History of Lawrence County Memorial Hospital
The importance and availability of a suitable community Hospital was recognized as a necessity after several catastrophes had occurred in Lawrence County during the 1920s and 1930s. Following the depression of the late 1920s the talk of the establishment of a 27-bed hospital in Lawrence County reached the stage of a special meeting. Meetings were also held in 1935 with plans developed but found unsatisfactory and discarded. It was not until 1945 that a suitable plan to provide a community Hospital was developed. Publicity was inaugurated on a countywide basis and mass meetings were held in each Township. Within five weeks a committee carried the story of the project to the Board of Supervisors on April 7, 1945 seeking a bond issue for $275,000 for the hospital. The bond issue passed with 2,454 for the issue and 505 against. The site committee presented the Dee Miller and Otto Barnes property at the West side of Lawrenceville as a choice for the building. The Board of Supervisors voted on this site and approved the location because it was close to the bulk of the population. The abstract was prepared and the deed issued on October 11, 1945.
The committee made a trip to Springfield after discovering the cost for the construction had risen. It was suggested that a 35-bed hospital be built rather than a 50-bed hospital to save expenses. Lester Routt of Vincennes received the contract for the architectural and engineering work on the hospital with Snyder Construction Company of Vincennes being awarded the building contract. On March 24, 1949, Snyder Construction began the actual structure that was to be Lawrence County Memorial hospital.
The hospital was dedicated on July 2, 1950 and received its first patient three days later on July 5. The first administrator was Mrs. Nelly Lowe who was hired October 18, 1949. The approximate cost of the hospital was $941, 503.17. The first room rates were established June 27, 1950:
4- bed Ward – – –$7.00 per day; Semi private – – – $8.50 per day; Private room--- $10.50 per day; deluxe private room – – – $12.50 per day
The hospital as originally opened, had facilities for 45 patients and it was not long before it became necessary to make room for more patients. In 1955 the second-floor solarium was discontinued and four more beds were added. Again in 1956, three medical beds were added as space was taken from the nursery on the obstetrical floor. In June 1958 the local health department moved to the courthouse making room for 13 more beds, on the first floor. East wing was officially opened for patients on September 29, 1958.
The hospital was originally staffed with 61 full and part-time employees. During the next 15 years they expanded the laboratory and x-ray facilities because of the increased demand for more scientific tests. In addition, an examining room, genito–urinary facilities and expansion of physical therapy were made available. The Endowment and Development Foundation was established in August 1961. This foundation made it possible for the hospital to replace old equipment through public interest funds. The hospital also interested many local high school students in health career fields by participating in the Diversified Occupations programs in the local schools. Lawrence County was the recipient of the first shipment of blood through the Red Cross Regional Blood Ctr., St. Louis, MO within nine months after it opened.
In April 1954, 32 women in Lawrence County were trained as Grey Ladies. April 25, 1956 was a proud day for Lawrence County Memorial hospital and citizens, as well, for the hospital was given full accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals.
During the first 10 years of operation, Lawrence County Memorial had five administrators to guide its management. The average number of employees went from 58 to 126 in 1960. Part of the forward-look in 1963 included a new parking lot, freshly painted patient rooms, new entrance way to the lobby and the glass partition between the kitchen and the cafeteria dining room. A new Hot-Pak food service was installed in early 1965 with donations from the Endowment and Development Foundation. In the early part of 1963 employees were offered a new wage and benefit program. New room rates to be effective September 1965:
Wards – – – $16.50 per day; Semi-private – – – $19 per day; Private room – – – $23 per day
In 1970 the hospital replaced its old x-ray film developer processor with the new system allowing a completely processed film in 90 seconds. In April 1970 the board authorized a remodeling project for the care of acute coronary cases. In March 1972 the first associate physician from the family practice program arrived to receive his rural training from local medical staff. June 7, 1974, the hospital board authorized a radiology laboratory remodeling project and in 1975 was notified of their full accreditation once again with the joint commission. In 1985 the hospital selected a new logo and slogan – “modern progressive healthcare.” In December 1985 CT scanning was available. Earlier in 1985 the hospital saw the beginnings of cardiopulmonary services, treadmill stress testing and Holter monitoring.
LCMH instituted short stay surgery as a part of their outpatient program in 1985. The patient satisfaction program –Pride- was instituted September 1, 1985. Early 1986 found the hospital planning the cardiac rehabilitation unit. Through a generous donation the hospital received a birthing bed for a new method of delivery. Meals for the maternity families were also instituted. The swing bed program in 1988 expanded the care available at the facility. During 1987 the hospital opened a 16-bed psychiatric unit located on the West Wing of the second-floor. The pharmacy with a unit dose system as well as IV mixtures employed a full-time pharmacist. The satellite clinic in the Sumner Med Center began.
Dr. E. A. Fahnenstock was made chief of staff in 1950; Dr. Gary Carr was Chief of Staff in 1990. Dr. R. T. Kirkwood, Dr. R. C. Kirkwood, Dr. R. O. Illyes and Dr. C. W. Cullison were on the first medical staff. The first patient was Mrs. Ella Bunn, age 82, of Sumner. The first living baby delivered by Dr. R. T. Kirkwood was William E. Kaiser. The third patient and first surgical case was Gene Hinderliter. The surgery was performed by Dr. Joe Smith, and he was assisted by Dr. R. T. Kirkwood. During the first six months 1200 patients were admitted. The 1000th baby born was a girl to Mr. and Mrs. William Allen on Friday, February 13, 1953.
Physical therapy was started September 10, 1953, with Elizabeth Stretch as therapist. During 1955 there were 623 surgeries, 90 deaths, 2925 people treated as outpatients. The largest census day was April 14, 1958, was 68 adults and eight babies. The East wing was closed as far as patient rooms on June 1, 1960, with this area being used for office space. In 1990 the hospital had 161 full and part-time employees, 10 active staff physicians, 13 consulting staff physicians, and 10 employees with the Allied healthcare staff. The first set of twins were born to Norma and Elmer Eagleson on August 18, 1958-- Dennis and Deborah. The first baby born in July 1990 on the 40th anniversary of the hospital was a boy to Mr. and Mrs. Rick Land, Rick being an employee of the hospital. In 1990 there were 19 employees working at the hospital who had also been born there.
The 10 administrators between 1950 and 1990 were Mrs. Nellie Lowe (1949-1950), Mr. James Frohbieter (1950-1952), Mr. Byron Landholt, (1952-1956), Mr. Charles Lohr (1956-1959), Mr. Harlan Newkirk (1960-?) , Mr. William Deems, Mr. Harry Querry, Mr. Donald Blomgren, Dr. Wendell Trent, and Mr. Gerald Waldroup.
Editor's note: We would welcome an update on this history. How about it, hospital historian?
