State should increase financial support for hospitals

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, August 31, 2022

In Wednesday’s Herald, an article about Providence hospital read “Providence and other hospitals across the state are struggling with employee shortages and an abundance of patients” (“Providence nurses: Patients, staff suffered as leaders ‘stood in silence,’” The Herald, Aug. 23).

Elsewhere in the paper, an article on charity hospital care said: “About 4 million people fall into those income groups in Washington, roughly half the state’s population.” And also “Hospitals are not reimbursed for charity care. It’s an “obligation” of the hospitals.

I can attest to the overcrowding. I went to Providence Everett ER on a recent Monday mid-day and thought I had stepped into a Netflix disaster movie. After two hours of waiting and seeing no relief, checked out and went to the Monroe Evergreen ER. Big difference.

At a recent County Council meeting multiple Providence nurses brought up the severe staff shortages due in large part to lack of funding for staffing.

So, it looks like the latter story gives a good explanation for the problem described in the first.

Maybe the Legislature should do something other than punt the financial problem onto the backs of our hospitals.

Joe Beavers

Gold Bar