The recent letter disparaging Snoqualmie Valley Hospital compels me to respond to the small-minded opinions of Gene Pollard and his election support.

Snoqualmie Valley Hospital is in no way a nursing home. In 2008, I spent five weeks as an inpatient after a life-threatening car accident. The treatment and physical rehabilitation I received was of extremely high quality. It consisted not only of clinical competence but of genuine care and concern over my well-being and recovery. Each and every individual with whom I interacted, whether physician or nursing staff, right down to facilities staff, made me feel the patients are the reason they serve at our local hospital.

Without Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, I would have required a long stay in Harborview which would have been extremely inconvenient for my family, much less personal, and would have resulted in much greater expense.  Snoqualmie Valley Hospital welcomed me on discharge from Harborview where trauma surgeons saved my life.  I am able to attribute my 100 percent recovery to Snoqualmie Valley Hospital and its excellent team of physicians, nursing staff, physical therapists, occupational therapists, etc.

Snoqualmie Valley Hospital is a vital part of our ever-expanding Snoqualmie/North Bend community, providing needed health care close to home and convenience to numerous Valley resident and their families.

Mr. Pollard conveniently ignores the fact that the hospital is financially healthy and a growing organization which cares deeply about the patients and families it serves.  Apparently, Mr. Pollard is only concerned with hospital finance and NOT patients, quality patient healthcare or the future needs of our community.

Please join me in voting for Karyn Denton in the upcoming hospital commissioner election.

Barbi Donovan

Snoqualmie