Laurel outlook., 1948-07-14
HOSPITAL DRIVE
TO OPEN FRIDAY
Giblin Heads Laurel Section
To Assist st. Vincent's
Expansion Program

A Embarrassing campaign to as
sist the expansion program of the
st. Vincent hospital of Billings will
be launched here Friday, according
to Charles Giblin, recently appoint
ed Laurel chairman. He said the
committee, assisted by a group of
solicitors, hopes to conclude the
campaign quickly.
DIR. Louis w. Allard, general
chairman of the hospitals drive
committee, accompanied by l.. R.
Lyons, president of Vaughn &
Ragsdale company, were here last
week to set up the Laurel section
of the campaign. Giblin consented
to accept the local Craftsmanship,
with other members of the commit
tee consisting of Chester Scott, B..
l.. Price, j. w. BALDWIN, Marshall
Huntington, w. C. Phillips, John
Moran, Hugh Sweeney and DR.. R.
j. Rosselot.
The hospital seeks to raise $780,
900, mostly from southern Montana
and northern Wyoming communities
it serves, as a part of the $2,000.-
600 required for charging its
plant and facilities. The Sisters
of Charity of Leavenworth, Kans.,
have earmarked $1,500,0OO for the
Billings hospital, provided the Mon
tana and Wyoming communities
raise the required $4,000
The first st. Vincent hospital
was opened in 1898 and a second
was completed in 1923. 1t is fully
accredited by the American Medical
association, American College of
Surgeons, Catholic Hospital associa-
ton, Montana Hospital association,
Montana Conference of Catholic
hospitals and the Association of
Western Hospitals. The s~upervis-
DRY staff is composed of 18 sisters,
nine of whom are graduate nurses
or special technicians.
The national increase in popula-
ton, now estimated at $780, 900, 900 |
or some 100000 more than 1910,
is reflected in many ways, including
housing shortages in nearly all
American cities and towns, stepped
up demands for service from pub
lie utilities and an unprecedented
demand for hospital facilities. Those
in charge of st. Vincent hospital
say that it has long operated at
more than 100 per cent of capacity
and that in the past 10 years the
number of patients admitted has
tripled. In 1923 the hospital treat
ed 951 bed patients, while last
year is treated 6,338, an increase
of 564 per cent.
The expansion program calls for
addition of a large four-story wing,
practically doubling the hospitals
present capacity and greatly in
creasing facilities, including equip
ment as well as space, for diagnos-
tic and other services. Primary
needs are listed as follows: ,
A large pediatric department for
the care of children; nine additional ;
operating rooms; additional surgical ,
facilities for minor operations and
specialized medicine; additional de- !
livery and labor rooms for the OBJ O.;
department; a thoroughly =
equipped tumor clinic for diagnosis !
and treatment of cancer cases, and
more general hospital beds. The =,
present 1853 beds and az bassinets ;
would be increased to 800 beds and =.
bassinets. !
Chairman Giblin of the Laurel
said this week that the =
solicitors will attempt to contact as :
many people as possible, but there !
nay be some unavoidable omis- :
'ions. He said that any one who =
lad not been solicited and wished .
contribute could do so by leav- !;
ng the contribution at the office
If the Laurel Outlook for forward !,
ng to the general committee. =