Petersburg Pilot -

Jerod Cook

What is your age?

I am 54 years old

Why have you chosen to run for Hospital Board at this time?

I have been on the hospital board for a number of years, and because we are in the middle of the process of getting a new facility built, I feel I need to help finish the project I was involved with starting. I feel it is important to make sure the future health care needs of the community are met and continue at the level they are, or better, going into the future.

What experience do you have that prepares you for this role?

When I first got on the board the decision had already been made to move toward a new facility. Having had experience with building new facilities in Petersburg, being on the Parks and Rec board when the decision was made to build the pool, and being the Fire Chief when we built the fire station. I felt I might be able to help PMC through the process of getting into a new facility. I have been selected by the board to be the board president for the last several years.

Do you fully support the phased construction of a new PMC facility, why or why not?

I do fully support the phased construction of a new PMC facility. This community simply cannot afford to build a new facility on its own. The best way to get a new facility is through outside funding. If I can help, bring 80 million to 100 million worth of infrastructure to Petersburg from outside funding, why wouldn't I try. The phased construction is probably the best way to do this. It allows us to get funding from different sources for different parts of the project. If we are unable to get funding for a new facility we will be forced to come to the community to fund the major upgrades needed to upgrade the present building on a continuing bases even though experts have advised us that the building has major issues that need to be addressed and is at the end of its life cycle.

What is something you feel the Petersburg Medical Center does well, and what is something you would like to see be done differently?

PMC employs a large number of people in Petersburg. These employees provide quality health care for the community. They work all hours to insure people can count on some form of care at any time. Many new health care services have been added over the last few years to better care for members of the community. I would like to see these services continue into the future.

Marlene Cushing

What is your age?

71

Why have you chosen to run for Hospital Board at this time?

I want to see the momentum continue towards delivering health and wellness care that meets the changing needs and desires of our community, now and in the future. The challenges from finances, regulations and personnel shortages effect us as well as everywhere else in the country. One critical piece for Petersburg is getting a new facility.

What experience do you have that prepares you for this role?

I have been on the PMC Board for 9 years. I was privileged to be the Public Health Nurse for Petersburg from 1978 to 2008.

Do you fully support the phased construction of a new PMC facility, why or why not?

Absolutely. The current facility could have a catastrophic failure anytime.

What is something you feel the Petersburg Medical Center does well, and what is something you would like to see be done differently?

What is outstanding is the level of care offered, and the deep commitment from staff to patients and the community. I think an area that still needs work is two way communication with town folks and patients. This includes letting people know about programs and services that are available, setting up appointments and referrals, reaching care providers, getting test results, as well as the planning for the new facility.

Mika Hasbrouck

What is your age?

I've called Petersburg home since I was born in this hospital 38 years ago. I've lived in Petersburg through my work with the Ferry System all over Alaska and during the time I've been "Outside" for schooling.

Why have you chosen to run for Hospital Board at this time?

Medical care, health and well-being are critical to life, period...and serving on the Hospital Board will give me the opportunity to serve our community in new ways as we address the many needs and wants related to Petersburg's next decisions for the future.

What experience do you have that prepares you for this role?

I've learned to navigate a lot of complex situations in my 17 years with the state Ferry System, weathering the ups and downs associated with budgets and the changing administrations, along with my direct working knowledge and experiences when it comes to the realities of maintaining public infrastructure, specifically the impacts of deferred maintenance and the realistic costs of facilities/ships. I'm also a small business owner, home owner, landlord, community volunteer, and soon-to-be parent.

Do you fully support the phased construction of a new PMC facility, why or why not?

There is still a lot to know about the costs, the construction, and operation of a new PMC facility or hospital. From what I've deduced so far, the community-at-large has not had much a voice in the current plan and lots of questions remain. At this time I do not support the phased construction of a new hospital. With more information, such as life cost analysis and more community involvement, I will be better able to help make

decisions in the best interest of our town.

What is something you feel the Petersburg Medical Center does well, and what is something you would like to see be done differently?

I have been impressed with and very grateful for the Home Health and Wound Care Programs from PMC, I would like to see them flourish to serve even more of our growing aging population and others. I think meeting people where they are and being more personal in the home setting is beneficial to care providers and patients alike.

I would like to see more access to alternative treatments such as acupuncture, IV therapies and

naturopathic and complimentary approaches. It would be nice to have MRI available so people didn't have to travel as much for critical testing. However, as the economy continues to struggle we have to work on balancing our critical needs and our means. I can be an asset to working through our challenges as I make up a different demographic and perspective than those running for and

currently serving on the hospital board.

Don Koenigs

What is your age?

Old enough to know that the proposed construction of a new Borough Hospital requires a business plan to provide public confidence that it can be operated and maintained within the Borough's fiscal means. 84 years.

Why have you chosen to run for Hospital Board at this time?

The Borough Assembly and the Hospital Board have not yet not provided a business plan that indicates the construction of a $90 + million dollar facility is feasible for the community to own and operate.

What experience do you have that prepares you for this role?

Served the community as Mayor during the construction of the Hospital, Middle School renovation, and the Assisted Living Facility in the early 1980's. Served the community as interim City Manager in 1994/1995. State of Alaska Workers Comp Board, 2 years; Logging engineer for Ketchikan Pulp Co, 17 years; Logging superintendent of Valentine Logging Company, 2 years; K-nigs Consulting, 2 years; Constructech Inc. providing survey service to the Tyee Hydro Electric Project, 2 years; Greens Creek Mine Company Project providing design, survey and construction management of the access road, 8 years; K-nigs Construction commercial and residential construction, 11 years; Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Manager 2 years.

Do you fully support the phased construction of a new PMC facility, why or why not?

There is currently insufficient funding and information to garner public trust that the Borough can complete the project. This project should be brought to the vote of the public. They will bear the life cycle costs of the project. I do not support the Borough's phased development of a new hospital at this time.

What is something you feel the Petersburg Medical Center does well, and what is something you would like to see be done differently?

My experience is that the Hospital provides medical care to all who come to the facility.

However, maintenance has been deferred in favor of wages and benefits, and operational equipment. One small example: The water fountain at the emergency entrance has been inoperable for 15 years, so a person waiting for a blood draw cannot get a drink of water to remain hydrated while waiting for the service.

Jim Roberts

What is your age?

78

Why have you chosen to run for Hospital Board at this time?

I care deeply about our community, and I have a great deal of experience and skills from my working life that I can offer: financial management, large project management, commercial construction, and regulatory compliance. I have served on Petersburg's Hospital Board for over 4 years already, and I know I can continue to add value.

What experience do you have that prepares you for this role?

I was a Senior Program Manager, leading multi-million dollar Federal technology development programs. This included writing proposals, managing contracts, developing schedules, insuring that projects stayed on budget, managing regulatory requirements, and ultimately provide the results the customer wanted.

Do you fully support the phased construction of a new PMC facility, why or why not?

Petersburg has a great hospital that is a vital part of our community, serving both young and older, healthy and those dealing with illnesses, as well as making Petersburg attractive for larger employers such as the Forest Service and the Coast Guard. But, the hospital needs a new building. There are many serious issues with the current facility: plumbing, electric, air handling, etc. When you have to kick people out of a patient's room and rearrange the furniture in order to bring in a "crash cart" for a cardiac emergency, the facility is not meeting our patient's needs!

Current building codes demand larger patient rooms for this and other

reasons, and our current facility could be shut down to meet code at any time.

Phased construction is the way to get our new hospital funded by grants and other outside funding sources. Aside from Borough-provided land, none of the costs to build the new hospital building have been paid by the community to date, and none will be. But that requires us to position ourselves with a "shovel-ready" project plan (which we are in the midst of doing), so we can be at the top of the list as various funding opportunities become available.

What is something you feel the Petersburg Medical Center does well, and what is something you would like to see be done differently?

PMC continues to respond to community needs with new programs and offerings such as home health, adult day service program, health and fall prevention, a partnership with SEARHC to provide colonoscopies here, and updating the specialty clinic to better serve visiting specialists - I love that PMC is always looking for new ways to serve our population! I think PMC should look at working with outside specialists to do preliminary work-ups locally, before a patient has to travel for specialist care. Additionally, PMC should continue to look at opportunities for joint projects with other medical facilities, and continue to expand our tele-medicine offerings.