WhidbeyHealth Board of Commissioners, September 21, 2023

​Name of Observer: Judy Hucka
Observed Meeting:   WhidbeyHealth Board of Commissioners
Date of Meeting: September 21, 2023
Members present: Members present: All five commissioners were present: President Ron Wallin,
Gregory Richardson, James Golder, Morgan Cooper, Eric Anderson. Commissioner Anderson attended remotely via Zoom
Members absent: 0
Others present (staff, media, public):  Staff members present: CEO Nathan Staggs, chief of staff, Dr David Lemme (attending remotely), John Freeman (Associate Vice President of HealthTech Management Services), Shanna Harney-Bates (Quality), Paul Rogers (Finance), needs updating from recording.

Summarize the main issues discussed at the meeting:
I was unable to attend the first half-hour of the meeting. Recordings of meetings are generally not available until 30 days after the meeting. I will update this report when I can view the recording.
The meeting was primarily devoted to routine reports. There was good news from a “patient experience survey” with a score of 1.04. Anything above 1.0 is considered “better than average.”
There was discussion of a new walk-in clinic in Coupeville that is in the works. The commissioners regularly say WhidbeyHealth needs to do more to promote its growing services and improving financial and management situation to the public. A new marketing manager is now on staff. Her first task is upgrading the district’s website.

Financial news was mixed, with some good news and some cases of not meeting budget projections. However, the consensus is that the financial situation is consistently improving. In the recent past, the district had to pay back Medicare overpayments. However, the situation has changed and now Medicare has underpaid the district and owes the district money. The district continues to make progress in hiring medical staff, reducing the need to hire expensive traveling and temporary staff.

List any issues on the agenda relevant to any LWV state or local positions or programs: 
(League positions can be found here.
None

Do you recommend local League action or study on any of these issues? No    
If ‘yes’ what action do you recommend?

Was the meeting conducted in an open, business-like, and civil manner?  Yes

Consider the following questions and respond if relevant:
Was the agenda made available prior to and at the meeting? Yes
Did members adhere to the provided agenda? Yes
Were any non-agenda items discussed?  No
Was there adequate discussion of issues?  Yes
Were any “Executive Sessions” called? Yes
Was there adequate opportunity for public input? Yes
Was background material available to the public? Yes, I assume so.
Did any member recuse themselves during the meeting? No
If yes, for what reason?
List any other concerns or observations: None

Observer E-mail: judy.hucka@gmail.com                                            Date submitted:  9/26/2023