EDMONDS — Jack Tawney, 45, owner and manager of the Harbor Square Athletic Club, has been selected to finish out the term of long time Public Hospital District 2 commissioner Harry Borylla who died on June 28.
Public Hospital District number 2 is the taxing district responsible for the operation of Stevens Hospital.
According to hospital commission president Fred Langer, the hospital board received approximately eight inquiries of interest in filling the vacancy after Borylla’s death, despite not actively advertising the opening in the district, which encompasses Edmonds, Lynnwood, Woodway, Mountlake Terrace and Brier. Langer noted that he was impressed with the quality of candidates who came forward. Hospital public relations director Beth Engel said after the announcement of Tawney’s appointment on Monday, Aug. 19, that the citizens considered to fill the vacancy came from names suggested by various constituencies of the hospital, including the medical staff and the administration. Washington State law does not require the board to advertise the opening, only to fill it with a qualified individual.
Three people eventually took the step of formally applying for the post. The board and representatives of the Stevens Hospital medical community and a representative of the nurses union interviewed two of the candidates before deciding on Tawney.
According to Langer, “the decision is final.” There will not be an opportunity for the general public to question the candidate or the board or otherwise participate in the selection process until Tawney stand for election in 2003.
Tawney, a Montana native who has lived in the Edmonds area for 25 years, feels that he will bring to the board an expertise in the development and management of capital projects and marketing. He and his business partner have constructed and continue to operate eight health clubs in Washington, Idaho and Montana.
According to Tawney, the biggest challenge facing the hospital is striking a balance between the needs of patients and staff in a world of shrinking insurance disbursement.
“The demand in the health care industry coupled with less money from insurance companies and the concerns of an increasing workload on a decreasing pool of employees are something we will need to continually work to balance,” said Tawney.
Tawney is also familiar with the hospital from the perspective of a patient, having seen his daughter born there and having twice been a surgical patient. He commends the high quality of the care, but sees the problems faced by the health care providers.
“Nurses have told me that over the last ten years they have seen their workload increase as well as the severity of the needs of the patients they are caring for.”
Tawny will become an official member of the board at the Sept. 25 meeting. Until then, according to Langer and Engle, Tawney will spend the month being brought up to speed on the issues facing the board, including critical labor negotiations with Service Employees International Union representing the nursing staff and other Stevens Hospital employees as well as a variety of capital projects, including a free standing ambulatory care center.
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