Dr. Niran Al-Agba

A Two-Hospital Solution in the Event of a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI)

In June 2016, Kitsap County emergency personnel participated in Cascadia Rising, a large-scale earthquake drill. At the time, three local hospitals planned to coordinate management of injured casualties: Navy Hospital, which would treat the “walking wounded” (least injured), or Harrison Silverdale and Harrison Bremerton, which would clear their emergency departments to receive the flood of injured patients. While those plans have changed, the grave risk to our community in the event of an earthquake should not be ignored.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-14T03:58:17+00:00September 5, 2017|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: ACA, Affordable Care, Cascade Rising, CHI, Consolidation, Dignity, Franciscan, Hospitals, Mass Casualty Incident, Patient Physician Relationship|

Phoebe-Putney Hospital vs. Lee County, Georgia: A Tale of Consolidation and a Little County That Could

Lee County is on their way to achieving something extraordinary; challenging the dominance of a hospital monopoly. On July 21, 2017, the CON application for Lee County was deemed complete by the Georgia Department of Community Health. A decision is anticipated by Nov. 15. If granted, the county plans to break ground on the new structure in early 2018. The CEO of Lee County Medical Center, Mr. G. Edward Alexander, stated “Our goal is to ensure that decisions for the hospital are made locally by people who live and work in Lee County.”

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-14T03:55:32+00:00August 8, 2017|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: ACA, Certificate of Need, CHI, CON laws, Consolidation, Corporatization, Franciscan, Health Policy, Phoebe Putney Hospital, Rural Care|

To CHI and Back: A Journey of 85 Hospital Beds in Kitsap County, Washington

One Vision. One Voice. Our Choice.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-14T03:53:04+00:00July 24, 2017|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: ACA, Affordable Care, CHI, Consolidation, Corporatization, Franciscan, Hospital, Rural Care|

An Open Letter to the Future Mayor of Bremerton

The single most critical issue facing your tenure will be improving access to healthcare for the population of Bremerton. On May 1, 2017, the state Department of Health granted Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) a long awaited Certificate of Need to transfer all of the available hospital beds outside of the city and complete a $600 million dollar hospital expansion project in Silverdale, at the expense of healthcare access.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-14T03:51:59+00:00July 18, 2017|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: ACA, Affordable Care, CHI, Consolidation, Franciscan, Health Policy, Patient Advocacy|

Is the KentuckyOne Health Experience a Road Map for Kitsap County?

The Pacific Northwest hospital group may be considered the “golden child” for now, but what happens if profit margins decline and further cutting costs is not feasible? The Jewish Hospital merger experience should serve as a cautionary tale for Kitsap County. Will our beloved community hospital be sold off five years from now or can we escape the same fate by devising a viable alternative for healthcare in our community?

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T01:29:47+00:00June 13, 2017|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: ACA, Affordable Care, CHI, Consolidation, Corporatization, Franciscan, Hospitals, Obamacare, Physician Autonomy, Surprise Billing, Transparency|

The Small Giants of Healthcare

My advice for patients everywhere: Whenever possible, find an independent practice, whether a solo doctor or direct primary care clinic, and patronize that physician. Your care will be more personalized, cost less in the long run, and your health will be better for the investment you made in yourself.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-14T03:44:34+00:00June 6, 2017|Categories: Physician, Practice|Tags: ACA, Affordable Care, Direct Primary Care, DPC, Independent Practice, Patient Physician Relationship|

Dear President Trump

There are people who say you’re the wrong man for this job. I am undecided on this. You’re famous for your hatred of complicated solutions. They annoy you. They annoy you because you know they’re a waste of time and energy. Time and energy that can be put into more important things.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-14T03:42:47+00:00May 9, 2017|Categories: Physician, Policy|Tags: ACA, Health Policy, Obamacare, Trump|

A Mountain of Evidence Against Hospital Consolidation

As an independent physician in private practice, I care a great deal about our people, our patients, and healthcare delivery in Kitsap County. The fact hospital consolidations do not economically benefit patients is backed by a mountain of scientific evidence. While those in charge may decide merging is ultimately the best course of action, it will be imperative we stand up as a unified community and hold CHI accountable for ensuring the cost savings they have promised materialize.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-14T03:38:20+00:00April 18, 2017|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: ACA, Affordable Care, CHI, Franciscan Health, Health Policy, Patient Advocacy, Rural Care, Sunshine Act, Surprise Billing|

“Let Obamacare Explode”

Physicians care deeply about our patients and our communities. Physicians must ensure they have input on the next healthcare go-around. Meaningful healthcare reform will require pragmatism, diligence, compromise, and patience. Working across the aisle is vital to developing better health care legislation for the American people.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-14T03:34:06+00:00April 4, 2017|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: ACA, Affordable Care, Consolidation, Corporate Medicine, Corporatization, Hospitals, Obamacare, Transparency|

Dr. Noseworthy and the AHCA: A Tipping Point

The CEO of the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Noseworthy, was last heard recommending patients fire their physicians suffering from burnout. While he does not have truckloads of compassion or empathy for colleagues; he is, at least, honest. Dr. Noseworthy recently confessed “We’re asking…if the patient has commercial insurance, or they’re Medicaid or Medicare patients and they’re equal that we prioritize the commercial insured patients enough so… We can be financially strong at the end of the year to continue to advance our mission.” The ‘ailing’ nonprofit generated a paltry $475 million last year.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-14T03:32:56+00:00March 28, 2017|Categories: Policy|Tags: ACA, Affordable Care, Corporatization, Government Medicine, Hospitals, Obamacare, Transparency|