Not Everything Has Been Done To Save Hutcheson

  • Friday, October 24, 2014

I am a resident of Walker County and I have a personal belief that a hospital ranks equal to other basic services a community should offer (like police, fire, emergency services, school systems, government, etc.).

I am not privy to all the management and financial conundrums concerning the feasibility of maintaining and growing Hutcheson, and as a private citizen I don’t believe it's my right to all the details.  I started to worry about Hutcheson’s future over six years ago when rumblings started making their way to a public forum, holding true some rumors, but also adding fodder to the discussions.  So began the path traveled to where we are today, seven days away from foreclosure of the hospital.  Hindsight is 20/20 (or so it’s said), but in those six years we could have and should have taken a variety of different paths in hopes of avoiding today. 

I believe there was never an honest attempt by the various parties/stakeholders to keep the hospital a-going concern, I believe everyone had their personal or local, political, economic and financial agendas to achieve.  I don’t believe those with the power or influence to make decisions truly worked to find the root of the problem and then build a responsible and sensible plan for recovery.  I also believe they did not monitor that plan to ensure its forward progress enough to make strategic decisions ensuring positive progress, but they left their decisions at the door step for others to attempt implementation.  

I believe the ruckus that has become the future prospect of Hutcheson Hospital is a product of political and financial agendas.  I don’t believe all the citizens realize how many boards and local political players are involved along with entities of Erlanger and Hutcheson Hospital.  What we are seeing today is variety of last ditch attempts by various so called stakeholders to wrangle themselves into position to say “It was not my fault” and have the ability to point a finger and more likely increase this mess with more litigation.  Is that what keeping Hutcheson Hospital open has come too, who can make the most money when everything goes south?  

I believe the citizens of Walker, Catoosa and Dade County are at risk, along with the staff of Hutcheson, and worse the current patients and would-be patients.  It is what seems like a lifetime ago where true stakeholders would sit down at a table and find a solution to a community issue such as this, they would “Do the Right Thing” for the community, the patients, the staff, etc.  Often money was not the driving or only requirement, it was the community, the pride in doing the right thing, personal commitment to stewardship and keeping a community strong not divided. 

I hope the judge stays the verdict a bit longer on the impending foreclosure, and puts to task a different board, one with community members, business members, a few stakeholders (without majority rule) and removes the influence of the current players in the fight.  Task this new board to find an equitable resolution and long term plan for Hutcheson to thrive.  The Chattanooga metro area (including all three North Georgia counties involved) are full of intelligent people who when given a challenge or the chance to make a difference, will do it well and are happy to try.  

Leslie A. Ward

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