Need compassion in new St. Charles CEO

Your article pertaining to the three finalists for the St. Charles Health System CEO position was encouraging. Near the end of the article you reported that the Chief Nursing Officer of two of the system’s hospitals was a caring, compassionate supervisor. Hopefully, these character traits have become health system priorities and will be sought-after traits in the CEO selection process.

The days of Sister Catherine Hellmann are long gone, but not forgotten. It was an era when the principle of humaneness was at the top of the list. Health care and humaneness went hand in hand.

It is no secret that medical care has become big business. Nonprofit status has become a meaningless term. Madison Avenue veneer, the biggest and latest expensive diagnostic equipment, and such things as the Electronic Medical Record probably aren’t going to have a significant effect on our overall health.

What we long for is genuine, caring and emotional attachment between provider and patient. Newer methods and techniques are distancing one from the other.

Compassion and caring need to be emphasized from the top down. An exceptional business mind is great, but health care is a human business. Respectful relationships in the front lines as well as in every department will determine the overall quality of care.

Hopefully, the Board of Directors will take this opportunity to restore respect and quality to the St. Charles system.

Bud Beamer

Madras

Interest in Pilot Butte is heartening

It’s great seeing so many people weighing in on issues affecting Pilot Butte. Right now, people seem most concerned about driver/hiker conflicts. Not mentioned is the fact that the state has taken steps recently to increase safety, and we’ve heard they want to do even more. The delineators they installed on the road edge made a noticeable difference. The new “share the road” signs help alert drivers to the conditions ahead. Changes in opening times for the gate, and fixing the road edge, are things people have wanted, and now they may happen.

People sometimes forget that the rickety road itself is more a blessing than a curse. Responsible drivers and walkers will use more caution under such conditions. What we’re really most concerned about are irresponsible people. There are solutions for them: peer pressure, warnings and citations. Maybe that should be a next step after everything else is in place. That said, the biggest issue here isn’t being addressed. There’s such a thing as too many cars, especially with limited room for them at the summit. I drove to the top yesterday and there was no available parking. This problem will only get worse with time. Let’s keep that rickety road as long as we can and keep thinking about solutions to the bigger problem that lies ahead. Historically, there’s been an unbelievable partnership between the state park and the people. Together we’ll find solutions. You can count on that.

Bill Smith

Bend

Enforce laws about dogs

I have been increasingly disturbed by the number of scofflaws in Bend, particularly concerning dogs at public events. I like dogs; I simply have no respect for the owners who ignore the law. Having just attended the summer festival downtown, I noticed numerous signs stating no dogs are allowed (from the summer festival website:

“Bringing your dog down to the event is a violation of city code(s):

7.396 (1) ‘Interfered with conduct of special event by bringing dog to event.’

7.398 (2) ‘Failing to comply with condition of special event by bringing dog to event.’

City of Bend Police will be on hand and violations are a Class A civil infraction and could result in a $500 fine.”

I noticed a number of nonservice dogs at the festival Saturday, but didn’t take a count. In the span of 10 minutes on Sunday morning, I passed three people at the festival with dogs, all of whom had to have passed the signs stating no dogs are allowed. Where were the police, who should have issued warnings or citations? What’s the point of having codes, if scofflaws are allowed to blatantly disregard them? I suspect a hefty fine would discourage dog owners from bringing their pets to future events where dogs are not allowed.

Laureen Lampe

Bend