The Importance of the Sequoia District to the Health of Our Community

By Kathleen M "Katie" Kane

Without the District's help the Samaritan House would not receive the financial backing to run the free primary health care clinic in Redwood City for the uninsured and working poor. Without the Clinic people would have sought care at the cash strapped San Mateo Medical Center, extraordinarily costly emergency room visits or worse , no medical care at all.

Without the District's help many of our District's children would not have health insurance. The District contributes 1 million dollars to the County's Children Healthcare Initiative.

Without the District's help students would not be trained in the Districts funded nursing program designed to help alleviate the nursing shortage for all hospitals in our District. The District will support the education of 300 to 400 nurses in the next ten years.

Without the District's help Sequoia Hospital would not have received funds to renovation the Obstetrics Unit, remodel the nursing units, purchase a Linear Accelerator and build a new Angio Laboratory. These services contribute to diagnosis, treatment and healing of community members.

Without the District's help there would be no public oversight of the Hospital assuring that Sequoia remains a secular hospital.

There is a misconception that the District is giving taxpayer dollars to Catholic Healthcare West. False! Sequoia Hospital is an independent, public benefit corporation, formed in 1996 called Sequoia Health Services (SHS), which has a 30-year contact with CHW to manage the Hospital. SHS reimburses CHW to manage the Hospital.

Finally, the approximately $80.00 annual tax would not be eliminated. Should the District be dissolved, according to government code, this tax money would revert to the County and State General Fund. Your tax dollars would no longer be used to support our healthcare it would not even be used in our District. Use our tax dollars to support the health of our community and our Hospital or loose it.

There is one question for voters to answer. Do you want your $80.00 tax to be used to support your health care and Hospital or do you want to lose it to the State General Fund.

I am asking for your vote to preserve your Healthcare District.