The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-05-07
A REPLY BY HOSPITAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES

termine to select such members from
citizens, then We respectfully ask that
you refer the matter of selection to
such committee as you may select 10
be reported to and approved by coun-
Gil.
In offering this suggestion We dis
claim any purpose or design than this
that We may have a harmonious active
board which may meet with the expec-
tation of our citizens and fulfill the
design of your committee in making
the recommendation.
In considering the matter of the city
representative on the board we ask
that council determine whether you
wish to retain Mr. Engelbert, chairman
OF your committee on finance, as one
of your representatives and select one
other member of council, city officer
or citizen, or whether you wish to dis
continue your present representation
and select two other members of coun-
Gil, city officers, or citizens AS to the
city's representation on our board we
see no reason why this change should
not be made as soon as it can reasona-
bly, be done. One of our members, Mr
S. S. Strattan, Jr., whose changed bus
mess relations has taken him out of
the city great part of his time, has
rendered his resignation and we could
therefore give the city its two repre-
sentatives on our board as soon as
your selection is made.
Physicians on Board
AS to the recommendation of your
committee, that in addition to the two
representatives of the city on our
board, we also provide for and elect
two physicians as members, we have
not changed our views as expressed in
your open meeting to which we were
invited
We do not now believe it wise or for
the best interests of the hospital that
this be done.
A considerable number of our citizens
have come to members of our board
and protested against it and we do not
believe such demand is approved by
our citizens generally, and especially
by those who have given most atten-
ton to the institution.
We do not intend to enter into any
discussion Of the reasons upon which
our judgment is based any such dis
cussion cannot result in any good to
the hospital but necessarily must re-
suit in animosity, which result should
be avoided and is farther from any
wish Of ours; for these reasons there
fore We have avoided all controversy
in the newspapers or elsewhere.
We wish it distinctly understood
however, that our judgment is in no
way influenced by any spirit or feeling
of animosity toward any of the physi-
clans of the city. On the contrary We
recognize that their influence and CO.
operation is in every way desirable
and we invite and will be glad to have
their advice and active cooperation in
the management.
ton with present conditions, it is be-
cause they do not have a voice and in
fluence they claim they ought to have
on the school board which has to do
with the nurses training school, and
that they should have two members
on the board of trustees.
AS to the school board and their
voice and influence there that matter
can be arranged so that all reasona-
BILE complaint can be avoided.
AS to their representation on the
board of trustees we do not feel that
this is at all necessary to accomplish
and give them the measure and influ-
ence and voice in the management
which they claim they ought to have
and we believe that such a result
would be better and more satisfactor-
lily attained by another plan which We
respectfully recommend to council as
follows:
A Suggestion to Council
Let all the physicians in the hospi-
tai select in such manner as may be
agreeable to them an advisory board
to consist of five, seven or any num-
Der they may determine; that such
board be the representatives of all
physicians to our board; and that they
be notified and privileged to attend all
our meetings and advise and COOPER
ate with us in all matters affecting the
management and of interest to the
hospital.
We will be glad to welcome such a
representative board and cooperate
institution.
That the medical staff which we
have elected each year has been mac
tive and is practically dead as an af-