PORT ANGELES — Olympic Medical Center commissioner candidates Jeanne LaBrecque and Jack Slowriver got their chance to address the Port Angeles Rotary Club on Wednesday.
Incumbent OMC Commissioners John Nutter and Dr. John Miles spoke before members of the same group at the Red Lion Hotel a week before, along with Clallam County commissioner candidates Linda Barnfather and Jim McEntire.
LaBrecque and Slowriver, both Port Angeles residents, were left out of the first forum because of a scheduling mistake, the Rotary Club said.
They were invited to speak at the Red Lion on Wednesday.
“My background really drives me towards seeking this position,” said LaBrecque, who is running against Nutter for District 2 Position 1 on the seven-member OMC commission.
“I’ve been in health care my entire career.”
LaBrecque, 63, is a retired director of health care systems strategy at The Regence Group.
She said her perspective from being a health care provider, policymaker and administrator would serve OMC well in these challenging times.
“I’m quick at making good decisions,” she said.
Meanwhile, Slowriver is running against Miles for District 3 Position 2 for a six-year term on the nonpartisan commission.
Slowriver, 34, is a health care administrator and director of area services for Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest.
She said OMC’s declining revenue and low profit margin “sounds like alarm bells.”
“The hospital is currently $21 million in debt and facing declining revenue,” Slowriver said.
“So in order to stabilize the situation, we need to do three things.”
Slowriver said OMC must:
■ Control costs and meet revenue goals.
■ Advocate for adequate public insur-ance reimbursement.
■ Maintain a high quality of care.
“The reason I want to do this is because I think we’re living in a historic time, an unprecedented historic time, and I want to be a part of it,” Slowriver said.
Asked about taxes
Both candidates were asked if they would raise property taxes in OMC’s public taxing district.
“That would not be a first choice,” LaBrecque said.
“There’s so much before it. It’s really hard to say, ‘Will we or won’t we.’”
Slowriver agreed.
“I think that I would not choose first to increase taxes, especially when we’re sitting at $21 million in the hole,” Slowriver said.
“I would not go for any further investments in property until we see a business plan that increases margins.”
Asked how they would make OMC more profitable, LaBrecque pointed to operational efficiencies.
“I’ve been an outsider,” LaBrecque added.
“I have not seen the budget. I have not seen the reports in all the departments. You have to know that. You have to respond to data.”
Slowriver said OMC needs to meet its benchmarks in accounts receivable.
Both candidates shied away from a question of whether OMC’s administrative costs are too high because of the regulatory requirements of Medicare and Medicaid.
“I think there’s always a way to get thinner,” Slowriver said.
“I’m not even going to speculate as to whether there is administration that is not needed — that it may be top-heavy or not,” she said.
LaBrecque added: “We have not been privy to the inside workings.
“And as I’ve said before, until you get to know, you should not be making rash decisions.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
