Much like the members of Congress listening to President Barack Obama's address on health care reform in person Wednesday night, the head of the area's largest health care system had some mixed reactions to what was outlined.

Scott Cantley, president and CEO of the Memorial Health System, said after Wednesday's speech that he was pleased with much of what he heard but also concerned by some, mostly the way Obama laid out funding of the reform.

"It's tough to say that you can pay for an entire system of reform and all this extension of coverage by getting rid of the waste in the current system," he said. "A lot of providers are concerned about that. I don't see a lot of that day-to-day waste. I think most providers right now feel they're working harder than ever before."

Cantley said he encourages everyone to stay open-minded until the details of the plan can be ironed out. There absolutely needs to be reform, he said.

"It's hard to disagree with the general premise - this country does need health care reform," he said. "The current path is unsustainable. It's the specifics of how to modify it that scare people."

Barbara Brockmeier, 81, of Marietta, said she hoped Obama's address helped to calm some fears.

"I think what he had to say should have clarified things for people on the fence, who didn't understand it or how to pay for it," she said. "I didn't have that many questions, but the ones I had, he answered. But I'm sure there are still some hard-nosed people that regardless of what he says, he can't win over."

John Simpson, 60, of Vincent, said he can be considered one of those not won over by the speech.

"I don't think he said anything very different," he said. "He stuck with his same ideas that people have been trying to tell him they don't want. He didn't back off from the public option at all."

Obama said a government-run public option would be one of many options for citizens. He also stressed that those who already have insurance won't be forced to change anything.

Simpson said he still can't get behind the reform.

"I don't want the government controlling things that much," he said. "I think it's a bad road to go down."

Lifelong Democrat Robin Wernecke, of Marietta, said she hoped everyone took the time to listen to Obama Wednesday and realize how desperately a change is needed.

"The important part of this is for people to realize that it can happen to anyone on any given day - you can lose your health insurance," she said. "This is a bill for Americans, not just Democrats."

Wernecke said she was pleased to see Obama detail a plan that wouldn't allow insurance companies to drop those with pre-existing conditions and aims to lower costs for consumers. She said it was important that the president addressed some misconceptions about the plan as well.

"I hope it does really calm the fears of people who have been lied to about this plan," Wernecke said. "I thought it was wonderful."

Sharon Russell, 42, of Lowell, said she was startled to hear Obama say that at least basic health insurance would be required of all Americans, similar to car insurance. Hardship waivers would be granted, however, said the president.

"I'm not sure how I feel about that," said Russell. "People can choose not to drive, but you can't choose not to be a person with a body and health issues. It's not quite the same thing."

The president also didn't do enough to bring Republican ideas into the mix, she said.

"He threw out a few things but it was more like he was just throwing us a bone," Russell said.

Cantley said he was pleased to hear Obama mention one Republican-backed idea: Malpractice reform.

"That's been so absent from every discussion, so I was very pleased with that," he said. "I think it was really a nod toward trying to be bipartisan. And if you truly want to change the system we have, you have to get at the heart at how care is delivered in a very defensive way by many based on the medical malpractice environment we have in this country. I hope that was sincere and I thought it was very significant."