Editor's Note: The following is an open letter from the undersigned to Dr. John Hall, chief medical officer at Knox Community Hospital.
Dear Dr. Hall,
I was an inpatient at the Knox Community Hospital from Oct. 10-13 of this year. I have never met a staff of nurses, PCAs, technicians and other staff that showed so much concern for the patients. Every one of them was kind, considerate and caring. They were attentive to my needs, both physically and emotionally. They put themselves in harm's way amid a pandemic. You have a staff in which to be thankful and proud. If you are truly thankful, you will demonstrate your gratitude.
I was extremely upset to learn that not one of them had received a salary increase of any size, nor a bonus, nor any other compensation for their extraordinary efforts. The lack of appreciation by administration in terms of compensation is apparent. Hospitals are not lacking in business. Richard Branson said, "Clients do not come first, employees come first. If you take care of the employees, they'll take care of the clients."
If you want to make a difference, take care of your people! They deserve more than just a "thank you" or a pat on the back at the end of the day. They deserve to at least be compensated for the increased cost of living.
I hope you take this to heart. Thank you for your time and consideration of the above.
Sincerely,
Barbara Barrett
Mount Vernon
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