By With Measure D, the El Camino Hospital District is asking residents to pick up $148 million of a nearly $300 million tab to rebuild the hospital tower and bring facilities into the 21st century.

Despite the still-sluggish economy, we consider the annual $12.90 per $100,000 assessed valuation a relatively small price to pay for the ultimate health insurance. We encourage a yes vote on Measure D.

El Camino is the primary emergency center for district patients from Los Altos to Sunnyvale. This affects every resident, not just those who regularly go to the hospital. Those on Kaiser, with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation or those with no insurance, would go to El Camino for any needed emergency treatment. It is vital that the hospital be supported for this, if for no other reason.

Measure D plans include enlarging the hospital’s emergency room, which will dramatically reduce wait times. An observation area would be added, allowing ER beds to be freed up for more critical patients. In addition, an urgent care center would open for those with pertinent, but non-critical medical problems allowing for even better ER response.

Last year, the emergency room experienced 37,000 visits. An expansion of the ER certainly is called for.

But that’s not the main reason hospital officials are rebuilding. The state passed a law in the wake of the 1994 Northridge earthquake calling for hospitals to meet higher seismic standards. The main tower, built in 1961, does not meet those standards.

There’s a good reason for better seismic standards. In the 1994 quake, three hospitals were so severely damaged that patients had to be treated in parking lots. Such “shelter in place” treatment was limited. In addition, damaged roads cut the injured off from some hospitals.

In the eventuality of another major quake, El Camino needs to be shored up to handle emergencies. Its closeness is reassuring in the event major roads to other medical centers are cut off.

Some will say, “I’ve never used El Camino. Why should I pay for a hospital I don’t use?”

Those same people also may not have called a policeman or fireman - but they’re glad they’re around in case they’re needed.

The same goes for the hospital. We are fortunate to have one, not only nearby, but consistently topping surveys measuring patient satisfaction. Measure D represents an opportunity for residents to ensure our hospital’s facilities are safe, as well as improving the ER and keeping it up-to-date with improving medical technologies. Hospital officials have been prudent and responsible with finances, yet cannot front the entire cost themselves. We urge a yes vote on D to continue the commitment to our community hospital.