After reading Roy Exum's glowing praise of Erlanger's management team and their deserved bonus I must offer a different view.
This bonus is earned on the backs of the faithful and dedicated employees who serve the patients and provide the high quality care. The employees have always borne the brunt of being on the loosing end when it comes to compensation; most recently we note they plan to eliminate benefits promised to retired employees. It has always been this sort of shell game played on the employees and their families that is both wrong as well as grossly unfair.
Does anyone remember the famous re-engineering process dumped on the employees under Skip Reeder's leadership which was nothing but smoke and mirrors to simply get rid of experienced managers and directors; and put in place less experienced and lower-paid employees. I saw many extremely competent colleagues positions "eliminated" by the private company hired to reduce operational costs, read that employee pay, to "save" Erlanger. I too was re-engineered and eventually had to leave Erlanger and Chattanooga in order to support my family. I can only hope the employees are acknowledged and compensated properly by the leadership.
John Brady
New Orleans, La.
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I read where the board will revisit this issue in late February. I would like to offer a suggestion for when this takes place. Since 99 people got the bonus we, the public, would like the reasons for the bonuses. What did they contribute over and beyond the duties of their positions. Maybe like Sgt. Joe Friday said on the old TV show "Dragnet" you may remember he would say "Just the facts, just the facts."
For example: A new idea that brought in more patients. Cost cutting without cutting jobs or pensions. A way to do more with less and the amount saved. What was accomplished to warrant a bonus.
I would think some of the bonuses were given because of the of the position and not because of anything or new ideas. You could explain how each contributed to lower cost, less hours or more new patients admitted. "Just the facts, just the facts."
If the board would explain the bonuses in a manner the ordinary citizen can understand what took place there probably would be a great deal less misunderstanding of the reasons for behind closed door decisions.
Why not publically praise those who went beyond their job requirements and offered new, workable ideas that has moved the hospital forward. Having owned a small business for a number of years before retirement I can assure this will go a long way and will bring about a positive attitude by the public.
Erlanger has served the medical needs of this community for many years with love and care, but this is about transparency, management and political appointees. Remember the citizens can best understand plain English.
In my freshman English class at UC the instructor gave us the best definition for good English I've ever heard, " When a person hears what you say or reads what you write understands exactly what you mean.
N.D. Kennedy Sr.
Ooltewah