Arizona republican., 1919-03-14
Superintendent's Repor

Superintendent's Report
 To the President and Board of Trustees
 of St. Luke's Home.
 Gentlemen:
 The financial report and summary which has just been read is Of sneciaI interest. Last year was the best in the history of this institution for manv reasons. While the number of patients cared Tor was the same as in the pre- Geeulng year-ie. 91,-the number of hospital days was greater by l.6z3,- and would have been much larger eV- ! cept Tor the fact that for a time dur Ing the epidemic of influenZa. we re- | fused to admit patients. The aim of | the home is to care for those who are | III at the cost of maintenance. and 1 when our funds permit, to care for them at less than cost. The following comparative table shows that we have done this to a larger extent the past | year than at any previous time:
 >, 1917 1918 Number of hospital days
 at full rate ..........572s 3676 l Number of hospital days part free .2,207 6.336 1 Number of hospital days
 free .'......-.'........ .2,124 2.76S Total number hospital
 ! daNS .-.-...-.-.........10 .10651 l27S0 1 While the number of free days is only few more than in 1917. the num- Der of part free days exceeds those of I9li oy 4,l2g, and the number of days at full rate was decreased by 2.05O.
 Reduce Maintenance Cost
 In spite of the fact that there has been q marked increase in the cost Of lood, labor. etc, our maintenance cost has been reduced 34 cents per week ner patient. our present cost being s16 O5 per week. This is due to several req sons. We have eliminated waste wher- ever possible. We have changed our menus and cut out much of the meat at supper. Our food cost is practically the same as last year. Also, We have bsen able to care for an increased number or patients without increasing the overhead expense This has been done py the erection of a bungalow which Will accomodate six patients. This type Of bungalow. I am convinced is the ideal construction for caring for patients in this climate. It cuts the cost of maintenance to minimum. and affords the greatest amount of comfort to patients.
 some $2,000 has been spent for re- pairs. A new furnace and oil burner were installed in the lnfirmary. Also. another bathroom was added, and eight lavatories were installed in this build . ing. This materially reduces the labor. as it eliminates the carrying of water to the patients and the removing of slops
 am glad to say that four more of the new bungalows are completed. I trust that in the course of time. we will
 be able to do away with all the single
 bungalows but one or two. Our ca pacity is now 65 patients
 Cooperate With Red Cross
 St. Luke's has been doing it's part as regards the tuberculous soldiers
 We are cooperating with the service
 section of the Phoenix Red Cross. and
 also caring for soldiers sent direct by
 the bureau of war risk insurance Al present, We have IS soldiers as patients
 Not only is the matter of caring for the returned soldier a serious problem but there is an increased demand or
 us to care for civilians.
 The management of a sanatorium such as ours, brings many problems l but there is one which has been on my , mind for several years. There is nc , doubt that rest is absolutely essential in the treatment anc cure of tubercu- losis. There comes a time. however , when the trouble is quiescent and the patient is permitted to exercise. This
 exercise usually consists of walking , While this may tend to harden the pa : tient it does not necessarily improve , him mentally or morally. He has too
 much time on his hands, and it has I been my observation that in many
 cases, he loses all incentive and desire
 to do anything useful. l believe tha r this can be remedied. If We could SC.
 cure instructors, courses of study coul(
 be taken up,-instruction in typewrit ing and stenography given and Ian guages taught. A workshop would b,
 an admirable adjunct. This is not theory, but is being practiced in vari ous sanatoria- The government, il , many of their hospitals. are giving oc cupational therapy and with marke, success. I wish that we might try thi out, for I believe it would enlarge ou ' sphere of usefulness to an unlimite, Il degree.
 We have always needed a store | house for patients trunks, extra bed B ding etc. Could we not erect a build ing for this purpose and use d part O it for a work shop? A building sucl g as would be required, could be built fo a S2000.
 !. I am still hoping for a laundry. h I cannot conclude this report withou K expressing to the board of trustees an r especially to the president my dee
 appreciation for the many kindnesse
 shown me during my illness in the pas s year.
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