Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-02-20

Grand Rapids, Wis, Feb. 4. 1913.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE RIVER
VIEW HOSPITAL AssOcIA-
TON.
After a varied career, our hospi-
tai entered upon a new phase Of its
existence when the property was, tax
en- over last January by this Asso-
citation. The direct management of
its affairs was undertaken by the
board of directors elected at that
time. Mr.. Mead has acted as, Presi-
dent, Mrs. Witter as vice president,
Mrs. Ellis as treasurer and Mrs.
Wright as secretary of the board.
At that time, January Ind, the hos
pital had been closed for about two
months on account of a lack Of funds
a condition which was overcome by
the menb ership fees and contribution
from forty-three people who joined
the association, and by thirteen cor
porations which contributed 80 cents
for each Of their employees, not that
they might receive any concessions
on their hospital bills, but that in
case Of accident, the firms might the
more easily meet the requirements
of the new Workingman's Ccmpensa-
ton Law.
Miss Hughett, the former matron,
was asked to return, and after the
plumbing, which was in a bad condi-
ton, had been put into shape, and a
few other minor repairs had been
made, the house re-opened it's doors
on January 10. Since that time the
patronage has been, good. Up to Jan
uary 10 Of this year, ninety patti ents
have been received, compared with
fiftyAsix last year. From this num-
Der there have been seven deaths,
four of which were the direct results
of accidents, the patients having
slight chances of. recovery when they
were taken to the hospital.
1t seemed advisable to place a grat
uate nurse at the head of the hospi-
tal and in October the Board secur-
ed the services of Miss NJ L. ZilI-
nler, a graduate of Trinity Hospital
Training school in Milwaukee who has
practiced her profession over fifteen
years. Since that time, a contin-
uous succession of improvements
have been made in the interior of
the building The Bird floor has been
transformed. The south unfinished
room has had floor laid and is
now a convenient store room. Raidis
| tors have been installed in the east
and north rooms hardwood floors laid
and calsomine and varnish have fin
| ished converting them into two comfo-
| table and attractive rooms for the
are new WardrObes and bedside ia
bIes in each room, new curtains, rugs
! blankets, as they were required larg<
screens in the wards, new Yarnish
on the floors, etc, etc. The expense
of most of this repIenishing and new
equipment will be borne by the vari-
Gus societies which took charge Of
the rooms over a year and half
ago. There has been, too, a fine gen
eral interest, made manifest by many
kind and thoughtful gifts during the
year and at Christmas time.
Last July our local base ball team
played hospital benefit games with
Stevens Point. The business. men
generously closed their offices and
stores at o'clock and a fine crowd
resulted, adding nice sum to our
treasury.
At the regular September meeting
Of the Federation, the ladies brought
donations of jellies and fruits, over
sixty jars in all, to be used for the
patients during the winter; a most
welcome addition to the supplies of
the house.
Recently a training school for
nurses has been established and the
students are Miss Ziltmer's as
SloCClIlG .. SOlII SCS vi ISCJulCo WILL
be delivered by the various doctors,
who will give their services without
charge. The students will receive
their diplomas at the end of three
years course, and during the second
and third years of training, will be
allowed to answer calls in the city
at such times as they can be spar
ed from duty in the hospital.
Last Fall six trees were planted
on the grounds, and it was planned
to paint the outside of the building,
and to lay curbing and a sidewalk
The ground was IeV6lled for the walk
but there work stopped, the posi- |
biIity of frost making it's continual
ton unsafe. The painting of the
building was also postponed for the
same reason.
Although the hospital is inside the
city limits and free postal delivery |
extends to within half block, We |
are sorry to say that our repeated eff
forts to secure it for this public in
stitution have so far been unsuc |
cessful
1t is we'll proven fact that it is
comparatively cheaper to maintain |
a hospital with twenty or thirty beds |
than one with ten beds. We have a |
large contri buting territory and our |
improved service will gradually O. |
vercome the habit of going to other |
towns for treatment. Already the |
fortunate possessors of beautiful |
location, the future holds for us a
modern, fully equipped building to |
grace it, a building to keep pace
with the citE,s rand nrOgrSs in o. |