Whidbey General: ‘Patients First’ accounting needed

Published 2:00 pm Wednesday, February 4, 2004

Jan. 26 I visited the newly remodeled Whidbey General Hospital for a routine mammogram. I stopped by administration to verify the date of the next board meeting. I was struck with the stark contrast between the wood-toned warmth of the administrative quarters and the ceiling stained cheerlessness of the mammography room.

In a remarkable example of “The Emperors New Clothes” the Whidbey General administrators call their program “Patients First” while focusing mainly on their own comfort and privilege — with cuts in basic staff and continued use of outdated equipment necessary for funding of their enterprise.

As a taxpaying citizen I demand a detailed public accounting of the amount spent to date on “Patients First”: as well as the results of inpatient and employee satisfaction surveys since the program’s inception.

Carolyn A. Kinch

Coupeville