Local Control
One of the most substantial issues facing our community is the potential of OMC to close, and the impact that the merger with UW Medical Center, or another hospital, will have on our community. Having and retaining local control over our healthcare system is paramount, and if elected, I will advocate for local control and input over our hospital system.
With respect to the proposed partnership/merger, Jerry supports an affiliation with the University of Washington out of the possible options and will continue to advocate for as much local control as possible.
Fiscal Responsibility
OMC has had worsening finances over the 6 year term of my opponent. OMC has gone overbudget almost $50 million dollars the last 3 years. This is due to ill-advised hospital commissioner decisions, including but not limited to the termination of a longtime local Emergency Room physician group, failure of recognition that governmental support during COVID would cease, and failure to plan for inadequate payments from Medicare and Medicaid. There has been failed hospital commissioner oversight, including the lack of appropriate and timely financial statements, and imprudent revenue generating schemes such as a failed attempt at a hospital pharmacy to compete with local pharmacies, a backlog of 1000 MRI exams that resulted in an unnecessary contract for a mobile MRI company to catch up on exams, loss of 340B pharmacy funds estimated in the millions of dollars, and a tele-cardiology contract canceled due to nonperformance.
Jerry has not only worked as a licensed doctor, but has also helped manage health clinics. Jerry’s background in managing medical clinics has given him the ability to read and manage budgets, and ask relevant questions of administrators to ensure that the hospital is staying on-track and being fiscally responsible.
Additionally, Jerry has lobbied Federal, State, and local officials and his experience working collaboratively with elected officials will help him be able to advocate on behalf of Clallam County and OMC to ensure that the federal cuts have as little an impact locally as possible.
Transparency
These past few months have demonstrated the need for Hospital Commissioners who value and embody the value of transparency with clear, timely communication to voters and hospital users. There have been multiple, very important issues that have come up in 2025 alone, such as the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CSM) visits to address deep deficiencies that OMC has repeatedly failed to address, along with the hospital partnership process.
Both of these issues are critical to the success and longevity of OMC and affect each and every one of us. The fact that the public and voters were kept in the dark about these issues until whistleblowers came forward is simply unacceptable - and we, as voters and community members who depend on our hospital, should not accept this.
You deserve a Hospital Commissioner who will pledge to keep the public in mind when making decisions, and who will engage in public processes, rather than ones in secret.
Working with Staff & Community Partners
To have a functioning - and thriving - hospital, it is critical that the people who work there are respected, and that their opinions are sought to improve efficiency and service. OMC is the largest employer in Port Angeles, and plays an important role in the functioning of our community. As a doctor who worked for over 20 years in the medical field, Jerry knows what it’s like to both be hospital staff, and be in leadership roles. His experience as a staff member at hospitals, as well as his friendship with many current OMC staff, will make him uniquely qualified to serve as an OMC hospital commissioner.
Further, the hospital has partnerships with many community partners, like the nursing program at Peninsula College, the Port Angeles Police and Fire Departments, Peninsula Behavioral Health, North Olympic Healthcare Network, and the Jamestown S’Klallam and Lower Elwha Klallam Tribes. These partnerships, and the continuation of these partnerships, are extremely valuable and OMC needs a commissioner who values community and understands the importance of and can expand upon these relationships.