The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-01-14
A YEAR WITH THE HOSPITAL

Rev. J. j. Gardner.
l.. G.. Borst.
r. F. Kerr.
o. A. Sutton.
Board of Managers
A. S. Harding, president.
r. F. Kerr, first vic~e-president.
II. B. Mathews, second v~ice-presi-
dent.
r. A. Larson, secretary and auditor.
#. L. Chappell, treasurer permanent
fund.
Eleanor S. Moore, superintendent
and treasurer current expense.
Rev. o. e. Boyce.
Rev. j. S. Harness.
Rev. c. F. Hoffman.
Mrs. N. Z. Hansen.
A. Hoover.
Mrs. A. w. Hyde.
Mrs. Frank Sherwin.
w. A. Caldwell.
Winifred Crouch.
The following particulars of the as
sociation's work as being of especial
interest to the public are excepted
from the superintendent report. A
summary of the work in and done by
the Dakota Deaconess Hospital was
given as follows:
Patients in hospital Jan. /, 1914. 6
Admitted during year .......... 25S
out patients 13
Remaining in hospital Dec. 31.... 3
Days school nursing ............. 80
Days nursing-pay ........... 1886
Days nursing-free ........... BAG
OF the two hundred ffty-eight pa
tients received during the year, 129
were surgical, q obstetrical, and 10S
received medical and osteopathic care.
These patients came from fifty towns
in eight states and were brought in by
twenty-five doctors They have repre-
scented twenty different church denom-
nations beside the non-churched. The
free service has been extended to per-
sons of six church denominations.
The year showed a gain in patients,
in receipts from patients, and in out
side work undertaken. The free bed
service Of the institution during the
year amounted to s912.35 or 1914 per
CEN of the work done. The minimum
per zen of free service of any institu-
ton soliciting aid from the public is
ten per cent. All free work has been
more than covered by donations to the
hospital.
The problem of the Dakota Dea,
coness Hospital is like that found
everywhere in hospitals of this size.
1t is not the free work done, mol the
collections IN the earnings but the
difference between the earning power
and the cost of operation. The daily
per capita cost this year was S2,21
which Is above the rate charged for
two thirds of the hospital beds.
The per capita cost is not above that
of hospitals, generally, and that where
service Is not always good. 1t is not
the service given, although that has
been efficient and no one would con
slider lowering the standard of it, but
because the work in the hospital varies
and that the light" house is too often
the rule while the hospital must be
maintained at all times in ready efic-
iency for maximum service.
When hospitals become mere bust
ness propositions and not semi-benevo-
lent institutions then rates will be ad-
vanced steadily to keep pace with the
higher cost of living and war prices.
Then pay patients will pay enough to
maintain the plant. Until that time
the people shall be wise If they recog-
nize the value the hospital is to the
community and by their loyalty. their
cooperation. and their aid, shall help
to solve the problems knowing that if
the hospital needs them today that
they may need 1t tomorrow.
During the two years under the pres.
emit administration $4,000 has been
paid on finishing, furnishing and
eQuipping the building. This repre-
sents permanent investment and does
not include the $500 paid for the
i've city lots bought by the
hospital. With all outstanding pa
tients accounts paid, the association
would 'break even" on current ex-
penses at the close of the year. while
doing this advance work.
A note Of warning was sounded and
. word given for future guidance.
1895 used in this advance work had
emma from n~eraonal frienda ~ Tho doo.