PORT ANGELES — Two candidates competing for a seat on the Olympic Medical Center board shared contrasting yet overlapping visions on how to stabilize the public hospital, maintain local control and exercise caution in pursuing an outside affiliation.

Tara Coffin and Dr. Carleen Bensen, who are seeking the Position 4 seat in Hospital District 2, discussed their approaches to addressing the hospital’s financial troubles and ensuring continued access to health care for Clallam County residents.

Coffin, who holds a doctorate in public health and a master’s degree in special education from the University of Washington, said her background in health communication and community-based research has shaped her holistic view of rural health care challenges.

“How can we implement innovative approac

See Full Page