Editor:

Last week, employees of Swedish Hospital were notified of a proposal for changes at the Ballard Campus which would turn the 163 bed acute care facility into an ambulatory center focusing on outpatient procedures. We are RNs and have worked at Ballard Hospital (yes, we STILL call it that) for over 25 years. It has been our great pleasure to have been associated with this facility where we have made lifelong friends, have cared for many wonderful patients and have felt a part of a real community of caring. This decision will affect over 570 full and part time employees at the Ballard Campus, many of who have worked there for over 20 years. Employees are upset and concerned over this big change.

We at Ballard have always prided ourselves on providing excellent care to all patients. Swedish's stated goal is to be the best place to receive care, the best place to work, and the best place to practice. Under this proposal, there would be no in-patient medical, surgical or orthopedic care. There would be no Intensive Care Unit. Patients arriving at the Emergency Room who need to be hospitalized be transferred either to the Swedish Hospital First Hill campus or to another hospital. The Ballard Community has relied on this facility for in-patient medical care for many years. Perhaps a bit more consideration and discussion is warranted before making a final decision to change the complexion of the hospital.

The proposal offered by the Strategic Planning Committee cites decreasing revenues as the reason for the decision. The population growth in Ballard is increasing, as evidenced by the huge number of condos and apartments being built in the area. At the April 26th meeting held to inform staff of the proposed changes, one of the major reasons presented by Swedish was the predicted population growth of only 1 to 2 percent in the Ballard and nearby zip code areas. How can they come to the conclusion that the population will not grow? We're not convinced. Ballard is one of the favored areas to live in Seattle and younger people are choosing it as their home. Looking at the situation from only the financial perspective is a shortsighted and narrow vision. This hospital is a great community resource and it should not be taken away so quickly. Our patient population has changed over the past 15 years and it is a good picture of how Ballard itself has grown and diversified.

Many of the patients we have seen are not pleased with the plan. They say they would never go downtown to Swedish, but would, instead, go to Northwest because it is closer, has a similar ambiance to Ballard and isn't so huge that they would feel overwhelmed. What they love so much about the Ballard Campus is its community spirit, small size and commitment to excellent care. It is close, familiar and friendly.

I hope that people in the Ballard Community will speak up and let the Swedish Hospital leadership know how they feel about this decision. Perhaps the community itself can discuss, defend and direct a final decision to keep the hospital intact and in operation.

Annie Wilkins RN, BSN & Julie O'Hara, RN

Ballard Hospital