Dear Editor:

As we kick off National Hospital Week I wanted to take a moment to recognize the hard work and dedication exhibited on a daily basis by our physicians and staff at Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital.

This year, we will serve over 40,000 patients in our various departments. While this number is extremely large, we pride ourselves on treating everyone as our most special patient. A lot of planning, dedication, and expertise go into all of the care provided to these patients who represent citizens not only of Marengo County, but of all of the surrounding counties as well.

I would also like to take a moment to thank the community at large for their continued support and trust in our ability to meet the healthcare needs of their families. Now that the daily debate over healthcare reform has subsided, problems remain that have not been solved and will not be solved in the near future.

It should be no secret to anyone that due to stagnant, if not declining reimbursements, and ever-rising costs, that well in excess of half the hospitals in our state operated in the red last year. Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital was among them. We need the community’s continued support and I urge you to always think to “shop local” with your healthcare needs as our future as an organization is dependent on our citizens availing themselves of the services we provide.

We are continuing to strive to provide cutting edge services and technology to each and every one of you but unless we continue to have your support, our success will be compromised. With few exceptions our staff stands ready to provide care, education and support for citizens from birth forward. In addition, we have several new programs that we hope to announce in the very near future that will further expand treatment options for our population.

We also take our role as a major economic driver seriously. As a matter of fact, our hospital alone contributes in excess of $60 million to our local economy annually. This does not include other businesses, such as physicians’ offices, pharmacies, medical equipment companies and other related healthcare entities that depend on the hospital for their continued success.

In closing, I would like to reiterate my personal thanks to all of our physicians, hospital staff, board of directors, volunteers and the community at large for their role in our ongoing pursuit of excellence. When you see one of these individuals in the community, please take a moment to thank them for their service.

Mike Marshall, CEO

Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital