Editor,

My neighbor told me last week that; “I finally got an appointment to see a doctor, and it is in three months!” Such a delay is unacceptable. In the Coupeville “Red Apple” I met a friend from Langley that was “on her way to Oak Harbor to pick up a prescription.” She felt that would be faster than trying to get her medication on the south end. She felt that as a doctor in the community, I should be aware of her frustration. These problems can be solved.

Nurses are a vital part of the health care team and need to be treated as the valuable resource that they are. We can afford to pay our nurses enough to let them know how much we value them, which is MORE!

The most important thing that a hospital can provide is Quality Medical Care. When I was recruited to our local hospital in 2005, the ER was ranked in the lowest 10% in the western U.S. Within two years our ER was ranked in the top 2%. I have proven that I can, and will, do what it takes to get the job done.

Now, 20 years later the hospital still needs help. My wife and I intend to live out the rest of our lives here on Whidbey, and we need an accessible hospital we can trust. Moving the hospital in that direction, along with the satisfaction I will experience in doing so, is all I stand to gain if elected.

The hospital board needs a doctor that is familiar with the hospital, its history, and weaknesses. The citizens of Whidbey need an objective and unbiased, expertly trained and seasoned doctor that has their best interests first and foremost. The people of Whidbey need a doctor that is proven to be willing to work hard and sacrifice to get the job done. If elected I will work hard, and get the job done.

Dr. Mark Borden MD

Coupeville