Lawrence, Parsons retain POHD board seats
Incumbents Helen Parsons and Thomas Lawrence held on to win in their bid to retain their seats in the Pend Oreille Hospital District Board race Tuesday evening.
Lawrence had 3,652 votes, or 31.73%, and Parsons had 3,574 votes, or 31.05%, while challengers Jessie Peters, had 2,029 votes, or 17.63%, Dolores “Dodie” Glass had 1,298 votes or 11.28%, and Julie Berreth had 957 votes, or 8.31%
Parsons, who worked 28 years at Sandpoint Women’s Health, previously said she wanted to focus on increasing access to behavioral health services and creating unity throughout the board.
“My goal is to find common ground, where we can progress forward despite our differences,” she told the Bee for an article published May 4.
Lawrence, a family practice provider of more than 40 years, said in previous interviews he wanted to ensure the financial stability of the three outpatient clinics — Behavioral Health, Sandpoint Women’s Health and Ear Nose and Throat — that POHD is responsible for.
“It is the responsibility of the POHD trustees to understand the costs and care requirements of these three outpatient clinics for them to stay viable and continue to enhance and expand services within their scope of practice,” he told the Bee earlier this month.
Challenger Julie Berreth, who garnered said in a previous interview that her top priority is transparency and making the three BGH clinics more financially viable.
Berreth, whose background is in marketing and branding, said in a previous interview that her experience puts her in a strong position to identify and accomplish long-term goals. She’s advocated for a medical approach that encompases traditional, alternative and complementary forms of health care.
“The pandemic has highlighted how the traditional healthcare model has failed to adapt to the changing needs and lifestyles of its patients,” Berreth told the Bee earlier this month.
Challenger Dolores (Dodie) Glass focused her campaign on increasing transparency and making good use of tax dollars.
Glass previously worked as a nurse at Bonner General Health in the hospice program, and said previously her experience puts her in a good position to serve on the board.
“Quality medical care is my passion,” she told the Bee earlier this month. “I have been to all areas of this community and I feel I understand the medical needs.”
Nurse practitioner Jessie Peters, meanwhile, garnered [percent] of votes. Her experience includes work at nonprofit health care organizations, and serving on the Accountable Care Organization board for hospital systems.
Peters previously said she wants to see better communication from the board, and clarify its goals, mission, strategy and plan. She also said she believes the county’s needs assessment to ensure money is being spent in the most effective way possible.
She also noted concerns over transparency, and said it was unclear what information is publicly available from the district board.
