Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-07
Report Of Visiting Committee.

Report Of Visiting Committee.
To the Directors of the Augusta CITY
Hospitals:
| Eehtl"cnen: Your committee of
| visitation authorized by Il provision of
| the BYLAWS, having attended to the
duties assigned it, would respectfully
| submit ITS annual Report which en-
| braces the calendar year of 1903
Weekly INSPECTIONS have been made by
| one or more of its members, and the
specific duties of this committee as
| contemplated by Article 6 OF the BY
| Laws OF It's Board of Directors have
been complied with. The official re-
| cords OF the Hospital relating to ad-
missions and discharges, the latter of
which comes within the scope of this
| committee for execution have been
duly signed, and which are now ready
for transference to the permanent re-
| cords of the Institution for future
| reference. We are pleased to be able to
state that in our inspections through
out the year, which have been made
without notice to the resident Hospital
| management. we have observed the
existence of good degree of discipline
and marked evidence of effectiveness
| to duty by all concerned in the immc-
date care of the patients. One of the
marked features witnessed has been
the quiet and decOrum noted as exist
ing among the nurses in carrying into
| execution the directions of the man
a5t nlent, in their daily attendance up
on the requirements of the sick. We
have frequently examined into the
condition of the Hospitals sanitation
| and believe it has been uniformly ana
properly maintained throughout the
entire year. The greater part of the
plumbing has been renovated or sup
planted by entirely new fixtures since
| tn" property was purchased and oc-
cupied, and gives evidence of meeting
the required wants of III" Hospital.
We are II the opinion that it fully con-
tributes to proper HYGIENE The heat
ing apparatus from the long use can
not he regarded rs especially suitable
or OF practical construction and is not
calculated to CconomZe in fuel, vet
under the efficient oversight of the
committee on buildings and grounds
the weak points in. its arrangements
have from time tO.time been so far
renovated IS to render The plant suffi-
citntly adequate to afford Il proper
temperature for the various rooms and
wards in the most severe weather We
have thus far experienced since occu-
patton for HOSPITAL purposes.
The Institution little by little is con-
stantly becoming more thoroughly
equipped for service and the repairs
ana rrnovatiors which have been
carried into execution in the construc-
ton Of an additional diet kitchen and
the building of an elevator with its
connecting corridors will not only
greatly facilitate and cconomize labor
but will add to the comfort and we'll
being of the patients. In the posses
sion of the latter auxiliary, the emerg-
cncy cases and those suffering from
severe accidents can be transferred
from one story to another with perfect
ease ana without causing pain Or in
dividual discomfort. Still other i'm
prov"ments in Hospital appliances.
notably the erection of large and
pleasant room to be dedicated to the
purposes of Il sick room for the nurses
might be mentioned as a factor in the
line of progress.
Now methods are frequently being
instituted and new appliances divised
calculated to facilitate Hospital duties.
ana while more has been accomplished
in this direction during the past year
than any preceding one since its oc-
cupancy. yet we apprehend that furth-
er opportunities will present them
selves which will make further OUTLAWS
tain that high degree of efficiency
which should be the endeavOr of its
mana cement.
1t is not the purpose of this COM
mittee to introduce medical statistics.
as this information will be offered by
those having the matter in charge. and
will he found in the tabulations of the |
forthcoming annual report. The fact |
however that the average number of |
patients under treatment is constant |
II increasing year by year demon |
strates the necessity of City Hospital |
ana the wisdom which actuated the |
citizens Of this community to devise
mears and methods to initiate and set |
in operation this charity. The average |
number Of nurses under constant |
training during the period embraced in /.
this report has exceeded any previous
year and we are informed by the |
Matran that the demands FOR trained |
service is so great from the outlying |
districts that the requirements cannot !
DO met. This condition constantly |
calls for an additional force in the de- |
partment for training. Such changes |
have taken place within the past few |
years in the sentiment Of the COM |
mmity in the direction Of requiring |
the aid Of educated nurses to supple
mnnt the physician in clinical manage |
ment. that when we reflect upon the |
natter we hardly see how as city we |
have lived along in the absence of |
such potent aid. We are sure that the |
trend Of observation and experience |
would lead one to venture the asser-
t;cp that such npplio ncec will be CON