BY PEPPER FISHER

Port Angeles – Olympic Medical Center (OMC) is considering a proposal that would form an alliance with Jefferson Healthcare and create a new nonprofit entity called Peninsula Health Alliance. Jefferson Healthcare serves Jefferson County and much of the Olympic Peninsula.

Matt Ready, who is on the Board of Commissioners of Jefferson Healthcare, told the Port Townsend Leader that one proposal would create a “super board” that would govern both Jefferson Healthcare and OMC. The proposed board would give Clallam County seven seats and Jefferson County five seats, “creating an automatic voting majority for Clallam over decisions that affect both communities,” Ready said.

Ready characterized what he said were negotiations between the two parties as being done in secret, saying he as a commissioner and the public had been left out of the process, which he complained was “contrary to the principles of public hospital governance.”

OMC has been open about its search for a potential partnership that would ensure long term stability, but they have also played their cards close to the vest about the kinds of proposals they have received and from whom. We asked OMC officials about Commissioner Ready’s statements, and they referred us to a statement made at Wednesday’s meeting of the OMC Board of Commissioners by Board President Ann Henninger, who addressed the Port Townsend Leader’s news story directly.

Henninger said, “…quotes featured in the article do not accurately represent our ongoing process nor do they accurately depict the integrity, legal requirements and best practice approach to our ongoing partnership exploration process. To be clear, no decisions have been made, and we continue to explore all options…” Henninger said proposals from potential partners were “done in part through confidentiality.”

She added, “My fellow Board members and I are dedicated to transparency and aim to share as much information as we can. However, it is crucial to maintain a certain level of confidentiality in the evaluation phase to ensure the best outcome for OMC.”

OMC officials said in February their goal was to have a decision ready to be announced in May.