Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-27
WANT NEW HOSPITAL
The Work at st. Vincent's De-
mands Larger Building.
The Executive Committee of the Board OF
Trustees to Take the Matter Into
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Reports of
the Hospital Officials.

trustees of st. Vincent's hospital was
held Wednesday afternoon at the hos
pital, Is members Of the board being in
attendance. Rt. Rev. Thomas Beaver,
D. D., presided. The work of the hos
pital has been very satisfactory, and
has been much greater than in past
years, so that there is need Of additional
room. This will probably be remedied
by the erection of a new building, plans
for which have been prepared. The an
nual reports OF the Sisters of Provi-
dence, treasurer and president of the
staff, were read. The former two re-
ports are appended below, and the re-
port of DR.. J. A. O'Callaghan will be
embodied in the principal report of the
meeting.
The board of trustees was increased
| by the election of Rev, 3. S. Conaty,
| Richard H. Mooney, James Early, Peter
Baker, George Crompton and James C.
| Coffey. The executive committee was
reelected with the exception Of James
| H. Mellen, who, owing to his numerous
duties, win be unable to assist in the
work laid out for the committee. NJ J.
| P. McCafferty was elected to fill the va
eancy. The hospital staff will be the
| same as last year. the only addition be-
ing the election of DR.. M. r. FaIon as
assistant surgeon.
The temporary Office of pathologist
/ was abolished as the facilities for doing
| the work are limited.
| The consideration of the proposed new
building and examination OF plans, etc,
| was left in the hands Of the executive
! committee, which will report to the
board of trustees at a special meeting
| to be held later.
The annual report of the Sisters of
Providence to the board of trustees was
as follows:
Silently, but steadily and surely, the
time has passed since we assembled here
| to submit to our board of trustees the
| annual report of the hospital, and We
= have looked forward with some eager
ness and much pleasure to this meeting
! because Of the steady progress that has
marked this years history of our hos
pital.
| A kind and ever-watchful providence
has so blessed our labors that the num-
Der Of patients received and discharged
In improved or perfect health compares
| favorably with that Of last year, and
our treasureT's report presents even
a better result than any previous one.
! We know that your interest in our
success will induce you to study the de-
tails Of the printed report, but we re-
quest you to follow us in comparing its
|
our last annual meeting. This year we
have cared for $40 PATIENTS slight in
crease over 1896, and as great as could
! be expected since the hospital Is usually
taxed to its full capacity. We are hope
full that 1t is holding its own place in
| the quality of the work done, as nothing
| less than the highest praise is due to the
| hospital staff for their constant and I'M
selfish service to the institution, and we
refer you to the detailed report for the
varied and critical nature Of the work
| done and the cases treated.
| The treasurer's report tells you that
| our receipts have been ,672 and our
| disbursements $3.50, leaving us a cash
balance of $2162 There are no bills on
| file, and no debts except the original
mortgage on the land.
! A feature of our receipts account
| which deserves your attention is the in
| creased amount received for board and
care Of patients, being $6933, that of last
| year S4949, and increase of 1874, and it
seems to US that this should prove that
| st. Vincent hospital is not struggling for
| an existence, but is moving safely for
ward with all its conditions in a state
Of healthy activity.
| We call your attention also to the cir
| cumstances that in the past year we re-
ceived no considerable sum from public
charity but while looking closely to our
receipts and expenses, knowing that W.
had little gratultous aid to expect, We
have not neglected our duty of helping
the destitute but have given care and
treatment to 7S free and partly free pa
tents whose time in the hospital as
ward patients represent the sum of
about $1,000. No one has been refused
on account of inability to pay, but we
realize that charity must be exercised
with discretion, and as we have had no
f1Od for the eI1Dr0rf Of tha dnstit7Itp
we have been careful not to exceed our
means, and this explanation will satisfy
any who may notice that the number of
free patients is less than last year. The
year was one Of marked closeness in the
circulation of money. and we preferred
to carry our work along if possible,
without appealing to public charity.
The demand for private rooms has
| been greater than that for ward beds,
| and to meet this want we fitted up a
| small ward which, being very coGnmo-
dious and pleasant, as private ward
readily brought a good price and ma
| terially increased our income, and to our
| great satisfaction we have been able to
pay all running expenses and present
you a very creditable balance-$2162.
| The increase of income from the hos
! pital encourages us to believe that the
/ institution is gaining in public favor:
| also that it will receive increased pat
l II.
| In our last annual report, we told you
that while our little hospital Is doing
| a good work in its restricted limits, we
were not satisfied, and we are still
/ mindful of its many needs, also of other
claims upon our zeal and charity. We
wish to impress well upon our board Of
trustees that our present quarters have
never been considered by us as anything
more than a temporary hospital-a fu-
! ture home for our aged and infirm men
and women and incurables. This latter
class would find here a most comforta-
Bile refuge, and, forgetting what has
/ been done. we look forward to the ac-
I complishment Of our original intention,
viz, the erection of hospital complete
In all its appointments; also suitable ac-
commodations for the sisters employed
in the care Of the sick, and who, at the
present time, are subject to inconven-
fences that greatly increase their labors
and even endanger their health. Has
the time come for contemplating an ex-
tension Of our work? VIII you find an
answer in the report Of what has been
/ done. and in the future prospects of the
4 institution?
You are familiar with our humble be-
ginning in 1893, and our subsequent I'M
! dertaking in the erection Of the present
! building, which is now entering its
/ fourth year The cost of St Vincent
/ l1OSplLdls lucluulHS BI6ulHS, WAS 9lf,-
455; hospital furnishings, 1884, remodel
/ ling wards and sundry Improvements,
1885, making a total of $22,214. Bear
| in mind that this has all been paid and
we have the cash balance above writ
! ten then judge whether this gives us
sufficient encouragement to undertake
more, or whether we should rest con
| tent, perhaps losing opportunity by de-
lay
/! Your experience will weigh with us,
and your approyal will stimulate us to