Clinic advisory board interviews doctor

Members of the citizen advisory board for the Wahkiakum Family Practice Clinic said this week they are preparing to make a contract offer to a Bothell doctor.

The group has interviewed the doctor three times and is very impressed with her, said board member Sandi Benbrook-Rieder. The doctor, a woman who lives in Bothell, has retired from a career; most recently, she worked in clinics in the Seattle and Everett areas.

The woman and board are initially talking about a two-year term, board members said.

Benbrook-Rieder added that the committee is reviewing results of its recent mailed survey of Wahkiakum residents. There were over 400 responses, she said, and most said they wanted the clinic operated as a full or medium service clinic, and they didn't want to be taxed to finance the clinic.

The board will use the data to help complete a business plan for the clinic, Benbrook-Rieder said.

Part of that will include settling the chain of command.