Dear Editor,

I wanted to express my deepest appreciation to the staff of Hartselle Medical Center for their many years of service to our community. It is indeed a sad time, and I witnessed it first hand as my daughter was one of the last patients to be treated there, spending several days in ICU. It is always a tough thing to lose one’s job, but our city is losing an important asset—one that many have never fully appreciated. I have been with many folks who were brought to Hartselle Medical Center, stabilized at the ER, and sent to another hospital by ambulance or helicopter for further treatment. Those precious minutes were vital to the health and well-being of many stroke and heart-attack victims. Now, our citizens will have to wait more than fifteen minutes extra to receive life-saving stabilization procedures, or pain treatment, or any other emergency care. My family has personally benefited from the lab work ordered by doctors and performed at the hospital, and many of our seniors have found great support through the Senior Circle.

Over the past 12 years, I have met many wonderful professional medical folks and others employed at HMC. As many of you seek employment elsewhere, or have already moved to other places, or have retired—please know that your services at HMC were valuable, helpful, necessary, and will be sorely missed as the hospital closes. To those who cared for my daughter while she was in the hospital, I can’t thank you enough for the great care you gave her and the help you were to us as a family these last days of your employment. May you receive many blessings for your kindness and professional care. I for one will greatly miss having this medical facility in Hartselle, and pray that in the future, another can take its place or a buyer will be found for the present facility. Thank you Hartselle Medical Center for all you have done for our community.

Walter M. Blackman