A former Secretary of Commerce once said, “All successful businesses that have survived and prospered have kept in step with changes in all spheres of operation.”

In today’s modern hospital, this is a tremendous challenge. The past several decades have seen fantastic growth in medical knowledge and technology. No other industry in the nation has been subjected to the changes in structure, philosophy, and technology that health care has experienced in the last 40 years. Hospitals, both large and small, urban and rural, must meet these changing concepts squarely and implement services and programs accordingly, or gradually be pushed to one side by the health care industry and the public. For the rural general hospital, the challenge is even greater. The quality of the services and programs must be at least equal to, or in some cases better, than those in nearby metropolitan centers to prevent the public from passing them by in deference to the larger facility.

Because of large and dedicated community support, our local hospital district was formed over 40 years ago and has continued to provide the services and care this community expects and deserves. In my 15 years with the district I have personally witnessed the dedication of our personnel to continually improve and respond to those changing needs. There were some lean years with no profit to show for all that hard work. And there were other years with profits that were reinvested into this community through the recruitment of new medical staff, upgrading equipment and technology, and providing new services deemed necessary through the advancement of medical practice.

“In dreams begin responsibilities” … the dream of improving (and thereby sustaining) our local hospital that will provide care to all is the ambition behind this bond. But it is the responsibility of all of us to ensure this happens. From time to time, we forget who we are and why we do what we do. That’s why we have elections, to redefine where we’re all going together. We define our dreams together. And it does not seem unreasonable to me, that we reach out for more than the status quo, together.

We are your hospital district, responding to your needs through the decades. We are at a critical juncture. If it is your dream to continue to have quality, locally-owned healthcare, neighbors caring for each other, then vote “yes” for your hospital.

Trish Rose
WGH public relations