North Suburban Hospital Board – At Large

The North Suburban Hospital District covers Blaine, Fridley, Hilltop, Mounds View and Spring Lake Park. This year, the district will be electing one at large member.

ROSEMARY ESLER:

About: When Rosemary O. Esler resigned from the North Suburban Hospital District board as the representative from Spring Lake Park after serving 28 years, little did she expect that she would be filing for a seat again. Unity Hospital was a robust operation, providing full service patient care, employment in the community, meeting the expectations of the taxpayers, and achieving financial goals set by Allina. The stake holders were happy. NSHD has remodeled units, built additions, purchased equipment, managed real estate and provided essential repairs and maintenance, all not possible without tax payer funding.

It came as surprise when on the 50^th anniversary of the opening of Unity Hospital that Allina announced that Unity would become the Unity campus of Mercy Hospital, and Unity’s management would report to Mercy. It would no longer be a full service hospital, eliminating pediatrics and OB services, downsizing other services, and growing the mental health service. These corporate decisions leave many questions to be answered.

Important Issues: Since NSHD has no relationship with Mercy, what will the role of NSHD be in the new paradigm? Will the taxpayers of the original 5 communities be obligated to support Mercy? What will the role of the district be? Should the district even continue?

Rosemary Esler is uniquely prepared to explore these issues. She is hospital board certified by the Minnesota Hospital Ass’n, and served on their board as well. She is a registered nurse who retired from a management position at HCMC where she also served on the AFSCME negotiating team. She was on the Unity/Mercy Community Health council, and chaired the Unity/Mercy Quality committee. She was the chair of the NSHD board before retiring.

Goals if Elected: To be healthy, our community needs access to a full range of health services. Unity was built because we recognized that it is a long drive downtown when it is an emergency or a baby is on the way! Esler has lived in the community for 57 years, and has had first hand appreciation for what a community hospital means for the citizens. For 50 years, the taxpayers have contributed to make Unity accessible and ready to provide care with up to date technology and personnel. Her goal is to preserve that access.

When you cast your vote this November, remember Esler’s preparation and qualifications. Thank you.

LINDA HAMILTON:

About: Linda Hamilton is a RN who is seeking an at-large director position on the North Surburban Hospital District board. She has lived in the district her entire life. A graduate of SLP and Winona State University. Linda has cared for babies in the newborn intensive care for 29 years at Children’s Hospital. She has long fought for quality patient care including speaking nationally on patient safety.

The past years she has served as president of the Minnesota Nurses Association. She has experience with working on boards as well as managing a complex budget. She also worked with multiple governmental and professional friends. As union preside she also answered to the members. Setting up communications after every board meeting and always inviting members to attend union functions.

Linda is married with 2 children, 3 grandchildren and 2 dogs. When not fighting for patients she can be found with her family camping, traveling and volunteering to create a better community to create a for all.

Important Issues: Transparency, voice and accountability are central issues in this election. It is the right of the citizens to be informed and the responsibility of the board to listen before changes are made that affect their community hospital. With no communication their decisions look shady at best. The board must be able to articulate why it acts and where our tax dollars are being used.

The board members are held accountable by our democratic election. After Linda registered to be on the ballot, the board canceled its August meeting and September’s agenda is to dissolve the board. Is this a coincidence? This board has existed for 52 years. If they vote to dissolve the elected board they take the public voice out of the hospital we built and we support. Board members must represent the best interest of the community; they need to be transparent, listen, and be accountable.

Goals if Elected: Linda is passionate about the rights of all residents in the North Suburban area to assure quality care is available and that the community is a part of all decisions She will assure all meetings are open and the agenda is published and easy to access. The community will have easy way to communicate with board members and comment even if they are unable to attend the meeting. Unity was built in 1964 to serve our community by providing for the medical needs of this area. The community had fundraisers. Even my parents chipped in and passed tax levies which continue to this day. Little is known about the North Suburban Hospital District and how it works or what its plans are for the future.