Support the Hospital

Dear Editor, 

I am writing this letter in support of the Lake Chelan Community Hospital and its plans for a replacement facility.

Columbia Valley Community Health has been a partner and collaborator with LCCH for years and I strongly believe that a replacement facility is in the best interests of the residents of Chelan and the surrounding communities. We so strongly believe in the need for a new hospital that we are investing over $11 million in a new facility located directly across from where the hospital hopes to build. Having a new hospital in close proximity will allow our two organizations to do what we do best: provide care and service in a setting that is both convenient for patients and efficient for providers.

A new facility with all of the resources available to take care of patients is key to our ability to both attract and retain quality physicians. In addition, Columbia Valley in partnership with LCCH is hoping to start a rural training track program for Family Practice residents in affiliation with the University of Washington. A new facility will allow this program to train new physicians who want to live, work, and serve small, rural communities.

On behalf of our physicians, and more importantly, on behalf of the patients that they serve, I strongly urge you to vote yes and support the replacement of the existing Lake Chelan Community Hospital.

David Olson, CEO

Columbia Valley 

Community Health