USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1941 > Part 9
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New Equipment
During the year a new deep therapy unit was installed. It was manufactured by the General Electric X-ray Corporation and pos- sesses an output of 200,000 I.V.P. It is a shock-proof unit and has the advantage of great flexibility, enabling us to approach a deep seated tumor from any angle.
A new electric clock has been installed in the dark room as an added check on the time element in the development of films.
A floor switch for a portable light was also installed in the cystoscopy room, and a small dressing room added for the storage of sterile goods used in cystoscopic examinations.
Room for Low Voltage Therapy
We still need a change in the location of the low voltage thera- py room due to the fact that it is difficult to transport bedridden patients to the room we now use, owing to the necessity of mount- ing four steps to reach the floor level. We are still hoping that the room directly across the hall from the radiographic department may be available during the year.
The following is a statistical report of the work done during the year 1941:
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REPORT OF CITY HOSPITAL
Total Examinations 5,704
Low Therapy 126
Deep Therapy 109
Radium Treatments 32
Total
5,971
We desire to express to the Administration and the Staff our appreciation of their continued cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES WHELAN, M.D., Roentgenologist.
REPORT OF THE LABORATORY DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Managers of the Quincy City Hospital:
GENTLEMEN :
To the Superintendent and Board of Managers of the Quincy City Hospital, the report of the Clinical and Pathological Labora- tory is hereby submitted :
The year 1941 again showed an increase over the preceding year in the total number of laboratory tests performed, the total for 1941 exceeding that of 1940 by 2,957 examinations.
Miss Barbara King has been added to the laboratory force as a clerk.
Twenty-six per cent of the deaths or a total of seventy-nine post mortem examinations were made.
The equipment in the laboratory has been kept up to a high standard. We wish to thank the Superintendent and the Board of Managers for their full co-operation.
The following is a classified report of the examinations per- formed :
Routine and chemical urine examinations 9,986
Hematology
21,031
Serology
624
Bio-chemistry
1,517
Bacteriology
1,689
Pathology
1,274
Animal inoculations
367
E-K-G
350
B-M-R
369
Miscellaneous examinations
270
Total
37,477
Respectfully submitted, FRANCIS P. MCCARTHY, M. D., Pathologist.
146
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Managers of the Quincy City Hospital:
GENTLEMEN :
The following is a report of the work done by the Physical Therapy Department.
Examinations and Treatments in 1941
Examinations
22
Auto-condensation
42
Diathermy
1,554
Electric Saturation
30
Fulguration
12
Galvanism
10
Short Wave Diathermy
1,310
Sinusoi dal Electro-therapy
996
Non-vacuum Diathermy
20
Infra-red
222
Radiant Light
2,513
Ultra Violet, Air Cooled
599
Ultra Violet, Water Cooled
436
Colonic Irrigation
78
Scotch Douche
1
Sitz Bath
18
Suction Pressure
331
Whirlpool Bath
254
Exercises
66
Manipulation
237
Massage
1,316
Total Modalities
10,067
Total Patients
5,726
There have been no changes in personnel during the past year and no new equipment.
We have made a color motion picture of the work done in the department for use in teaching treatment methods to the nurses and others. 6
Respectfully submitted,
CLAUDE L. PAYZANT, M. D., Director, Physical Therapy Department.
REPORT OF THE DIETARY DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Managers of the Quincy City Hospital:
GENTLEMEN :
The cost of all uncooked food used in the hospital for the year of 1941 was approximately $73,250.00. This covers the feeding of approximately 158,400 persons, which number includes all patients, doctors, nurses and employees. This means the cost of uncooked food per person per day was $0.46.
147
REPORT OF CITY HOSPITAL
The price of all uncooked food showed a steady upward trend during the entire year, but the sharpest rise was during the last three months. This caused our per capita cost to increase steadily during the year.
The past year has seen a rapid turnover in help in the Dietary Department. Experienced kitchen help is extremely difficult to get. At present there are only three employees in the kitchen who were here last year.
Our only new equiqment was a steam cereal cooker to replace our old one which finally wore out. We also had two small copper steam kettles made into one large one, thus giving the kitchen an- other large steam kettle to help in emergencies.
LAURA D. WENDT, Dietitian
REPORT OF THE HOUSEKEEPING DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Managers of the Quincy City Hospital:
GENTLEMEN :
During 1941, an additional new store room was completed, giv- ing a great deal of extra space for the storing of supplies.
A new fan was installed in the Press Room of the Laundry.
A new metal truck was made available to the Laundry this year.
A good majority of the employees of the Housekeeping Depart- enent again attended and enjoyed the Christmas party held in the Conference Room.
Respectfully submitted,
CATHERINE LAUDER, Housekeeper.
REPORT OF THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Managers of the Quincy City Hospital:
GENTLEMEN :
During 1941, the following new work and alterations were ac- complished by the Maintenance Department, in addition to our usual maintenance work at the hospital:
1. Tile installed in Formula Room, Hunting-2 Utility Room, and bathroom in Administration Building.
2. Alterations in X-ray Department.
3. Equipment manufactured for nurses' station on M&S-1 which was partitioned.
4. Rest rooms made for nurses, in Faxon Home and Gordon House basements. Student nurses' library bookcases moved to and installed on the first floor.
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CITY OF QUINCY
5. Twenty-five bedside tables were made.
6. New starting equipment and necessary new wiring for heat- ing system vacuum return pumps.
7. Signals wired and installed between Surgery and Admitting Office. Also, between second floor in Rice Building to the Nursery.
8. One Boiler Feed Pump reconditioned.
There has also been considerable time taken from maintenance work to make necessary preparations to comply with civilian de- fense regulations and recommendations.
During the year, we have had added a DeWalt Combination Saw, which, due to its flexibility and portability, has proved to be a very useful and time-saving piece of equipment.
Respectfully submitted,
CARL E. ERIKSSON, Chief Engineer.
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE STAFF
To the Board of Managers of the Quincy City Hospital: GENTLEMEN :
The splendid spirit of co-operation among the several depart- ments of the hospital, which has been so much in evidence for a period of several years, continued to exist during 1941 and re- sulted in further improvements and progress in the treatment of patients.
Frequent meetings of the Staff, its Executive Committee, and its President, were held with the Board of Managers, the Superin- tendent of the Hospital, and the Superintendent of Nurses, at which many matters pertaining to the good of the hospital were discussed, and measures taken to improve the efficiency of the several departments.
During the past year, several changes in the personnel of the Staff occurred. Dr. William J. McCausland retired from active service on the Surgical Staff and was appointed Consulting Sur- geon. Dr. Richard M. Ash was appointed Surgeon to fill this va- cancy. In accepting this appointment, Dr. Ash resigned as Chief of the Obstetrical Service, and this was filled by appointing Dr. Leslie H. VanRaalte to the vacancy. Dr. George D. Dalton was ap- pointed Associate Surgeon, Dr. Edmund L. Carey was appointed to the Obstetrical Service, and Dr. Walter M. O'Brien was ap- pointed Junior Surgeon. Dr. David D. Scannell and Dr. Halsey B. Loder were appointed as Surgical Consultants.
During the year, the Staff was saddened by the death of Dr. George H. Powers and Dr. Elmon R. Johnson, both of whom had served the citizens of Quincy on the hospital staff for many years. Dr. Johnson's life was also noteworthy for the services he had rendered the community outside of his profession and these activi- ties have been recognized in the resolutions inscribed in the hos- pital records.
149
REPORT OF CITY HOSPITAL
Dr. Irving L. Shaw resigned from the Dental Service, much to the regret of the Staff, who wishes to express to him its appre- ciation for the efficient work he has done at the hospital in the past. It was decided that because of the increased amount of dental work at the hospital, the number of dental surgeons on the Staff should be increased. After consultation with members of the local Dental Society, the following dentists were appointed: Dr. Bernard N. Farren, Dr. Paul H. Karcher, Dr. Richard J. Larkin, Dr. John T. Saunders, and Dr. Frederick S. Tobben. Each of these, with Dr. Frank J. Kenna, will serve two months each year.
Dr. Ensio K. Ronka, a member of the Surgical Staff, has been called into military service as an officer in the medical corps, and the Staff extends to him its best wishes for success in his new work.
Considerable study was devoted during the past year to the matter of an Out-Patient Department at the hospital. A com- mittee was appointed which went into this question exhaustively, and after a survey found that a large number of patients were being treated at the various clinics established in the City of Quincy, including many out-patients already being treated at the Quincy City Hospital, which in themselves were straining the facilities of that institution. The Staff went on record in stating that it was willing at any time to attend to the running of an Out-Patient Department at the Quincy City Hospital if such a department could be established, but that at the present time the limited facilities at the hospital made it impossible to take on this additional work.
Another matter of considerable importance that confronted the Staff during the past year was that of limited bed capacity in tak- ing care of the increased number of patients that were applying for entrance to the hospital; this applied particularly to the ward patients. It is not generally recognized that although at times there may be twenty-five vacant beds in the hospital, these beds, for example, may be those that can be occupied only by infants or children or female cases. Some of them may be suitable only for certain kinds of infection. With this example in mind, it may readily be seen that any catastrophe in our city resulting in a number of men injured, would place the hospital in a position of being unable to care for such casualties efficiently. Because of this and of the generally crowded conditions at the hospital at times, the Staff has given considerable thought to this subject. A Build- ing Committee was appointed which, after a number of meetings, made a report substantially as follows: It recommended :
1. Prompt completion of building already started beyond the M&S Building, because the proposed new and larger building will take probably two years to be constructed, and during this time there will be increasing demands on the hospital facilities. Also, the immediate need for more bed space promptly is evident.
2. Completion of fourth floor on Hunting Building.
3. New building of first-class construction four stories in height, according to the tentative plans already drawn up.
4. Increased space for facilities in Service Building.
On November 6th, 1941, the Building Committee recommended : That inasmuch as the erection of the proposed new four-story
150
CITY OF QUINCY
building will not increase the bed capacity of the hospital for at least eighteen months, we wish again to emphasize the urgent need for the immediate construction of a building to accommodate forty to fifty adult beds.
Since the above was passed, our country has entered the war, and we are engaged in setting up a civilian defense in the city, against attack by the enemy. If such an attack does come, we can expect a substantial number of casualties. Everything is being done to prepare the hospital to meet this emergency, but it is ob- vious that at the present time the bed facilities at the hospital are entirely inadequate.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM R. HURLEY, M. D., Staff President.
REPORT OF THE STAFF PROGRAM COMMITTEE
To the Board of Managers of the Quincy City Hospital:
GENTLEMEN :
In an endeavor to find a suitable time for the Staff meetings, the meetings have now been alternated between noon and night.
There has been some improvement this year in attendance, but there is not an adequate or complete attendance as yet.
A more general effort by members of the Staff to read papers would greatly improve the Staff meetings and would be a further stimulus to co-operative effort within the Staff.
Respectfully submitted, J. EDWARD KNOWLTON, M. D., Chairman, FRANCIS G. KING, M. D., ROBERT O. GILMORE, M. D., ARTHUR RAPPEPORT, M. D.
REPORT OF THE AURAL SERVICE
To the Board of Managers of the Quincy City Hospital:
GENTLEMEN :
The Aural Service, comprised of Dr. Robert O. Gilmore, Dr. James M. Ward, and Dr. Walter L. McClintock, have completed another year of service to the hospital in their capable and con- scientious manner, each member serving four months of the year.
During 1941, the hospital admitted 1,274 aural patients, both service and private; it discharged 1,282, and ran a daily average of 12.4 aural patients. Under this heading of 1,282 discharges, there were two deaths, one post-mortem examination, and forty- five aural patients were seen by consultants. There were 799 pri- vate tonsil patients admitted, and 211 service tonsil patients, with
151
REPOR OF CITY HOSPITAL
a total of 642 for children twelve years of age and under. In ad- dition to the 211 service tonsil operations, this service performed 23 other aural operations.
As Chief of the Aural Service, I take this opportunity to pub- licly commend the members of the Aural Service who have so faithfully performed their duties to the hospital. I would like to express my appreciation to the Nursing and Hospital Staffs for their co-operation during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM J. HARKINS, M. D., Chief of Aural Service.
REPORT OF THE OBSTETRICAL SERVICE
To the Board of Managers of the Quincy City Hospital: GENTLEMEN :
The Obstetrical Service of this hospital wishes to report the following information for the year 1941.
There were 1,248 deliveries during the year, but of these only 172 were service patients. These are divided as follows:
Normal 148 Low forceps
12
Mid forceps 1 Breech
6
Cesareans
3 Internal podalic versions 3
One set of twins was delivered on the service; six premature children were born, and there were two stillbirths which were full term.
Appended is an analysis of confinements at the hospital for the past five years.
1941
1940
1939
1938
1937
Obstetrical Patients Discharged
1,330
1,120
960
984
938
Deaths
2
2
0
3
3
Autopsies
0
0
0
1
1
Consultations
75
50
75
52
21
Prenatal Clinic Visits
675
816
825
857
616
It is obvious that there has been considerable increment in the number of patients handled in the Obstetrical Department. Dur- ing the past year, there has been a decrease in the number of service patients. In view of the fact that the total number of patients delivered has increased, there has been an even greater demand upon private rooms. We have had added to our total facilities in the past year only ten beds. This increase has not kept pace with the number needed because of the increased confine- ments. We, therefore, again make a plea for more obstetrical facil- ities.
Respectfully submitted,
LESLIE H. VANRAALTE, M. D., Obstetrician-in-Chief.
152
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF THE PEDIATRIC SERVICE
To the Board of Managers of the Quincy City Hospital:
GENTLEMEN :
The following is my report of the Pediatric Service for 1941.
Little or no quarantine of the ward (because of contagious disease) has been necessary.
A vacuum line has been installed. This will be of untold benefit for aspiration in certain types of cases. An "electro-steam" radia- tor has been placed in .the babies' ward for use when there is a demand for extra heat.
An additional steamer has been ordered for treatment in cer- tain cases of severe croup.
For use in the newly born service, a large bottle sterilizer (twice the capacity of the old one) has been ordered.
The ward is still crowded at times, and it is hoped that soon we may have more room.
During 1941, there were 219 medical cases admitted. Of these, 106 were service patients; 223 were discharged. There were 11 deaths, of which 4 came to the autopsy table. There were 42 con- sultations. The daily average of patients was five.
Cross-infection with respiratory diseases is always a problem. When this hospital gets a new Children's Ward, an attempt will be made to solve this problem by the use of ultra-violet "barrier" lamps. It also has to be admitted that visitors (particularly during epidemics of the common colds) bring in infections.
I hope that the current shortage of nurses will not affect the efficiency of the Pediatric Service, inasmuch as this is a service where nurses accustomed to handling children are essential.
Respectfully submitted, EDMUND B. FITZGERALD, M. D., Chief of Service.
REPORT OF THE HOSPITAL LIBRARY
To the Board of Managers of the Quincy City Hospital: GENTLEMEN :
The year of 1941 saw an important change in the hospital libra- ry service. In previous years books have been taken around to the patients five days a week, Monday through Friday. During the last year we have included Saturday in our schedule, so that now on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays patients in Rice and Hunt- ing buildings are served, and on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Satur- days, patients in the Medical and Surgical buildings. This plan has worked out very well thus far, and we intend to continue with it as long as it remains satisfactory.
153
REPORT OF CITY HOSPITAL
Circulation has dropped off sharply in the libraries of the United States during the past year; the reasons for this are fair- ly obvious. First of all, with the increase of employment, leisure reading time has been infringed upon and secondly, the reading of world happenings in the newspapers has become exceedingly important and time-consuming. Our hospital library has experi- enced a slight drop in circulation in the past year; total books cir- culated in 1941, 16,587 as compared to 17,000 in 1940. This is probably due to this increased interest in reading newspapers. Then, too, we may have reached our peak of circulation in 1940. If this is so, the circulation should remain at about the same level until the time when the hospital is enlarged, giving the library a larger population to serve. A final decision on this point obviously requires a longer time-study. The coming of the occupational therapist in July of 1941 may also be lessening the amount of reading done by patients.
Story-telling in the Children's Ward had to be discontinued in 1941 because of the increased demands on the librarian's time through the opening of Rice 1 and Rice 2. Story hour has been received so well in the past, that it is really too bad to have to omit it. There may be some arrangement made later, however, so that it may again be given.
Talks on library orientation are given to the incoming classes of nurses; and the new books in the Gordon House nurses' library are still being cataloged by the hospital librarian. This is a con- tinuation of the close collaboration between the hospital and libra- ry as conducted in previous years.
Our library is still primarily a patients' library, even though the personnel use it to a great extent. Figures show that the pa- tients use the library approximately twice as much as the per- sonnel does. Many books are borrowed from the main library to supplement our collection, for both patients and personnel.
In October, Miss Gertrude Henrikson resigned as hospital librarian to accept a position as librarian of the Walpole, Massa- chusetts Library. We shall try to continue to do the enthusiastic and thorough work done by our predecessor.
Many of the patients have expressed their thanks for our serv- ice orally and through gifts of books and magazines. We are deeply grateful for their thoughtfulness. We also wish to thank the hospital authorities and the personnel for their cooperation and aid to us.
Respectfully submitted, CATHERINE M. ZOTTOLI, Hospital Librarian Thomas Crane Public Library.
155
REPORT OF WELFARE DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WELFARE DEPARTMENT
HON. THOMAS S. BURGIN, Mayor of the City of Quincy:
The Department of Public Welfare respectfully submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1941:
General Relief
The economic conditions in Quincy remained at a high level during 1941. We were again able, for the third successive year, to reduce our expenditures for general relief. In 1941 our total outlay for general relief was $47,279.11 less than 1940. The major- ity of our cases are unemployables. In 1941 the personnel of the department was reduced. Three of our visitors and one clerk re- signed. The department now has only nine regular employees at- tached to the General Relief Division.
The department continues to be the referral agent for the W. P. A. in this city. In 1941 twelve hundred persons were inter- viewed for W. P. A. work, and those found to be eligible were referred to the Boston assignment office. At present there are three hundred and twenty-five persons on W. P. A. who have been certified from this office. This department certified, through investigation, several hundred families who were eligible to re- ceive help by the Housekeepers Aid Project. The W. P. A. Sur- plus Commodities, such as clothing and milk, are also certified by this office. There are seven milk stations open daily in Quincy for the dispensing of milk to relief cases.
During 1941 sixty boys were sent to the various C. C. C. camps in New England.
During 1941 the department has cooperated with the Selective Service Boards and has made one hundred and ninety dependency investigations for the local draft boards.
On April 7, 1941, the Stamp Plan was instituted in Quincy. The office was officially opened by our Chief Executive, Hon. Thomas S. Burgin, Mayor. Mr. George Hayes was appointed manager of the office, and Mr. Joseph Whittier was named cashier. During 1941 Mr. Whittier died and Mr. D. Francis Sweeney was ap- pointed cashier. The Stamp Office is located at 121 Washington Street. In 1941 there were 1762 families which participated in the plan and $62,000.00 worth of stamps were sold.
City Infirmary
Our City Infirmary cared for approximately thirty persons at all times. In 1941 we had a splendid garden which resulted in a large crop of vegetables. The Infirmary is in need of several major repairs, such as fire alarm system, sprinkler system, and painting. During the year there were 12,341 man hours of work put into the Infirmary by welfare help.
Clinic and Dispensary
The clinic and dispensary continued in operation during 1941. During 1941 there were 915 cases treated at the dispensary and 3,365 prescriptions compounded.
156
CITY OF QUINCY
Old Age Assistance
On January 1, 1941 our Old Age Assistance cases numbered 1,104 and during the year we placed 195 new cases on our pay- rolls. This increase, however, was almost offset by the number of cases closed by death, transfer, or increased ability of children to support their aged parents made possible by defense employment. Hence, our case load on January 1, 1942 is 1,122.
Pressure of Old Age groups and the increased cost of living culminated in the passage, late in 1941, of a new bill by the legislature, in which the minimum amount of aid allowed those cases entirely dependent on their Old Age allotment for support, was raised from $30 to $40 per month. Aid to couples was in- creased from $50 to $65, and many minor policies liberalized the law. However, this increase does not take effect until May 1, 1942. Notice of the expected change was given immediately so that city and town officials might increase their appropriations sufficiently to cover the additional expenditures for the last eight months of the year.
Mrs. Cecelia Heselton was added to the Old Age staff, taking the position vacated by our beloved visitor, Mrs. Helen Pender- gast, who had passed away. To her was assigned the preparation of new cases for the Board and visitation of convalescent homes. At the close of the year she was placed in charge of the A. D. C. Department, succeeding Miss Evelyn Ford, who had accepted a position with the State Department.
Aid to Dependent Children
There were 53 new applications for Aid to Dependent Children in 1941, of which 43 were approved as eligible. A total of 67 cases were closed during the year, due mostly to the increased earnings of older children in these families, making a net de- crease of 24 cases in the total number aided.
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