Our Voice: Trios Health board has opportunity to heal

The Kennewick Public Hospital District board is on the verge of a different era.

How successful that era is depends on whether hard feelings and personal agendas can be set aside for the betterment of the board and the health district.

That’s what the community needs and that’s what we hope happens.

If, however, old grudges continue and the board continues its dysfunctional ways, we fear there will be more turmoil and uncertainty ahead for the Trios Health system.

The group has been divided into two camps, with an often contentious 4-3 split. The majority of Donna Vance, Wanda Briggs, Jim Mefford and Vic Johnson have continued down the path laid out by hospital administrators, while the minority trio of Rick Reil, Marv Kinney and Kathy Davidson have questioned that approach.

The difference of opinion has unfortunately become personal and, at times, ugly.

During the recent election, both sides supported candidates. Mike McWhorter, who was backed by the majority, will replace Vance, who chose not to run for another term.

Don Campbell defeated Johnson, which means that the balance of power could switch at the beginning of next year if Campbell chooses to align himself with Reil, Kinney and Davidson.

Judging by the amount of support he received from that group on social media — and the fact his campaign focused on criticizing the status quo — it would not come as a surprise if he aligns with that side.

But we hope Campbell and McWhorter both will approach their new roles with their own minds, and take the time to learn the complexities of the job before assuming they already know how to proceed.

Campbell may have defeated Johnson in the election, but that should not be seen as a victory for the minority camp. Benton County election results were dismal, and it would be foolish to read too much into the results — especially since voters ended up choosing a candidate from each side.

With new blood comes an opportunity to change the board’s dynamics. It is doable if people are respectful and make a better effort to get along.

It also would help if the hurtful rhetoric that comes with some election campaigns could be forgiven.

Already, there appears to be some progress. Recently, the board unanimously adopted the 2016 budget, which holds the line on staffing and anticipates steady growth in the number of patients.

Hospital administrators say it provides a bit more breathing room when it comes to cash on hand, which is welcome news. The financial crunch following the opening of Trios Southridge Hospital in 2014 prompted layoffs and was part of the reason the board began to split so vehemently. Figuring out how to handle that budget crisis caused a lot of debate and hard feelings that have lingered.

But last Thursday, outgoing board member Johnson graciously nominated Kinney as chairman beginning next year. Mefford was nominated as vice chairman and Davidson as secretary.

This was an encouraging gesture.

Rick Reil made a motion to delay the vote until January and Davidson seconded it. But no one else supported the move, and Johnson’s motion was unanimously approved.

Now that the leaders are set, the board should move on with a desire to mend the divide that has torn them apart.

Adding McWhorter and Campbell to the group is an opportunity to fix this troubled governing body. If they take sides, the result will be stress and tension for everyone involved in the Trios Health system.

We hope they choose to work as a team instead.

This story was originally published November 21, 2015 at 5:04 PM with the headline "Our Voice: Trios Health board has opportunity to heal."