The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-08-16

Tine WEhkGE GlUBt 0GCOmUauy b4G
letters and will be published an
less requested otherwise.
ANSWERS Frequent Visitor"
Editor, The Citizen:
1t is with deep regret that the
person who wrote in yesterdays
Peoples Forum" did not have
the courage to sign her name to
the article written. My first reac-
ton to this TRADE was not the feel
ing that the writer had struck at
me personally as a member of
county commission but one of
deep concern of the feelings of the
many loyal employees and the
management of the Monroe Gen
eral Hospital whom l know to be
doing a good, conscientious job
and who because of the shortage
of trained personnel not only in
Key West but throughout the coun-
ty are carrying the burden willing
ly and in most cases without COM
pensation commensurate with their
training and ability and also not
in line with wages paid in other
fields.
| The person who wrote this let
ter certainly is not one who will
stand by his convictions. By his
letter he gives criticism yes by her
own admission in the last para
graph. She is afraid to sign her
name because she is afraid to SUBJ
ject his sister and her husband to
criticism that a number of outsid-
ers have received.
My dear Mrs. Frequent Visitor:
Let me tell you that the staff of
the Monroe General Hospital is
composed of about 80 percent out
siders. The nursing staff is almost
100 percent wives of naval person
mel. The girls at the desk who
asked for the $50 deposit are also
wives of Naval personnel. The in
terne and the technician are both
Cuban citizens and all but one doc
tor on the medical staff are ma
tives of other parts.
Now this article by MRS. Ere
quent Visitor" was intended for one
purpose and if the name of the
person writing it were disclosed it
would be apparent that it was writ
ten to tear down the hospital.
Now to answer the complaint.
When one enters the hospital it is
true that they are requested to
make a deposit in line with the
seriousness of their illness. This is
merely a deposit and if not used
the patient is given a refund check
when leaving the hospital. This is
an established practice in every
hospital regardless of whether it is
public or private.
But let me say that there has
never been an instance where a
patient has been turned away be-
cause he did not have the deposit.
In an. emergency case all formal
tiles are dispensed with and the
patient is taken direct to the wing.
In cases that are not of an emer-
gency nature it is customary and
a good business practice to make
some financial arrangement be-
fore entering the hospital. When
the patient is a welfare case, it is
handled with the hospital manage
ment and the county's chairman of
public welfare. Cases that are not
public welfare but where the pat
lent is not able TO produce the
cash, it is always possible to make
satisfactory arrangements on a pay
ment basis.
Mrs. Frequent Visitor reminds
me of one who would sneak up in
the darkness of the night, stabs one
in the back and then runs with all
her might. In one paragraph of her
article she says Don't you realize
that tourists will be afraid to come
here when they find out how poor
ly your hospital is operated?"
Yet, the only thing that Mrs.
Frequent Visitor dwells on is the
fact that her sister was requested
to put up a deposit of $50 upon
entering the hospital.
In any case where there is mis-
management or inju7tice in tre
Monroe County Hospital or any
other county operation, your coun-
ty commission welcomes construc-
tive criticism. l am willing to per-
sonaily investigate any charge at
any time and will take sufficient
time to make a thorough investi-
cation with the party involved.
But, can Mrs. Frequent Visitor
or any other citizen say that they
have appeared before the county
board or any member of the COM
mission personally or privately
and say that they have not been
given satisfaction.
This article brings to my mind
one Of the articles in the Lions
Code of Ethics: ITO be careful
| with my criticism and liberal with
my praise, to build up and not des-
troy"
It's easy to find fault and we
NOW that there are many faults
o be found with Monroe General
Iospital. But this | can say. that
our commission and the manage
nent of the hoSuital is honestly