To the editor:
As a former resident and the spouse of a physician that had a twenty plus year relationship with the medical center I am both disappointed but not surprised by the news that HMC needs another lifeline.
In my opinion, the life status of the medical center has been mismanaged for years. The last unfortunate but avoidable mistake was the Stacy and Lynn show.
The mistake that has been repeatedly made was simply a refusal to read the writing on the wall. Emotionally everyone, including myself, would love to see a healthy HMC. Unfortunately, it, like most small rural hospitals, faces a near Sisyphean task of overcoming a government dominated healthcare system that simply does not want small rural hospitals.
Despite the presence of a potential rescue in two years, the hospital board should consider pursuing the market opportunities present in the baby boom generation.
There is a need for assisted living facilities, long term care facilities and end of life facilities and it is still growing.
The other approach might be to pursue a narrowly tailored single service facility. An example of which could be a hip and knee orthopedic facility.
Continuing to pursue a near full service facility will only result in having to continue to roll the rock uphill. And last, please be very careful in selecting a consulting service. In my opinion, very few benefited from the last one I’m aware of.
Good luck, you are going to need it.
Carl Watson
Kennesaw