Letter to the Editor: Hospital name hasn't changed

I want to thank the community member who wrote a recent letter about our name change from Campbell County Health to Campbell County Health—Don't take 'memorial' out of hospital, by Bob Ernst from Gillette, posted in the July 13, 2015 Gillette News Record. As most of us can attest, any change is difficult, and it always seems to take longer than you want it to or think it should.

Mr. Ernst is correct in that Campbell County Health is more than just a hospital. We officially changed our name in July 2014 to reflect the many healthcare services we provide to our community. If In fact, we provide more comprehensive services than any other healthcare system in the whole entire state. And while Campbell County Health is the umbrella name for the whole organization, the hospital building is still named Campbell County Health, and I don’t anticipate that name will change.

Mr. Ernst’s letter reminded me of the importance of honoring those who came before us, and who have made significant contributions to healthcare in our community, including our veterans. I myself served in the U.S. Army nearly 40 years ago, and my son served during 9/11 in the U.S. Air Force. I understand commitment to veterans. We will remain committed to serving the healthcare needs of our veterans and acknowledge them for their service. CCH will continue to honor the donors, contractors and construction workers who built the hospital, and the healthcare providers, employees and volunteers.

In the near future you’ll hear about plans for a ceremony to place dedication plaques at the hospital’s main entrance. One plaque was located in the original main lobby and honors the hospital trustees who dedicated Campbell County Health in 1980. The second plaque honors the trustees who oversaw the hospital’s 53 million dollar expansion project, which was completed in 2012. We hope to see many community members there.