Local News

July 19, 2007

Wahkiakum County Commissioners Dan Cothren and Tom Doumit discussed a variety of issues regarding the Wahkiakum Family Practice Clinic when they met Tuesday.
Puget Island resident Dean Wesner asked for clarification of news or rumor—that the two doctors of the Wahkiakum Family Practice Clinic are leaving by the end of the year.
Doumit, acting chair in the absence of Commissioner George Trott, replied that the board had received last week the resignation of Dr. Richard Avalon, effective September 30. Dr. Keith Wright has given “no formal notice” that he is leaving at the end of the year, Doumit said, therefore that is rumor.
Wright has stated publicly, however, that he doesn’t plan to renew his contract which expires at the end of 2008.
Wesner commented that the community and local officials need to pull together to improve the clinic’s health and financial status.
Doumit described the citizen advisory committee that has formed and is meeting to address clinic issues.
“We started out with over 20 names of possible members and selected 7-9 as the optimum number for efficient operation,” he said. “A couple of people declined, so we have room. The group has authority to add people to ad hoc committees, such as recruiting.”
So far, members include David Batt of the Bank of the Pacific; consultant Sandi Benbrook-Rieder; retired timber industry executive Arnold Curtis; Dr. Wright and Nurse Practitioner Margie Godfrey of the clinic; retired corporate accountant David Goodroe; Wahkiakum West manager Carol Larson; Cathlamet dentist Dr. Doug Martin; Crystal Stanley, former nursing home operator, and medical student Eric Peterson, an ex-officio member.

County officials expected the clinic to run at a loss when they took it over 2.5 years ago, but the deficits have been larger than expected and could hit $250,000 this year.
County officials are facing a revenue shortage of their own and hope the advisory committee will be able to recommend financial measures and staffing levels that will make the clinic more affordable.
In response to a question, Doumit commented that commissioners hope they won’t have to ask for a tax of some kind to fund the clinic.
“Tax is the last option of what we want to look at,” Doumit said. “The bias of all the commissioners is to avoid a tax. If a tax is involved, we would go to the public.”
“We’re going to fix this,” Cothren said. “Give us time.”