To the Editor:

Greetings fellow Southern Humboldt Community Healthcare District members.

I am wondering if you are registered to vote. If you are I am wondering how you will use your vote when choosing among six candidates for the local hospital board. Does this even matter to you? Are you just going to randomly check one name for the two-year seat and two names for the four-year seat?

Are you a person that cares that the hospital in our town is the best it can be? Would you like to know that the equipment being used is the best it can be? Would you like to know that the hospital team managers are involved with their budgets and capital equipment purchases?

Would you like to know that the employee drawing your blood or taking your x-ray has worked every day 24/7 for several months? Yes, months, day shifts and nights on call, responsible to be at the hospital within 30 minutes at all times. Why are they doing two or three peoples jobs? Seriously.

If you are an employee within this voting district, would you like to have board members that would hear your issues without fear of being let go? Would you like to know that the board members you elect will ask the right questions to get the best for you?

I came to this community a little over a year ago to work in our little hospital. I brought with me 50 years working in medical support with 34 of those years’ service in radiology. I trained at Loma Linda University and have worked in trauma, surgery, CT, mammography and quality control on teams and independently.

During my short time at the hospital I became aware of many areas where it seemed that the administration withheld vital information that department managers discussed in private meetings, from the board.

Within this past year, at least six managers are gone as well as numerous local supporting staff with many years at the facility.

I would like to see a hospital board here that is not afraid and also knowledgeable enough to ask the right questions of the administration and staff.

There are three candidates on the ballot that have the drive to ask probing questions and find ethical answers. Beth Bennett-Allen, Judi Gonzales and Karen Ruth. If you have concerns about the local hospital and want to be an active part of a positive change, then register to vote and know what names to check for the SHCHD board.

Patricia LaGrange R.T. (R)(M)

Garberville