Dear Editor,
My wife would be dead if not for Putnam General Hospital. On Dec. 1, 2022, we were in a meeting at the American Legion in Eatonton when Karen suffered a burst brain aneurysm. Friends immediately called 911, and the EMTs were through the door in just a few minutes.
The PGH doctors stabilized her, found an ICU bed at Emory, and had Karen helicoptered to Atlanta.
Three months later, when Karen came back home, PGH provided the physical and speech therapy that furthered her recovery.
Tom Thompson’s recent appearance before county commissioners and Georgia Smith’s recent statement requesting more money for PGH (“Passionate Plea Made for Support of Hospital,” The Eatonton Messenger, Aug. 15) hit home for me.
I have attended past county meetings when PGH sought more funds, so this is not a new issue. The heart of the matter is that the hospital serves everyone in our community, including people without the means to pay. Hence, the recurring deficit and pleas to the commissioners.
There are no doubt two sides to the question: every public service could use more money, but there are few things more fundamental than our local hospital.
Equally, taxes have gone up a lot in recent years, so where will the extra come from?
What is missing is a public discussion (led by the commissioners) on where PGH should come in our budgetary priorities. The county’s General Fund allocation to PGH in FY23 (the most recent I could find) amounts to only 3% of the hospital’s revenue. Some years, SPLOST money (sales tax) also supports PGH, but the hospital is largely self-supporting.
The question is: Are taxpayers really served by PGH having to appear before the county every year to strive to plug the gap? The problem is not going away. There must be a better solution.
I am challenging for the County Commissioner position for District 2 this November. I am going to learn more, but there is a strong case for a new settlement for our beloved hospital. Seeing Karen’s smiling face tells me that.
The Georgia Trust’s Eatonton Expedition was a great success on a different subject. Eight hundred visitors eagerly took in some of our city’s highlights—a sight to see! Thanks to Lyn Romine, Jim Marshall, Murray and Mary Air, and all the other organizers for their hard work.
I hope we can do it again and showcase yet more of Eatonton’s historic gems, such as Turnwold Plantation and the Butler-Baker School.
Richard Garrett, Eatonton