The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-02-25
SEEKING SERVICE, NOT PROFIT
Report Shows Work of the Hospital
Has Been of Benefit to Many People
in the City During the Year but
Expenses Too Great for the Income.

| The annual report of the Kenosha
hospital has been issued and as in other
| years it shows deficit in the funds Of
| this favorite Kenosha institution. The
i demand for service rather than profit
has been insistent with the hospital and
following closely this demand the out
| lay has been greater than the income.
The annual meeting of the board Of di-
| rectors was held on February Sth.
The terms of Walter J. Frost and FL.
z. Barden as directors expiring on this
date, they were duly reelected mem
bers of the board. The board Of diree-
tors consists of the following: z. G..
Simmons, Mrs. D. O. Head, Mrs. James
Cavanagh, M. G. Boerner, G.. G. Allen,
| II. 3, Barden and w. J. Frost.
The officers are: President, 2 G. Sim
mons; vice president, Mrs. D. O. Head;
| secretary, Mrs. James Cavanagh; treas
urer, M. G.. Boerner.
The financial statement for the year
was presented by the treasurer, and re-
ferred to an auditing committee con-
sisting of Alfred Terrell, George III.
Eddy, and @. w. Jensen. The audit
correspondent with the books Of The
Kenosha Hospital Association, and
showed a deficit for the year of
81, 427.02.
"This yearly deficit said one of
the friends of the hospital, lis no
doubt, great surprise to many people,
and is Of course matter of great con-
Germ to the board of directors. On all
sides one hears the question, Why does
the hospital run behind?' why is it
not self supporting institution The
cause of this deficit is largely, of course
free service, which amounts to over
81, 10000 annually. Another cause is
the first class service rendered for a
nominal charge. The board of direc-
tors regret very much indeed that the
financial condition of the hospital does
not permit Of larger charity work No
doubt this could be overcome by rails
ing the hospital rates or by lowering
the standard of service, but neither
course appeals to the hospital authori-
ties. If the rates charged by the hos
pital in the wards are compared with
those of any ordinary boarding house
or ho5el, it will be seen at once that
the service provided by the hospital
could not be secured at the price. No
| boarding house or hotel could serve in
a room three times day neatly pre-
pared tray at the rate of $1.00 per day.
This service means real cream in your
| office and on your desserts and all the
butter you care to use. Besides these
| three meals many patients are served
with milk at 1000 a. M. and 500 D..
M, but you say Think Of the patients
who too i'll to eat at ALL True, but
| think of the extra amount Of bandages.
! drugs, special nurses and linen required
ID such cases. In severe cases as many
twenty-one sheets are used in twenty
four hours, and gowns accordingly.
Every patient uses from two to twenty
one sheets each day. Pupil nurses are
never used on dangerous cases, all such
| having the service and care of special
nurses. Sterilizing alone costs the hos
pital over $4,000 per year. Laundry
bills are enormous, amounting annual
| ly to over 100000 On recent sur
gical case there were six surgeons and
| four nurses in attendance, all in surgi-
! cal gowns supplied by the hospital.
| Gowns, of course, are used but once
and then Numbered.
Insurance on the elevator and en-
ployes' liability insurance costs about
! $4,000 per year-mere incidentals tru
| ly in the running of a large establish
ment, but every housewife knows how
these 'trifes amount up at the end of
twelve months.
| Electric lights burn all night in the
halls; in the rooms also if necessary,
and without extra charge. At least
four-ffths of the obstetrical cases come
in at night. Rooms are cleaned and
| fumigated after the release of the
| patient at the cost Of $500 or more
per room. This is necessary for the
patients and nurses. Disinfectants
since the war have raised from thirty
five to sixty-five cents per pound.
To the above expenditures must be
added salaries, provisions, heat, insur-
ance, repairs and replenishing Of house
| hold articles.
The Kenosha hospital stands for eff
feiency regardless Of expenditure. If
you have anything good to say about
the hospital say it to your friends: If
you have any fault or criticisms, kindly
make some known to the hospital au
| thorities.
Friends of the hospital during the
year have contributed flowers, jelly.
preserves, canned fruit, canned veoe.
tables, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables
magazines, money amounting to $500.
electric fan, kimona. scrap book
clothes chute costing $1,000, IL blan.
kets for wheel chairs, bath robes. sl;n-
lpers, and two sleigh rides for the