Frequently Asked Questions

Why is this election for the Marin Healthcare District so important?

The stakes are higher than ever before.

Last month, the Marin Healthcare District Board and Sutter Corporation signed a final legal settlement that ended a ten-year period of hostile confrontation between them. Under that settlement, Sutter will no longer have responsibility for the lease and for day-to-day management of Marin General Hospital. As early as January 2009 – just two years from now – the District Board’s role will expand exponentially. Instead of its previously limited role, the Board will essentially be responsible for oveersight of the management team of a large, full service community hospital.

Is it true that Marin General cannot survive as an independent hospital?

What Marin General needs to survive will be not just one person, one CEO, but a whole management team, with appropriate skills, experience, and a philosophy of hospital management. It will also require leadership by the Marin District Healthcare Board who are open to opportunities for partnership and collaboration. Dr. James Clever and Dr. Larry Bedard understand the need to maintain continuity of staff and quality of medical care. They bring the requisite training, commitment, expertise, and proven community leadership to this very difficult job.

Marin General has an ER. Don’t all hospitals have one?

No. In fact, Marin General operates the only fully-staffed level three trauma center in Marin County. If someone calls 911, there is a good chance that they will be rushed to Marin General since ER services are limited at both Kaiser in central Marin and at Novato Community Hospital. Dr. Bedard, an emergency physician, has been a strong patient advocate. As a former hospital chief of staff, Dr. Clever also is committed to a first rate ER service at Marin General.

Why do we have to build a new wing at Marin General?

We live in earthquake country and Marin General is simply not built to withstand a significant earthquake. We currently have one wing one that was built in the 1990s that is technologically advanced and meets current earthquake standards, but the other two wings of the hospital, built in the 1950s, do not. One of the major issues the District Board will face during the next few years will be how to fund the necessary construction of a new wing.

How do Drs. Clever’s and Dr. Bedard’s views differ from the other candidates?

The other candidates seem to believe that Marin General has been and will continue to be profitable. They appear to think that Marin General will succeed splendidly without much effort. They think the hospital will also provide generous profits that they can use to fund a lot of other services such as housing for hospital staff, new hybrid cars, hiring more doctors, bringing in more primary care people, and even building a new wing while making almost no demands on district taxpayers. It takes experience, expertise and leadership to run world class hosptial.