Editor,

This letter is in response to the accusations made by Mr. Jim Pace regarding my Sound Off commentary published in the March 30 Whidbey News-Times.

Mr. Pace, I find your unfounded accusation insulting and an attack on my character. The intention of my letter has always been to inform and educate people in our community as to why our health care system, WhidbeyHealth, was long overdue for a name change and the benefits to our community for this change.

I offered this educated opinion based on my experience as an expert in the field of marketing and the 18 years of working in the healthcare industry.

For the record, I have not ever prospected, sold or received any payment for any service at Whidbey General, WhidbeyHealth or any associated clinics. Further, I am happy to commit to my company never doing business with our local healthcare system while I sit on the executive board.

WhidbeyHealth is not our target.

The five minutes you spent on our company’s web page was not enough for you to understand what we do. CareEvolve does not target critical access hospitals as they do not generate enough business selling outreach services to afford the connectivity we provide. Your assertion that CareEvolve is a startup company looking for a contract from WhidbeyHealth because of a well written op-ed is laughable.

CareEvolve was a startup in 1998. Now we connect over 85,000 providers and more than 150 hospitals. We are part of a billion dollar corporation traded on the New York Stock Exchange. We spend millions of dollars a year on marketing in print, Internet and at trade shows. Personal letters to community newspapers are not part of our marketing budget.

I’m amazed at the irresponsible and vile nature of your comments on a subject that adds so much to the increased value and quality of life in our community.

Brian T. Jones

Oak Habor