The current discussion about Providence Everett Medical Center’s plans to modernize and expand its facilities is all about the future, and it should be.
So forgive me if I briefly step back in time, just for the sake of perspective. In the 1980s, I was deeply involved in a thorough needs assessment, looking at the certain growth to come in Snohomish County and Everett itself. Little did we know then just how much growth was ahead.
Everything we foresaw then, nearly 20 years ago, pointed to the same thing: that our community must seriously plan if it is to ensure access to the best health care anywhere. Without it, businesses wouldn’t locate here and existing ones wouldn’t stay or expand. The risks of doing nothing were immense.
There was no doubt to us, even back then, that top-drawer health services were as important to our future as education, emergency services and environmental protection.
Based on my own experience – not so much as a public official, but as a patient and a parent – Providence offers care of the highest quality. The medical center offers the right combination of professionalism and passion in how it serves patients.
But today we must focus on the future. Providence has completed 10 years of analysis of the county’s future health care needs, given the expected 50 percent population growth here by 2025.
The conclusions of that study are really undeniable. Every public official and citizen should be mindful that deciding our community’s health care future is up to us. And it’s something we can’t afford to treat lightly.
As I look at Providence’s conclusions, here’s what I take away:
First, it is abundantly clear from the study that Everett needs more hospital beds. Even with overnight stays being reduced, we need to prepare for immense population growth – plus the aging and increased health care needs of the Baby Boom generation.
Second, with the prevalence of cancer today, and increasing success in treating and curing it, Everett merits its own dedicated cancer center. Patients dealing with chemotherapy or radiation treatments do better with family and friends nearby. Providence’s plan calls for a state-of-the-art cancer center at its Colby Campus.
Finally, each of us, including our elected leaders, should not forget that Providence is the county’s second largest private employer. A top quality hospital is important enough as a caregiver, but it provides family-wage careers to educated employees. The long-term expansion plan envisioned by Providence will result in 2,200 new jobs.
Let’s remember how hard our community fought to keep its largest employer, Boeing, here in Snohomish County. Providence Everett is another we cannot afford to take for granted.
As someone fully versed in the public process, I know that no building program is impact-free. Not everyone will concur with Providence and many others that expanding its Colby Campus to the east is the best or only feasible approach.
These are tough decisions, but in the end, once you step back and look at the choices, there is only one decision to make. And that’s a decision in favor of our children and grandchildren.
We have to decide to be smart but bold. We must be thoughtful and respectful in our plans, but committed to ensuring we care for our own.
The plan Providence seeks to act upon this year has been held up to the light and carefully weighed. It is not precipitous, but prudent.
Providence already owns the land near Colby needed for this 15-year private investment in our future and the hospital has been clear for years that this growth was going to be necessary. All this makes for a building program that is more affordable and efficient.
As I look around our region and country, I see communities that lack a great hospital in their midst. Some have seen local hospitals fade, becoming outmoded and inefficient. Some have closed altogether.
In Snohomish County, we have the opportunity before us to debate, discuss – but ultimately approve – a planned building and modernization program that keeps our community in control of its health care for the next 50 years or more.
It’s my view the time for planning is about over. It’s now time to get on with this investment in our future.
Bob Drewel served as Snohomish County executive from 1992 through 2003.
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