Some issues facing the health care district

By James "Jim" Lamport

Importance of the district's facilities. General health care financing problems. My vision and hope for our hospital and some of its particular programs.

If elected I will give my full energy and attention to the job, and I will work with the other directors to address the many problems facing the district. The board must be fully informed about the operation of the institution and about all options that might be available for financial relief.

My vision is for the district's facilities to remain in public ownership and control, and to be operated in an open, stable, break-even or better fashion. The board of directors must insure that competent administrators are in place to handle OUR business.

A lot of our local health care financing problems are attributable to the failure, nationally and state-wide, to enact a civilized, universal insurance coverage system. If every patient and client who came through the door had guaranteed, easily-billed insurance coverage, the district's finances would be in better shape. Think of the public health advantages. I support the establishment of a single-payor health insurance system.

I support the continuation of all of the perinatal programs and services currently in place in Redway and Garberville. It is vital that high quality birthing services be available locally. The flexibility that these programs provide are crucial for local pregnant women. I believe that productive co-operation between the SHCHD and Redwoods Rural Health Center will result in the continuation, and hopefully the enhancement, of local birthing services.