Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-11
Superintendent's Report.

To the President and Board of Direct
ors of the Augusta General Hospital:
Gentlemen:
/ respectfully submit the following
report for the year 1916. We have just
completed our 18th year of the history
of the hospital, and looking back to our
first year when we began with a med
lcal and surgical staff, three nurses,
with the nurses housed in the same
building; at the close of the first year
there were SO patients, and compared
with the steady growth of the years
until now we have 759 patients, an IN
creased medical and surgical staff, two
specialists, three anaesthetists, %
nurses, an assistant, a night matron,
and part of the year we have been op-
liGed to employ two graduate nurses.
More nurses are needed in hospitals to-
day than formerly both on account of
patients demanding more, and of the
many changes in methodsNof doctors in
these advanced days. There are two
operating rooms, children'S ward, ma
ternity ward, three diet kitchens, X
ray room, drug room, several supply
rooms, a small laboratory and today
we have outgrown these quarters and
for comfort aid convenience we need
an extension from attic to basement as
our space is all utilized and visitors
are obliged to wait in the corridors at
times on account of crowded condi-
tons.
1t has been 16 years since we have
occupied this building and surely the
time has come when our city must see
our need in this direction. The in
creased cost of drugs, for the drug
market has advanced more than any
other department; the high cost of
food. cotton, gauze all raise the per
capita and we feel that it will be neces-
sary to increase the cost of our private
rooms.
The Hospital Aid has been most gem
erous this year, giving a large amount
OF supplies: cotton cloth for sheets
toWellinG, pillow tubing, night gowns
and night shirts. The many societies
have materially aided by sewing for
an afternoon: the Hospital Aid, the
congregational League, the Armitage
Club, the Ladies' Aid of the Penney
Memorial, the Helping Hand and the
Murray Alliance of the Universalist
church. The loan closet supply was
greatly diminished and the ladies Of
the Mothers club took the matter in
hand and made up the supplies.
The district nurse service, with the
Metropolitan Insurance has been very
busy, making many times II or Is calls
for the day
To the doctors we are indebted for
our lecture courses and their instruc-
ton. The past year the nurses have
had the advantage of dietitian, Miss
Aida BarroWs. giving them one hour
each week in the early part Of the year.
Miss Una Clark resigned as assistant
superintendent after three years. and
her place was filed by Miss V. e. Rob
inson. Miss Frances Hanks, our book
Keeper and Stenogra pher was married
and her place was filled by Miss Marcia
Adams
We have added two new text books
this year to our class work, which has
gone on as usual. A larger number of
nurses have graduated this year than
heretofore. TO Mrs j. F. Hill the
training school is indebted for the gift
OF Chase Doll for demonstration.
To st. Marks choir, to the visiting
committee of the Hospital Aid and
many of its members, to the Camp Fire
Girls, to the Gre die Roll of the Congre-
gational church, to Mrs. Cony Weston
and to two of the Sunday school
classes we are indebted for the Christ
mas entertainment. There has not been
much expended for repairs or renovat-
ing this year, hoping that our wing
through some fairy eodmother might
appear. To the many friends and to