Now before Valley Medical Center commissioners is a recommendation to form a strategic alliance with highly regarded UW Medicine.
The recommendation will go before the board Tuesday, when Valley CEO Rich Roodman and UW Medicine CEO Paul Ramsey present a non-binding letter of intent that will allow the alliance to go through an intense analysis.
The result of that vetting would be a final agreement that must be approved by the Valley commissioners, the UW Medicine trustees and the University of Washington trustees.
The board should approve the letter unanimously. Roodman made an almost unassailable argument for the strategic alliance Wednesday night. Valley residents would benefit mightly from improved and enhanced medical services – and the alliance will help ensure Valley’s financial future, too.
What Roodman is proposing is evolutionary – if not revolutionary – for Valley Medical, as hospitals are required under health-care reform to collaborate with peers and become more efficient – and at the same time maintain high medical standards.
Valley and UW Medicine share a strong commitment to quality patient care. Frankly, patients would see little, if any change at Valley because of an alliance, other than increased services. Doctors who treat them had initial concerns eased as the alliance was explained to them in greater depth.
Valley wouldn’t lose its identity, even as it becomes a part of the UW Medicine system that includes such medical icons as Harborview Medical Center and the University of Washington Medical Center. That’s a commitment from Roodman, who came up with the name Valley Medical Center.
We agree with two doctors who suggested the board set aside its differences to carefully consider this agreement in a collegial way. This is not a simple agreement. It deserves deliberate analysis, but it would be a sad day if it became mired in debate over details and a hard-and-fast deadline was missed.
Roodman says he would be surprised if commissioners don’t move forward with a unanimouse vote to vet the proposal. We’ll choose another reaction – disappointed. And we would suggest that voters remember that at election time.
Valley’s commissioners probably took note Wednesday that government, business and community leaders were there to support Roodman’s recommendation. That’s a good litmus test of how their constituents would react, too, to the idea of at least giving the recommendation a chance.
