Column for Feb. 23, 2011

I occasionally get to read another county newspaper, if and when it actually hits my driveway, which it doesn’t more often that it does. I communicate with several of my elected officials on the internet via email, Facebook, and other means. Just ask Selma’s mayor, our Congressional representative, some of our state representatives, and some of our county representatives. Since some news stories and opinion columns about our local hospital were unable to be read in print (because unlike The Selma News and The Wilson's Mills News, that paper almost never gets delivered), I had to check the online version after reading some Facebook comments by my elected county representative.

It has been alleged that the Johnston Health Board of Commissioners has been holding secret meetings with suitors for a possible affiliation for Johnston Medical Center. That basically means that the county is seeking out possible avenues for new management of the county hospital system. It does not mean that the county is looking to sell off the hospital, nor does it mean that the hospital is in dire financial straits. Upon reading the comments by both the newspaper and the claims of horribly inaccurate reporting, I went to the source and asked County Commissioner and Johnston Health Board of Commissioners member Tony Braswell for some details on the matter. He sent me his comments, which are now public record, so I am not sharing anything that is not open for all to read.

He said that the county is investigating whether or not to stay with the same hospital management company that has been in place for twenty years, or if there was a way to improve upon existing services and economics. That, to me, is only wisdom. Not only do I find that appropriate as one who uses the hospital facilities (and in less than 60 days, my next son will be born there, most likely) but as a county taxpayer.

It was alleged that the Johnston Health Board of Commissioners signed non-disclosure agreements, which according to Mr. Braswell is totally untrue. It is true, however, that some discussions with third parties will be (and frankly should be) done in private session. Nobody supports open meetings and transparent government more than I do. However, I also realize that some business matters and negotiations need to be done without potential competitors being fully aware of every detail. That is only good business sense. It is true that some governing bodies abuse private session discretion, and I have been critical of such. Business details that affect private bids and arrangements may need closed doors from time to time, but the fact that such will happen still needs to be public knowledge.

Also, according to Commissioner Braswell, contrary to allegations of “the hospital's financial picture is so bleak that its leaders are willing to pledge their loyalty not to the people of Johnston County but to outside companies dangling cash in their faces”, the truth of the matter is, in his own words, “we are financially better now than we were a year and a half ago and we have the capabilities of paying the debt service to HUD. So we are actually in better financial shape and that information is easily available if anyone chose to attend our meetings that we have every month over there.”

I have no problem with any sort of hospital affiliation, or even the direct sale of the county facility, for that matter. As a father who has had to deal with the birth defect of a child and has traveled to both Duke and UNC hospitals for treatment, I would not object to having an affiliation with another group. If that would help bring good management, better access to other health care systems, and better resources to us here in Podunk, Johnston County, then I am in support of the concept.

As a taxpayer, if the cost of running the hospital can be minimized or even eliminated altogether, I am all for it. If officials serving on the Johnston Health Board of Commissioners or even the County Board of Commissioners are not considering, in Braswell’s words, “Is this the best way to do business or is there another way to do business?” then they should not be serving at all. To help insure that such a question gets asked, I volunteer openly to serve on the Johnston Health Board of Commissioners.