face of medical care on San Juan Island. The first of having my daughter treated for a hot water scald on her arm and paying $610 for some aloe and a bandage. The first of having my son receive a brief medical exam and paying $350 for the privilege. The first of having my wife speak to a doctor and receive a blood test and being hit with an invoice of $878. And the first of having a small shard removed from under my fingernail, which took three hours and four separate Marcaine injections for a routine nerve block, while the actual removal took two minutes, followed by a bill for $998, 50 percent of which for the numerous Marcaine shots that left my hand numb and useless for two days afterwards. As someone who works construction, and as a parent of two children, I have had numerous occasions to visit the old IIMC for care. Yes, the floors were cracked linoleum, the walls needed another coat of paint and the lighting was harsh fluorescents, but you left there after being treated
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satisfied that you were not being outrageously gouged by the cost of medical care, alas something I have yet to experience at Peace Health. So congratulations PIMC CEO Jim Barnhart on your $30 million hospital, with the wonderful art on the walls and the gorgeously landscaped grounds in joining the exalted company of the island grocery stores, gas stations and ferry transport in making San Juan Island an increasingly unaffordable place to live and work. You must be awfully proud. DECLAN PLACE Friday Harbor
Criticism met by graceful response
I just received a call from Brandon Cowan regarding my letter in the San Juan Islander and submitted to the Journal, “Wisecracks over outage don’t fly”, Nov. 13, pg. 6. First, I want to express my appreciation for his call and for his explanation of his comment in the Seattle Times. Brandon explained the concern of some in the business community regarding the impact of the outage on tourism and that his comment was meant to minimize that impact. He also explained the effort that he and other officials were making to hold CenturyLink accountable and to get this repaired as soon as possible. Brandon and I may not completely agree on the level and nature of communication, but we had a very positive phone call. I am writing this because I believe that if all differences of opinion were handled the way that Brandon handled
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this one, our county, state and certainly our country would be a far better place. Brandon: Thank you for reaching out. ALAN M. DAVIS San Juan Island
Ferries big flop in customer service
I am an out-of-town business traveler, unfamiliar with the ferry service. On each of three ferry trips during the week of Oct. 28, the ticket clerk and/or the person directing vehicles into waiting lanes, was unacceptably impolite and impatient, with this paying customer. I was clearly bothering them with my few simple questions (or by following the instruction on the posted signs), and keeping them from having their paid time to themselves, or gossiping with their friends standing nearby. Clearly, all of these individuals wish they could be unemployed, and I must say, I sincerely share that wish. I came to Friday Harbor on business; but as a result of the experience, my chances of ever returning for a pleasure trip, to spend money on the ferry and the local economy, is near zero. FRANK MERCER Vancouver, Wash.
—Editor’s note: the letter above is an excerpt of a lengthier letter sent by Mr. Mercer to Washington State Ferries.
Buoyed by voters; excited to serve
I thank the voters of San Juan County Public Hospital District No. 1 for
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affording this new commissioner the opportunity to serve and learn. I intend to do both with civility, reason and patience. Let’s work productively to air and, when possible, resolve differing views. Upgrades to our countybased, nonprofit air ambulance service already are under discussion. We all have an interest in further enhancing our award-winning Island Air Ambulance program. Broadening the service envelope, to include flights during known icing conditions, will be a great stride. We can do it, but need to accomplish this goal in a fiscally responsible manner and without increasing the existing district medical center or EMS levies. We face challenges. Some we can tackle, and others we need to accept as part of island life. May we have the wisdom to know the difference, and work together to make improvements when feasible.
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Again, thanks to district residents for supporting efforts to improve our Peace Island Medical Center and EMS services. MARK SCHWINGE Commissioner-elect, SJ hospital district
Public benefit in viable farmland
San Juan Island Grange’s mission to support a resilient community of growers, makers and keepers requires us to weigh in on the farmland tax debate. We are an association of islanders who truly care how land is treated, who work to provide good food for our own use and for the market, and who are concerned about our families’ futures. While we recognize that there will be people who take advantage of tax laws, we must not allow good farms to be closed in a well-intentioned but overbroad enforcement action. Farmland provides eco-
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logical services such as water filtration and habitat, as well as social services such as open space and local food. These services have value in the human economy. That is why the state has set up a way for farmers to get partially repaid with reduced taxes for providing these services. Recent resurgence at the farmers market, the food co-op and the Grange show that islanders do value what diversified small farms provide. Leaving the legal questions to the lawyers, we can all see that it is bad public policy to interpret tax law in a way that closes down our local farms. The state Legislature made it clear that the intent of the law was to provide a future for farms. The recent breakdown in our connection to the mainland underscores the importance of resilient solutions right here in our county. Local food is not just See LETTERS, Page 7
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