By Editorial

It’s going to be hard for challengers running for the El Camino Hospital District’s Board of Directors to question the district’s current direction. At a time when HMOs are going under and hospitals are seeing plenty of red, El Camino reported the best bottom line in the hospital’s 42-year history. Figures released last month showed El Camino $29 million in the black. “Over three years, we’ve gone from break-even to $29 million,” said Chief Administrator Lee Domanico.

Domanico attributed the good news to several factors, including a district currently free from debt and interest expenses, and some shrewd investments that stayed away from the volatile stock market.

In addition to El Camino’s sound financial position, feedback surveys still show the hospital held in high favor among patients, doctors and other hospital employees. The latest survey, released in June, shows patient satisfaction is above the 90th percentile, while employee satisfaction with the hospital has reached the 100th percentile, Domanico said. Physician satisfaction has reached the 98th percentile.

It’s assuring to know El Camino is on solid ground as officials work on a plan to rebuild the hospital. This latest news reflects solid leadership under Domanico and the current board. Challengers to the board may find few areas to criticize in the wake of what’s happening now.