MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL Saturday Readers' Forum MARIN GENERAL A hospital prescription The IJ's headline writer got it wrong: "The hospital no one wants" (IJ, Aug. 9) . He should be advised there are many grateful Marin residents, employees and physicians and surgeons who need it and want it. More accurately, avaricious hospital companies are loath to lease or purchase the properties. I, for one, am relieved because the Marin Healthcare District board (despite its political infighting and ineffectiveness), can now button down to execute the transition from Sutter management to a real accountable, affordable community hospital. Marin General is a local treasure, the sole trauma care and maternity provider, a magnet that attracts excellent medical specialists to Marin. The good news is that the district reached a consensus to cancel consideration of an expensive advisory vote. To my recollection, it was the first unanimous vote of that board in years. There also appears to be a developing consensus that an elected hospital board will not have the requisite skill nor stability to attract a top management team. Less encouraging news were survey results that only 45 percent of 400 parcel owners were willing to approve a tax measure of $30 per 100,000 of assessed valuation to build a compliant wing. For my large Mill Valley home, that amounts to $66 per year, roughly 18 cents per day, a nominal cost for assuring nearby care after a quake if I am one of the casualties. Without delay, the district board can now pull together to: - Propose a workable governance structure that immunizes MGH from reckless political interference. - Start planning with the present MGH staff a new single wing of about 80 beds. MGH has 235 licensed beds; it staffs only 125. The present west wing has 80 compliant beds as well as a compliant intensive care unit, surgical suites and trauma unit. Replace only what is essential. Employ an experienced hospital architect for plans that contractors can cost-estimate. Then prepare a tight capital financing plan to take to the voters that will be supportable. Bob Derzon, Mill Valley |