The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-03-02

was inaugurated beginning with
a few simple items OF equipment
in charge Of a part-time physio-
therapist. This paid for itself in
expediting recovery from frac-
lures. joint injuries. etc.
The drug room was partitioned
from the office and kept under
lock and key. 1t was more COM
pletely stocked. All prescriptions
were filled in 1t by 4 pharmacist.
The elimination of the contract
for prescriptions more than paid
the salary Of the pharmacist and
allowed for accumulation of a
good stock Of drugs. 1t made
possible stocking of drug cup
boards In each and every ward.
Rules regarding hours OF drug fill
ing, regulations for dispensing mar
cotics. etc. were adopted and en-
forced. This was the beginning
of very complete and serviceable
pharmacy. The hospital superin-
tendent. being a graduate regis
tered pharmacist. was enabled to
develop this department in keep
ing with the advances made in
the other departments.
Comprehensive Forms
Clinical record forms. approved
by the American College OF Sur
geons. were adopted for all de-
partments. These more compre-
hensIve forms included doctors
orders and progress notes." nurses
notes. personal history. physical
examination, pregnancy record. Ia
Dor record. new born record, eye,
ear, nose and throat records. clint
cal laboratory form, operative
record and many other standard
formA
The adoption Of these forms
automatically required more thor
ough going work n fully filled out.
Not only was the rule of the new
standards adhered to. but the spirit
Of the American College of Sur
geons was infused into their use.
Thus. adequate progress notes
were made from day to day.
chronicling the progress Of the
patient and telling the story of his
stay in the hospital. No case for
operation was admitted to the
operating room without a complete
work up" and the pre-operative
diagnosis had to be declared by
the surgeon for recording by the
anesthetist before operation could
proceed. The patient was thus
given the benefit of painstaking
study and investigation and the
responsibility OF the diagnosis
borne by the diagnostician to
stand up against the final dag
nosis as revealed by operation.
A full time resident physician
was appointed as assistant to the
superintendent. Thus, within one
month. a resident physician was
available and on call "a hours
daily. A visiting staff was APP
pointed from among the member
ship Of the Pierce County Medical
society. many q whom are still
serving faithfully. They have, ~
additionally. never been compen-
stated. Thus the medical. surgical,
obstretrical genealogical. neuo-
logical. pedistrics, orthopedic, eye.
ear. nose and throat. malignancy
and radium departments were
formed and stated.
College Reports
Monthly meetings Of the staff
were inaugurated and have been
held regularly since that time
tie25). The auditing OF all the
work Of the various departments
In done at these meetings.
All cases in the hospital were
completely worked up and within
"a hours of admission where pos
sibls. These and many more rules
and regulations were adopted and
lived up to. Out-patient. as well
As Inpatient care was greatly en-
lsrged and improved.
The officials Of the American
College Of Surgeons who previous
ly held the hospital as hopeless
from the standpoint of their mini
mum standards. sent their repre-
sentative to examine the hospital.
His report to Chicago headquarters
was to the effect that the founda-
ton for reorganization Of the hos
pital had been laid and all that
was necessary for formal recogni-
tion was the new building and
equipment. Thus. we were ready