Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-13
Annual Reports OF
Augusta Gen. Hospital


ing of the corporation last Monday
evening in the aldermen's room at
City hall:
Again it becomes our duty to render
an account of our stewardship covering
the 10th year of the active operation
of the hospital. In looking over the
original list of the corporators it is a
sad fact to find that majority of our
associates in all branches of the insti-
| tution's work, and the men who made
| it's existence possible, have finished
| their work here and have left to use
the duty and responsibility of carrying
it on, and in memory of them, if for
no other reason, we should strive even
| in the face of adverse conditions, to
maintain the efficiency of the hospital
and each year make it a greater power
flor good in the community. No branch
of worthy effort stands still; we must
either go forward or drop out of exist
ence That an institution like this is
needed in this good city is demonstrate
| ed by the increased call upon its re-
sources and activities. The past wear
759 admissions, the largest in our his
tory, attests this fact and many times
every available room and cot has been
occupied and with names on the wait
ing list to come in as soon as accom-
modati0ns could be found for them.
This emphasizes the great need for the
new wing, which l regret to say is not
yet in sight.
| Our present building has been in
use about Is years, and by reason of
our limited income we have only made
repairs as absolutely needed, with the
result that the property has deteriorat-
ed to some extent and a considerable
sum IS lmperatively needed to put the
building in proper shape. The ceiling
and floors need much done upon them:
part Of the roof should be reshingled,
and both interior and exterior should
be painted the coming year. Help, so
far as the buildings are concerned, re-
ceived from the State has been ex-
tremely small; only one instance as
we recall, and that very small sum-
while many similar but larger hospi-
tails in the larger cities have received
large appropriations for this purpose
Cannot we reasonably expect some
thing in this direction this year?
The total number Of patients admit
ted IS 159, or an average of 80 per day.
The hospital has granted 2464 days of
free work, amounting to 1896 This
comes under our charitable work. So
called.
Mrs. Hayden. who has been with us
from its opening, is still serving the
hospital most acceptably as superin
tendent and matron Miss Clark. the
CT
Miss Violet L. Robinson of Houlton. a
graduate of the Providence Hospital of
Rhode Island, was elected to her posi-
ton and is doing good work, and the
night matron, Miss Catherine A. Cyr,
has proven marked success.
We have graduated eight nurses the
past year which is little larger than
our average. The Hospital Aid has al
50 been Very active and contributed
more than its usual amount for the
support of the hospital.
The Misses Edwards have contrib
uted 5000 in memory of their mother
and Mrs. 5. s. Patten made a beuuest
of $500 for the use of the hospital.
The Central Maine Power Co.. has do
mated motor for the laundry and the
various sewing societies connected
with the churches have contributed
literally
All modern hospitals in these DAYS are
installing and operas ing an N-Pav ma
chine for the purpose Of locating by pic
lures exactly the site of the various
diseases and accidents, thus enabling
the medical and surgical STATS to treat
more intelligently these difficulties.
VI E4ay, al =
board has purchased and installed in q
dark room fitted up in the basement
such an apparatus and has emnloved
Pr, Il. ". Hall of the State hospital to
nave charge of the work It is hoped
that this will contribute to the eficien-
cy of the hospital work and possibly he.
come source of some additional in
come. For this purpose our indebted
ness has been increased, which would he
fitting object for someone charitably
| inclined to remember.
Our new laundry has been in success
full operation during the past year ana
with the increased work of the hospital
this large item Of expense has been ma
tcrially reduced
Hon Z. J. Lynch, Il member of our
board, after a long illness, passed on
during the past year. faithful and
conscientious worker from our ranks.
Our school for nurses has prospered
and larger number graduated, but by
reason of increased work quite a num-
Der Of our graduates have necessarily
been employed in the hospital. which
adds still more expense to our operating
costs.
Our expense per capita this year not
including any interest or depreciation on
the A-Ray machine or laundry has been
$3.50 per day. little higher than last
year. The increased cost of everything
that enters into the operation of the in
stitution raises a serious question as to
how long we can continue to run with
out an increase in our charges for both
private and ward patients. Our charit-
able work is necessarily large and con-
stantly increasing. We have in the past
and ought in the future, cheerfully meet
this demand but those able to pay we
ought not receive and treat at a loss,
and we call special attention of the citi-
zens of this State to this feature of our
work for the coming year. 1t should be
remembered that our physicians, both
surgical and medical, serve without pay.
" n n NtSr,rr a., "a.