Letter to the Editor: Tom Kilpatrick

Letter to the Editor

Healthcare in Hohenwald

I have lived in Hohenwald now for five years and it is becoming increasingly clear that although there is relatively good clinical healthcare on a day to day basis, there is a serious failing. I understand there was a hospital and emergency room here in earlier times but that it was sold out in favor of the Maury Regional Hospital.

Today no such service exists. There are emergency rooms in Columbia, Linden and Centerville. Two of these towns are smaller than Hohenwald - all in a 30 mile radius.

This failing is costing job growth in Lewis County. Companies will not come here when main stream healthcare is not available in an emergency room setting 24/7. Quality new residents to increase the tax base and support local business will not come.

It seems to me at some point those ‘city fathers’ cut off their noses in spite of their face. Or like the story of Jacob and Esau they sold the birthright of this town for a mess of pottage.

Hohenwald and Lewis County deserve better. At the very least the ambulatory clinic services need to emulate a staffed emergency room 24/7, eliminating the need for driving 30 miles to get to Maury Regional or 20 miles to get to St. Thomas Hickman.

Additionally Maury Regional recently spent a lot of money updating their clinic and lab. Now the lab has been shut down and all lab work sent out to Columbia for 24 hour turn around.

People can die or suffer much pain in 24 hours or over weekends.

Every day this is allowed to continue, this town and county dies a little.

It deserves better. You are getting the jail issue addressed, now healthcare needs addressing.

Tom Kilpatrick

Hohenwald, TN

Yes I love Hohenwald and it deserves better.