The Ellsworth County Medical Center offers significant benefits to our community.  If readers disagree, there is no need to read further.
June 29, I read the Ellsworth Independent-Reporter as I do every week. It had many good articles. A passage from the one about our hospital caught my attention: “Dr. Whitmer hasn’t given us any solid dates (for retirement),” Kirkbride (hospital administrator) said.  “He will be here as long as he wishes to practice medicine in whatever capacity he wants — full-time or part-time. We really respect Dr. Whitmer and he can be here as long as he wants to be here.”
My immediate thought upon reading that passage was, “WOW! Now, that is the way to treat people.”
My second thought was less flattering. “Where was that kind of consideration when it came to Mr. Kirkbride working with Dr. Katie (Howell) McWilliams?”
Her resignation surprised me at the time, but I knew none of the details. Learning more recently about the details of her resignation prompted me to speak to the Ellsworth County Commissioners and to write this letter.
Having spoken to both Dr. McWilliams and Mr. Kirkbride, the most accurate conclusion I can draw is that they reached an impasse. My personal conclusion is that the hospital administration could/should have done more to persuade her to stay.
In my nearly 50 years in this community, I have heard local leaders repeatedly encourage our youth to return to work in the community using their talents and skills to help the community grow and improve. Dr. McWilliams, a graduate of Ellsworth High School, did just that and had every intention of devoting her professional career to Ellsworth County residents, but in a disagreement with Mr. Kirkbride, she reached a point where she felt that she had to resign. Rural communities like ours need the skills and talents of someone like Dr. McWilliams. Some people have decided to take their health issues elsewhere because Dr. McWilliams no longer practices here. I suspect there may be more that I am unaware of. Not good, not for them and not for the hospital.
In trying to find out more about what happened, I encountered another problem that bothers me. I wanted to address the hospital board regarding the loss of Dr. McWilliams. Come to find out, that was not possible. The board holds regular open meetings every month. While local residents may attend meetings, they are not allowed to address the board unless placed on the agenda, therefore, I asked to be placed on the agenda. The administration asked how much time I would need and I said five minutes or less. The administration denied my request. Mr. Kirkbride told me that I could contact board members individually, but I could not address the board as whole. In addressing the board as a whole, my concern would be expressed in the same manner to all publicly, which would not be the case with my addressing them individually. I find that problematic at best.
Our county commissioners have a public forum, as does our city council and board of education. Concerned constituents may address their concerns to these governing bodies in open meetings. For some reason, our hospital board does not allow that practice.  It leaves me wondering what they are afraid of.
The hospital board holds its next public meeting on July 19 at 5:30 p.m. Mr. Kirkbride reports to the county commissioners the following Monday, July 24, at 9 a.m.
Jerry Marsh
Ellsworth