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Marin Healthcare District Needs You to VOTE!

ARCHIMEDES RAMIREZ MD

FRANK PARNELL MD

Whether you have voted already or not, whether you are a Kaiser member or not, please take a few minutes to read this message.

We hope that when you finish reading, you will understand why we support Drs. Ramirez and Parnell for the Healthcare District, and then we hope that you will, also.

You may not know Archimedes Ramirez, but he is very brave.

He went public several years ago, after Sutter/MGH failed to address his complaints about unsafe patient care in our publicly owned Marin General Hospital (MGH).

Conditions were so bad that MGH almost lost its license to treat patients after further investigations by State and Federal agencies.

For his bravery on our behalf, Archie was ostracized at MGH. Sutter/MGH called him a liar about his complaints regarding serious quality of care deficiencies. This lie was repeated in the press and spread by word of mouth. Sutter/MGH sought to destroy his medical practice.

Why? Because he did what no other Marin doctor would do: HE BROKE THE MEDICAL CODE OF SILENCE.

We are talking serious life changing bravery.

Even though he improved care for their patients, too, some Sutter doctors at MGH continue to put their financial interests first.

Physicians whose groups have lucrative non-competitive contracts at Sutter/MGH do not want the public to know (1) that they have these contracts and (2) that they were silent when patients were harmed.

Archie, a 30-year Army veteran, with tours of duty as a neurosurgeon in Vietnam and Desert Storm MASH units, fought a very serious fight for our health and wellbeing.

This had very serious professional consequences.

Archie Ramirez is our herooo.

With great risk to his practice as a neurosurgeon, he ran for the Healthcare District Board in 2004 so he could do everything possible to protect us and our publicly owned MGH from Sutter Health.

Voters understood how brave he was and voted him into office.

As a result of his ongoing efforts on our behalf, MGH returns to local control in 2010.

The court recently ruled Archie was RIGHT -- again.

RIGHT that Sutter/MGH did not investigate his valid complaints about patient care.

RIGHT that Sutter/MGH knew his complaints about patient care were true.

RIGHT that Sutter/MGH actions damaged his practice.

- Superior Court of California, County of Marin, CV040622,
17-Mar-2008, 11-Jun-2008, 8-Aug-2008

Even the Marin IJ says Archie and Dr. Parnell were RIGHT.

RIGHT about poor patient care at MGH.
The bombshell was the conclusion that there are serious “deficiencies” in the quality of care provided to patients... The Marin Healthcare Coalition and its allies on the elected Healthcare District board have persistently criticized Sutter’s quality of care... [T]hese critics had something important to say.
- Dick Spotswood, Marin IJ, 26-Jun-2005

RIGHT about Sutter taking millions out of MGH.
...aspects of the Marin General-Sutter contract were a bad deal for the public and very good for Sutter... I had always been suspicious that claims by Sutter’s opponents that Marin General was a cash cow for Sutter were overblown. It looks like I was wrong.
- Dick Spotswood, Marin IJ, 20-Jul-2008

Neurosurgeon Archimedes Ramirez and Surgeon/businessman Francis Parnell were right about problems Sutter created at Marin General Hospital.

They are the right doctors to lead us forward as MGH finally returns to community control.

Vote for Doctors we can trust.
Dr. Ramirez & Dr. Parnell

MGH WILL BE A GREEN HOSPITAL IF THEY ARE ELECTED.

Endorsed by doctors, nurses, labor unions and community leaders, including California Assemblyman Mark Leno, the California Nurses Association, SEIU-United Healthcare Workers, Social Justice Center of Marin, Marin Peace and Justice Coalition, North Bay Labor Council, Thurgood Marshall Democratic Club, Union of American Physicians and Dentists (Ramirez), and Marin Democratic Party (Parnell)

But not endorsed by Sutter

For a complete list of their endorsers

Click here to visit the Coalition for our Hospital

We are almost there. Keep the faith.

BACKGROUND
In 2005, the Marin Healthcare District and Sutter created an agreement to end Sutter's lease of Marin General Hospital in 2010 and return the hospital to District control. We are in the countdown stage.

Experts indicate that MGH can be a financial viable freestanding District hospital. As an independent hospital, revenue generated from MGH will be reinvested in the hospital, meeting healthcare needs instead of lining the pockets of a corporate hospital chain.

According to the well-respected Lewin Group, “The District Options provide the highest confidence that MGH services will be developed and operated with the goal of meeting the acute health care needs of District (and Marin County) residents.” (Click on this link to see the Friends of Marin Healthcare District’s vision for Forging a Healthy and Sustainable Future for the Marin Healthcare District).

Our next task is to ensure that governance protects the public interest. The next District Board will prepare Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws to govern the newly structured Marin General Hospital under District leadership.

ROADMAP FOR THE FUTURE OF THE DISTRICT
In 2006, the Friends of the Marin Healthcare District developed a roadmap for the future of the District. It incorporated the following major principles:

• Local Control for Marin General Hospital
• High Quality Care for patients
• Professional Staff to manage the District
  Cooperative Agreements with UCSF, Kaiser, and other districts to expand healthcare options
• Green Healthcare for the District

"GREEN" HEALTHCARE:
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT & PATIENTS
By adopting the Green Model (learn more by clicking the link below) the District has the opportunity to transform our healthcare institutions into healthy, high quality healing environments using Green Construction, Green Management, and Green Employment practices. Among other benefits, research shows that environmentally sound practices can improve infection control, lower re-admittance rates, improve heart and respiratory function among newborns and infants, and contribute to improved patient and staff satisfaction. An environmental health perspective profoundly impacts human health and environmental quality throughout the life cycle. A Green healthcare system is a true manifestation of the healthcare axiom “First do no harm.” There is always more we can do.

GREEN CONSTRUCTION. Commit to water and energy efficiency during construction, LEED building standards, and careful selection of mate! rials and resources.

GREEN MANAGEMENT. Commit to energy and water conservation, upgrade chemical and waste management, contract with efficient power suppliers, and minimize the use of environmental contaminants such as mercury, PVC, cleaners, and pesticides.

GREEN EMPLOYMENT. Implement a sustainable approach to workforce housing, childcare, transportation, and educational development as tools to improve staff recruitment and retention, involving both the community and staff.

Download Our Plan & Read About the Green Model