Changing direction

You have my thanks for Monday's editorial.

The people of Marin need to know that their district hospital is in crisis. When Sutter Health leaves in 2010, Marin General Hospital will become a stand-alone institution. This is scary.

Although the economic and administrative pressures of the transition are now being dealt with, there are no guarantees to a positive outcome.

As you have pointed out, if the Marin Healthcare District Board cannot demonstrate to the public that it is a responsible, stable, constructive body there will be no money available from lending institutions for the costs of retooling, retraining and reconfiguring the hospital. Also, if and when a bond issue vote is taken for necessary seismic upgrade (estimated at over $500 million) to the hospital in the near future, a skeptical public is unlikely to render the two-thirds vote necessary for passage.

Twenty years of rancor and dysfunction at the district board level needs to be replaced with sensible, progressive, dedicated direction and leadership.

Director Sharon Jackson and I intend to accomplish that goal if elected in November.

We support the "firewall" concept, shielding an operating board from political wrangling, while maintaining public input through the district board.

Harris (Hank) Simmond, MD,Mill Valley