Aurora CEO pay, not care, scrutinized By Tom Murphy News-Chronicle The recent column that extensively quoted Milwaukee Magazine's criticism of the financial operations of Aurora Health Care didn't sit well with some. That's fine. Usually there are two sides to an issue. Usually. But at the outset, let it be known that the quality of care at Aurora Bay Care (the Green Bay hospital operated by the Milwaukee not-for-profit company) was never questioned by us. Some patients, yes; some patients, no. Our concern is in the magazine article that questioned why Aurora's board of directors would pay its CEO $2.4 million when annual revenues are $2 billion and debt is more than $1 billion. Two readers, Mary A. Bauer of Maribel, and Clayton Murphy (no relation) of Sister Bay, believing we were critiquing care, took issue. Another Sister Bay reader and former Aurora Bay Care patient, Ruth E. Cook, outlined her side of what she said was a too-expensive stay at the Green Bay facility. Bauer is a licensed practical nurse with Aurora in Green Bay. She said she once worked at St. Luke's (the Aurora hospital in Milwaukee known for it's excellence in heart care) and hopes to retire from Aurora. Patients "don't care about a hospital's revenues or debt," Bauer wrote. It bothered her that we didn't write about the competiton's revenue/debt. "Working at Aurora Bay Care has shown me nothing but great patient compassion that human suffering deserves. I see it right from the doctors all the way down the line from nurses to housekeepers, cooks or any staff members," she wrote. "The patients I have cared for at Aurora Bay Care, along with their family and friends, have agreed that the quality of care over exceeds (sic) many other hospitals...The emotions of the patient and family are heard and often taken to an extreme at Aurora Bay Care." Murphy said he was hospitalized at Aurora Bay Care for three weeks and "at no time did I experience an undemocratic or dictatorial preaching to me as a patient. It was just the contrary. "During this three-week period, I had the opportunity to speak with a number of people on staff. Not one person made a negative statement. In fact, they were positive and very upbeat in their feelings toward Aurora." "My local physican here in Sister Bay pointed out the fact that the finest group of orthopedic surgeons recently joined Aurora. Also the Green Bay Eye Clinic is also associated with Aurora. There is no question as to their reputation and abilities." Ms. Bauer and Mr. Murphy missed the point of the Milwaukee Magainze article: Aurora CEO G. Edwin Howe was overpaid based on the overall financial performance of his company. (More on Howe's pay and local letters that agree with our position in a coming piece.) This column never has - and never will - question the abilities and/or dedication of those in primary health care. That's not within our purview, and is better left up to patients such as Ruth Cook who have first hand experience. But our original point stands: Until Jan. 1, Aurora-affiliated obstetricians could deliver babies at their patient's hospital of choice. After that, Howe, his directors and his bean counters dictated in-house births for patients of Aurora physicians as one way to stem operating losses. Nuts, they said, to the competition they said would prevail once Aurora Bay Care opened. It's the double-speak at the top that bother us. ADD ON The foundation's in for the addition to Tru Colors Salon at 3901 S. Webster Ave. in Allouez. It's been poured next to the south wall of the beauty parlor to accommodate Bachhuber & Olsen Accents, a retail shop to help provide solutions to home decor dilemmas. Nancy M. Schleis will be the retail manager for owners Patti Bachhuber and Tom Olsen. An early spring opening is planned. Bachhuber & Olsen also will offer in-home decorating services by appointment. Curbside: Don and Judy Poh have taken another step on the road to retirement from the music business. A couple of years ago they sold, then leased back, their buildings in the 1600 block of East Mason Street. They then closed "Little Carnegie," the wonderful piano recital hall. Now, with Judy approaching retirement age, they've sold, packaged and shipped cartons of sheet music to a Florida music house. When the remaining nine pianos are sold (inquiries welcome), the doors will be closed after 51 years in business. Had the Pohs received as much ink and tv time while in business as the media has devoted to their latest decision, Don Poh Music might still be an anchor on downtown's Adams Street.