I was disappointed by the sensationalism in the Addison Independent’s recent front-page article about Addison County Home Health and Hospice. I was also dismayed by the comments of Patrick Rooney, current CFO, about the agency’s financial situation, which were overly simplistic, disrespectful of former colleagues, and self-serving.
As the Human Resources Director from 2013-2017, I am aware of the financial issues of which he speaks. There were multiple causes for the financial challenges the agency faced, too complex to explain in a short newspaper article. Through the commitment and dedication of its employees, the agency has recovered its financial footing. The tools for recovery were in place and recovery was well underway when Mr. Rooney and Tim Brownell started working for the agency in May of 2017. The agency survived, and continues to thrive, due to its many employees, both past and present, who have dedicated themselves to its mission to provide outstanding care to members of the Addison County community. It would serve current leadership well to celebrate the efforts of all who have had a part in this community gem for the last 50 years, and to remember that current achievements build on the sweat and commitment not only of those currently there, but those many who came before as well. The current discord evidenced in the article has its roots in the leadership failure to recognize this.
I am very proud of my time at the agency and of the many dedicated people I had the honor to work with, many of whom are still there, and I wish the agency many more successful years in the future.
Kathleen Pratt
Ferrisburgh