It is a temporary downturn. Can't you people get that? No one was complaining when tech salaries were outrageous, and now that things are slow, everyone is whining. I had a friend that made more money than he knew what to do with. Now that he is out of work, he hates everyone that has a decent job and makes a moderate living for this area.
Sounds like whining children.

Hear, hear! Hopelessly out of touch is more like it! Publish the names of the people who decided this in 72 point red text on the front page so that everyone will know who the blackguards are.

It's a private entity. It is none of anyone's business what people make or the raises they receive. Jeeez. What's next? How much do the Starbucks CEO types make. Who cares!
What is the next editorial? The 'outrageous benefits' that Iraq war veterans are entitled to?

New responsibilities, facilities built on time and on budget, and from your editorial a well run company and yet you gripe about executives getting rewarded for performance. This is a far cry from bonuses for company exec who have made thier companies go broke with mis-mangement.

I feel bad for all those out of work (family and friends included), but this is not a socialist system where fees and pay are fixed. Doing a great job should be rewarded. If you do a great job during a down ecomomy and control expense and expand the business, then that is even more worthy of recognition and reward.

ECH is NOT a private business and every taxpayer has a right to demand transparency and healthcare cost containment. ECH has benefitted for 40 years from its non-profit, taxpayer supported status. The Voice editorial is right on. The ECH Board has failed to address taxpayer concerns and is out of touch with the reality of the market. Why does the Board continue to promote ECH fiscal well being when the operating margin has dropped from 10% to 2%? Why are they not reporting to the public the financial performance of the Los Gatos hospital following the $100 million+ investment? Why are they proud of a projected $2 million profit on a $100 million+ investment? Why are they paying physicians over $200,000 for 30 hours of work per month on programs like the Cardio Vascular Institute which appear not to attract enough patients to pay for the operation? Why do they take credit for some $8 million in community benefit expenses to support Rotacare free clinic - when they don't disclose that the $8 million is offset by income from district taxpayer assessments? Why do they continue to proliferate the healthcare crisis in this country instead of taking leadership to fix it?

Well the, perhaps they should be called to the carpet... will do it? That is the question.
Let's keep in mind that it is run like a major corporation, very successfully, I might add and the volume and quality of business they do does deserve these type of salaries in the private sector and therefore are not unreasonable in today's market. After all, how many Execs masterfully handling that sized budget, coupled with the overall liability of such a business aren't pulling down that type of money these days?

I find it very interesting that this is even a topic. In reference to the claim that they should not be proud of a 2% margin on their new project it seems a bit contradictory to your earlier statement. You would be furious if they made 10%. I think the point is to continuously invest in the Hospital to help improve the health of the community and not to sit on a pile of money. I continue to hear people complaning about the qaulity of healthcare in America when all recent indications lead to more positive outcomes. If you want mediocre results and poorly run hospitals move to canada.