I have received many phone calls and have had conversations with concerned residents in response to my letter to the editor of the Appleton Press regarding recent changes made to the Board of Directors of Appleton Area Health (AAH). I am creating a petition to compel the Appleton City Council to undo these changes and protect healthcare in our town. The hospital depends on Appleton Residents to show the City Council we believe in the many, including present board members, management, and staff  who work to make our town great.

Mayor Tosel, Mr. Morales, and Appleton City Council members, undo these changes. Listen to the residents and the professionals who have proven themselves. We, as residents of Appleton fear that when too much power is concentrated with a few individuals that this will not turn out best for our home. 

Background:

In November 2020, Mayor Tosel and the Appleton City Council directed a change to City Code regarding AAH.  The changes allow the city council and mayor to have more concentrated power to govern the affairs of AAH. By doing so, this allows them to more directly impact the composition of the Hospital Board and its financial business.

While the hospital is owned by the city, the original goal of making it separate during its inception in 1954 was to allow the residents of Appleton and healthcare professionals to have the most control over the healthcare in their city. These new changes concentrate power to the city council slow the growth that has taken place over the last few years. It risks losing highly qualified professionals that have made AAH a desired healthcare destination. 

Do we want the same people who have been unable to greatly improve Appleton since the prison closed to direct the largest employer in Appleton? Do we want experts to be ignored after they have proved they have Appleton’s best interest at heart by turning around a dire financial situation into a flourishing hospital that has been recognized across the state for the improvements made; including new services that residents had to travel to neighboring towns for just 3 years ago? Do we really want these changes to take place during a pandemic that have affected many in our town?