Anonymous Survey Circulating In Putnam Community With Questions About City, County, Hospital

An anonymous text survey being sent around the Putnam County community is creating a stir with what some call disparaging questions about the city, the county, and the hospital.

CRMC Interim CEO Buffy Key said she first received notice of the survey Monday afternoon. She said as of Tuesday, they still do not know who started the survey or why.

“There’s always people out there who want to make disparaging comments and surveys and things like that,” Key said. “And I think from what I understand the survey to say is insinuating or asking if the survey-taker would like the hospital to be sold, et cetera. And I’ve got to tell you that’s the furthest thing from our mind.”

One question prompts if the survey-taker thinks the hospital should be sold. The very next question then states, “Cookeville Regional is nearing financial instability and currently losing $400,000 a month as a locally owned and operated hospital. Selling the hospital to a larger system would provide greater financial stability and provide more services.”

Key said the survey had been resent out Tuesday as well. She said she wants the community to be aware that it is still circulating, but that it is not coming from an official source.

Key said while they work out the source of the survey, the medical center will continue to focus on providing care to its patients and community.

County Mayor Randy Porter, Cookeville Mayor Laurin Wheaton, and Chamber of Commerce Director Amy New confirmed that none of those entities were affiliated in any way.