Editor,
This letter is in response to the one submitted by Lewis Trout regarding the handling of professional service contracts at Humboldt General Hospital. First off, I find it ironic that Mr. Trout would act as though he gave even the slightest care about how the hospital is run. Because if he did, he would take the time to look at all the great strides Humboldt General has made over the past 12 years and see how leadership can overcome even the most vehement critics in the community. Mr. Trout has but one agenda, and that is not to get the professional services agreements in place at Humboldt General, but to actually run off the people that have made Humboldt General the strong presence in our community it is today. Mr. Trout, and his followers (many of which you should take the time to meet at the next board meeting) have nothing but contempt for the hospital. I would be the first to point out that along with the good things there have been plenty of bad.
You don’t have success without some failures; it’s just part of the reality of life. We struggle through the tough times with the hope that things will improve. HGH is no different. Over the years HGH and this community have struggled to attract qualified doctors, pay off long term debt, expand medical services offered locally, and provide for an aging population that way too many times needed to leave town to die away from home and family. HGH took on this challenge, and over the past decade has become an example to so many other hospitals around this country. There is not a comparable public hospital within this state.
Mr. Trout also attempts to compare Mr. Maher’s services to toilet paper, which is absurd. Mr. Maher has for many years represented not only HGH (different boards and administrators) but also represents the City of Winnemucca which has no professional services agreement in place for his services. He references the City of Lovelock and a contract that expired in 1997 to make his ill-fated attempt at any relevancy. The reason there is no contract is because there is no need for a contract. Seems to me the lawyer and his clients would know what was necessary, and I am thankful they choose not to take legal advice from someone like Mr. Trout. If the Recology debacle taught us anything (besides how expensive lawsuits can be) it taught us to listen to counsel and not let politics get in the way.
In closing, I just ask that everyone look at your hospital and if you’re new to town, ask someone who’s been around for a while to give you some history. You probably won’t hear everything is peaches and cream (it seldom ever is anywhere) but those that are honest can tell you about the Quonset Hut on the corner that had an X-ray machine and a few band aids that used to be called Humboldt General. We’ve come a long way, and we can go even farther. You can’t realize success without a little struggle.
I, here and now, challenge Mr. Trout to a factual debate about HGH. In the mean time I am sure Mr. Trout will just keep throwing stuff around and hoping it will stick, but hopefully the rest of us will take the time to investigate for ourselves what is really going on. I guess it was fitting that Mr. Trout referenced toilet paper so much in his letter. With the stuff he is throwing it is good he knows where he can pick up a roll or two.
