I'm deeply disappointed by the letter from former Commissioner (Mike) Miller and

how it was used to make personal attacks on me at the last Commission meeting - and
that the head of the commission didn't bother to inform me that this was to be on
the agenda.
I never accused Mr. Miller of having a conflict of interest, I was merely inquiring
if there was any. I think it is completely reasonable to ascertain if any current
or previous commissioners have benefitted financially by having served on the
board. There is at least $25 million at stake with this particular investment in
Covington and I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't attempt to find out where/
how that money was potentially being spent. I find it disingenuous for his outrage
regarding my legitimate concerns. As the state auditor has pointed out, Valley's
previous board of which Miller was a member, was involved with some unusual
payments to the CEO. It is only prudent as an elected official to make sure that
nothing so questionable takes place when I am providing oversight.
With regards to me being paid by a competitor of Valley, that potential conflict
was vetted during the campaign and also during the board meetings. I am currently
the stroke director at Auburn Medical Center. As a hospital commissioner I
represent the interests of Valley Medical Center, I have every interest in Valley
being the best it can as my friends, family and neighbors are treated there. My
first daughter was born there and my second daughter will be born there soon. I was
elected to oversee the taxpayer's money and making the public hospital district's
business as transparent as possible, something that the electorate thought Mr.
Miller was not achieving, otherwise he would still be commissioner.
As a physician my interest is patient care. I started and directed Valley Medical
Center's nationally recognized stroke center. My many patients, who live in the
district, often end up at different hospitals, not just at Valley. It is my duty
that I see that they get the best care possible. There are few stroke specialists
in the region - and I am one of them - I want all patients in the region to get the
care they need. There are several specialties that work at Valley Medical Center
and also other local hospitals. This is a common practice within medicine; i.e. the
radiologists at Valley also work at Auburn Medical Center, in addition the
cardiologists at Southlake Clinic (which Valley does business with) also work at
Swedish Hospital, the same enitity Valley competes with in the Covington and Maple
Valley area.
It is unfortunate that Mr. Miller does not have the understanding of the medical
system (or has selective amnesia) to see that my arrangement is actually very
common and that there is no conflict of interest. I, of course, will recuse myself
from any vote or decision that would have any conflict of interest. I volunteer my
time to keep transparency in government. My job and passion is to care for patients
- wherever that may take me.

Dr. Aaron Heide

Valley Medical Center commissioner