Sunday, Feb. 05, 2012

Hospital misplaces its loyalty

In December, we chastised - he said berated - a Smithfield councilman for supporting a closed-door search for a town manager. We're sorry if our words sounded harsh, but we are simply dismissive of the notion that secrecy is essential to good governance.

Two months later, Smithfield councilmen can take some perverse comfort in knowing they are not alone in their preference for keeping the public in the dark about the public's business. In fact, Johnston Health commissioners might be doing Smithfield one better in the secrecy sweepstakes.

In their search for a buyer or financial savior, hospital commissioners have signed legally binding nondisclosure agreements with companies interested in an alliance. That means commissioners could be sued - and pay financial damages - if they dare name the hospital's suitors.

The confidentiality agreements say much about the hospital and its leadership. Most obvious, the hospital's financial picture is so bleak that its leaders are willing to pledge their loyalty not to the people of Johnston County but to outside companies dangling cash in their faces. Sadly, three county commissioners are among the hospital leaders who signed away their allegiance.

Hospital commissioners argue that secrecy is needed to guarantee the best deal for Johnston taxpayers. To the contrary, taxpayers would be better served if companies had to compete openly to take over the hospital. No, the nondisclosure agreements are about protecting the business plans of outside health-care companies whose primary concern is not the physical or financial health of Johnston County taxpayers.

Two Johnston Health leaders who spoke to The Herald said they would let the public know the hospital's intentions as soon as they could. But we all know what this means: Johnston taxpayers will learn the fate of their hospital only after a deal is signed, sealed and delivered.

In keeping their negotiations secret, hospital leaders are saying, essentially, "Trust us to strike the best deal." Sorry, but these are the same hospital leaders whose decisions, made worse by recession and Washington rule making, have brought us to the point where Johnston Health might sell itself because it is too weak to stand on its own.

The folks who work for Johnston Health's private management wince every time we call it a public hospital. But what else would you call a hospital whose assets and liabilities are owned by the taxpayers?

No, Johnston Health is very much a public hospital system, although its owners - the people of Johnston County - aren't calling the shots. Instead, they are in the dark and the people appointed to represent them have sold their allegiance to new masters.