The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1948-01-22
NATIONAL eDITORIAL-
InATA ASSOCIATION
Jff@A5S1nM an4a

We got a letter to the editor this week that got us
a bit steamed up, since it touched on a couple OF mat
tiers in which we have always been vitality interested. We
are sure the writer is not aware of some facts, and we
are going to devote this space to the discussion OF the
matters touched on this week and next.
Before we do an editorial on the airport, we want
to talk to some people around town. So that matter
will be taken up next week. This week, we want to go
into this hospital proposition. 1t is a matter of vital
Importance to the community and a few of the facts
should be understood
The county commissioners really don't deserve cri-
.ticism in regard to this hospital proposition. There isn't
a thing they can do about it. They get cussed enough,
heaven knows, and they can't please everyone, so we
humbly suggest that we leave them alone concerning
the hospital. The matter of a county-owned hos
pital was gone into quite thoroughly here some years
ago, and we were informed that Montana law provides
that a county may not own and operate a hospital I'M
less it is solely for the use of county patients. That type
of hospital, of course, is not what is needed here.
Most towns the size of Hardin do not have ade-
quate hospitals. We have seen several that are not as
good as the one we have, and by perusing our e~xchang-
es, we find that our fellow editors throughout the state
in towns of comparable size frequently get annoyed at
the hospital facilities in their cities.
There are difficulties, and serious ones. To pro-
vide Big Horn county with a modern, well-equipped
hospital would cost a great deal of money. Right now,
we are engaged in a campaign for a community center.
The poor, long-suffering public can't be expected to
support too many things. We are not saying which need
is greater-but with one campaign under way, it does
not look too hopeful for another in the immediate flu.
ture.
Even more of a barrier to a really first class hos
pital in Big Horn county, however, is the shortage of
trained personnel. We really don't know whether the
hospital is adequately stated at present OF not. We do
know that in the past, there have been many, many
times when there were not enough nurses or workers
available to operate it properly. There will be times in
the future when this will again be the case. With the
present shortage of nurses, high wages, and other diff
f~iculties, this will inevitably happen. AS a matter of
fact, disqualification in larger institutions has not been
all it should be of recent years for this same reason, if
our friends who have been patients in such places are
to be believed.
Is there a solution to the problem? We're not sure,
but we are positive that destructive criticism of our
hospital will not help the situation one bit.
We have heard only one suggestion which seems
to hold any real promise for Improvement on our pre-
sent situation. We once heard discussed the possibility
of getting some religious groups to take over the oper-
alton of a hospital here. Many of these groups are ex-
pert in hospital management. Eventually, a new bull
ding and more equipment might be obtained by public
subscription. And the problem of stating would be
solved, if such a plan could be put into effect.
Perhaps Hardin is still too small a town for any
of the religious groups to be interested in it. Hardin,
however, is growing and will continue to grow, and we
are convinced that a new and modern hospital is one.
of the things we ought to keep in mind as we grow
from an active town into a progressive city.
= TRY A WANT D AND SELL THAT SURPLUS FURNITURE -