The race for hospital board between incumbent Georgia Gardner and hospital critic Rob Born has led to a sea of campaign signs, lively public debate and heated newspaper letters-to-the-editor.
But there’s another contested seat on the Whidbey Island Public Hospital Board of Commissioners, and this one is a much quieter race.
Incumbent Nancy Fey, a retired pharmacist, wants to continue to serve in position 4, which represents parts of North Whidbey. She’s challenged by Erika Carnahan, who works in medical administration.
The board appointed Fey to her position two years ago after searching for months for someone to fill the seat when long-time member Roger Case retired. The women are vying to finish an unexpired four-year term.
Fey brings more than 45 years of experience as a pharmacist, first as a former owner of Island Drug, and then for the hospital. She is a charter member of Soroptimist International of Oak Harbor, a deacon at her church and a member of a guild that raises money for hospital improvements. She has lived on Whidbey Island for nearly half a century.
“I love the hospital,” she said. “I think it’s important we maintain a hospital on Whidbey Island, and I want to expand our services and get better quality care.”
Some of the challenges ahead include finding sufficient parking as the hospital’s $50-million expansion is built, and attracting and keeping doctors who want to work for a rural hospital, she said.
She’s leery of affiliation after hearing of other hospitals who ended up a shell of what they were after being assimilated by larger organizations. But she is open to partnerships when it makes sense.
Carnahan is a newcomer to politics who described herself as “not a politician.”
“I’m not about politics, I’m about people,” she said.
She’s lived in Oak Harbor since 1987, working for more than 15 years at medical offices in administrative roles. Those roles gave her firsthand daily contact with people in the community using health care. Her role as someone who can listen and represent the people is a strength she brings, she said.
She also worked at Whidbey General Hospital for a few months and quit because the schedule didn’t fit with her family life. That brief time at the hospital was, as she put it, “an eye-opening experience.”
“I worked there and saw things needed to change,” she said. “A lot of administrators walking around and doing nothing. There were a lot of problems. I heard a lot of complaints from patients.”
Carnahan pointed out this occurred before CEO Geri Forbes took over. She said the hospital still needs to address issues big and small, including the area where people walk into the emergency room. There’s not much privacy, she said.
Larger issues include creating a work atmosphere that attracts and retains doctors, nurses and other staff at the hospital is a priority, she said. She’d like to look into local partnerships with, for instance, Island Hospital in Anacortes or the Navy hospital. She is wary of partnerships of large, mainland medical institutions with religious ties.
The board’s transparency is an issue in this election, as a candidate for the other position, Rob Born, has criticized the members for not being forthcoming with information and holding early morning meetings.
Carnahan isn’t impressed with the board’s communication with the community. However, she also isn’t impressed with Born’s tactics, saying that she would bring a less confrontational style if elected. She wants to work as a team and she respects the leadership of Forbes.
“Whatever his beliefs, you don’t go in there all gung-ho and think you can change everything,” she said. “You’re working as part of a team.”
She’d like to consider televising the meetings and perhaps having a monthly community meeting at a different time and location.
“You don’t hear anything from the board members until the election,” she said. “It’s a community hospital, why not put yourself out there?”
