Reid Hospital Governing Board
New board member sees challenges, opportunities
Edith Perkins
Teach Your Children Well...
Family, community and work have been the focus of Edith (Edie) Perkins all her life. Born on a farm in Longtown (Darke County) Ohio, the seventh of nine children, Perkins helped her father, Theophilus Hurd, each evening during her junior high and high school years with janitorial work in offices.
She graduated from Westmont High School in Hollansburg, Ohio, and earned an associate in arts degree in business as an honors graduate of Miami-Jacobs Business College in Dayton.
She and her husband of 40 years, Joseph, a retired Richmond Fire Dept. battalion chief, are parents of three children: Jennifer, Woodbury, Minn.; Jeff, York Harbor, Maine; and Joseph, Jr., Columbus, Indiana, whose three sons have made Edie and her husband proud grandparents.
Perkins currently is co-president of the Woman's Club of Richmond, but her commitment to youth shines in her service to Richmond High School's Cooperative Education Board and Vocational Education Board. She has also served Leadership Wayne County's Mentor Activity of Young Leaders, and the Greater Richmond Progress Committee's task forces on Education and Teen Pregnancy. She has led seminars on youth employment and education services at Townsend Center.
At her church, Bethel AME, Perkins has held many offices, and again much of her focus centered on youth. "Anything my kids were involved in, I was involved in."
When Edith (Edie) Perkins joined Reid Hospital's Governing Board in January 2003, she brought with her knowledge and experience. She had already served 11 years on the Hospital Authority for the City of Richmond, and 10 years as a member of Reid's Foundation Board.
Her career as a human resource professional brought her understanding of working with "people" to the health care setting, which, at its basic level, she noted, is "people taking care of people."
But, said Perkins, the funding issues facing health care nationally have been an eye-opener for her. "I feel that I'm just learning the terminology." Most people are not aware of the serious problems hospitals face because of the Medicare/Medicaid funding shortfalls, she said. "It's not just one hospital, it's not just Reid — it's all over the nation."
Earlier this year, Perkins attended a Governance 100 session, an educational session for hospital board members. "I began to get an in-depth look at the responsibility and value of board members. It was informative to look at health care issues from the 1940s, 50s and 60s and see how we got to where we are today."
She conceded that the years ahead will be challenging for health care, but she views Reid's future as exciting as the hospital embarks on new and expanded services. "Our community should be excited about the addition of open heart surgery at Reid," Perkins said. "I think that is fantastic."
She also praised Reid's expansion of Senior Behavioral Services to meet a community need for an aging population that not only requires physical care but psychiatric care as well in many cases. "Community hospitals are a gift to the people they serve. Not only do they provide needed services, but they provide needed jobs," Perkins said.
She knows well the value of jobs through her experience with Alcoa. Upon her retirement, Perkins had spent nearly 30 years with the company, much of it in human resources management. During her tenure she was cited for outstanding contributions of integrity, teamwork and leadership.
"Reid is fortunate to have Edie as a team member for the challenging times that lie ahead," said Barry S. MacDowell, Reid president. "We have already benefited from her knowledge and service to the community and her years of experience in human resources. I look forward to drawing on her insight as we plan for the New Reid."
Perkins admits that much of her insight comes from her commitment to her own children, who now have successful careers. She suggests Reid "start young" in educating people about health care opportunities. "At the 7th, 8th and 9th grade level, we should talk about health care, whether it's in a health fair setting or perhaps a summer program that allows students to talk with nurses and doctors about their career choices."
A camp for children with diabetes would offer additional educational opportunities and a Reid presence in the community, Perkins said.
"I'm proud of my association with Reid and want it to be the best place for people in our community to seek care and jobs."
