USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1941 > Part 12
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Everyone earnestly and prayerfully hopes that we shall have no more than the normal casualties of life in the year ahead, but mindful of the repeated occurrence in this frightful war of catastrophies which people never thought could happen where they lived, we have made and are making preparations for emergency equipment and service.
Our confidence in our ability to cope with any critical situation calling for immediate action is confirmed by our faith in the efficiency and loyalty of our doctors and nurses, and the helpfulness in numerous ways of the members of the Hospital Aid, Gray Ladies, various church and club organizations, municipal officials and citizens in all walks of life.
We attach to this report a record of the amount spend from the municipal appropriation in the year 1941 and the amounts estimated as our need for similar purposes in 1942.
Harold E. Sweet, Chairman
Joseph Finberg
Victor R. Glencross
William J. Luther
Members Ex-Officio, 1940
Samuel M. Stone
John W. McIntyre, Mayor
Edwin F. Thayer
William Marshall, City Treasurer
Cyril K. Brennan
Municipal Council Representative
Board of Managers, Attleborough Hospital, Inc., Operating Sturdy Memorial Hospital for the City of Attleboro.
Requested Expended Requested
1941
1941
1942
Water
$1,200.00
$1,099.13
$1,100.00
Insurance.
85.00
83.15
85.00
Hydrant.
60.00
60.00
60.00
Fuel and Light.
6,520.00
6,556.63
7,040.00
Treasurer's Bond
25.00
25.00
25.00
18.75
7,890.00
7,842.66
8,310.00
Balance
47.34
143
ANNUAL REPORT
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the Board of Trustees and Managers of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital,
Gentlemen:
I herewith present my annual report of the Hospital for the year ending December 31, 1941:
Total number of patients admitted to the hospital.
2812
Male.
1041
Female 1771
Out-patients treated at the hospital 727
X-Ray out-patients. 1236
Physiotherapy out-patients.
25
Basal Metabolism out-patients.
34
Total out-patients. 2022
Total number of Private Cases. 2102
Total number of Ward Cases 710
Total number of children 12 years of age or under.
308
Medical patients 298
Adults. 251
Children . 47
Surgical patients 891
Adults . 791
Children 100
E. E. N. & T. patients. 271
Adults
110
Children 161
Obstetrical patients.
1352
Mothers. 684
Babies 668
(3 of these were born outside the hospital and brought in for care.)
Total number of births 665
Total number of live births 644
Total stillbirths . 21
Total number of deaths for the year
115
Medical.
57
Surgical.
40
E. E. N. & T.
0
Obstetrical
1
Newborn. 17
Deaths within 48 hours after admission 50
65
Autopsies
15
Maximum number of patients
112
Minimum number of patients.
61
Daily average for the year
80.45
Total number of accidents.
182
Automobile accidents
67
Industrial accidents
65
Other accidents
50
Deaths institutional.
144
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Operating-Room
Major operations. 511
Minor operations 906
Transfusions. 76
Cystoscopies
18
Proctoscopies
2
Sigmoidoscopies
1
Eosophagoscopies
1
Total 1515
Report of the Physiotherapy Department
39 Patients admitted to the department (25 Out-patients; 14 House Patients)
759 visits to the department Diseased conditions treated :
Arthritis
1
Asthma
1
Bursitis
2
Contusions
3
Fractures.
21
Granulating wounds.
2
Myositis .
6
Repaired tendon (post-op.) .
2
Synovitis
Total 39
Treatments given :
Diathermy
227
Massage
500
Infra Red 576
86
Sinusoidal
7
Total 1396
Report of the X-Ray Department
Fluroscopic examinations. 142
X-Ray examinations. 1708
Total.
1850
(1236 Out-patients; 614 House-patients.)
Report of Basal Metabolism
Basal Metabolism recording
38
(34 Out-patients; 4 House-patients.)
Report of the Laboratory
Blood Work:
W. B. C. 1964
R. B. C. 1048
Hemoglobin 915
Differentials 591
Coagulations 207
Typings. 358
Sedimentation Rate.
42
Miscellaneous.
32
1
Ultra-violet, A. C.
115
ANNUAL REPORT
Blood Chemistry :
Blood Sugars
296
N. P. N. 216
Creatinine. 8
Icterus Index
26
Vanden Bergh 5
Sulf. Level.
81
Urines
Renal function.
16
Stool examinations
37
Cultures
167
Smears.
224
Spinal Fluids
38
Sputums .
63
Typings
5
Surgical Tissues.
419
Sent Outside
Hintons
254
Miscellaneous. 22
REPORT OF THE TRAINING-SCHOOL
Student Nurses in the School December 31, 1941 62
Students admitted during the year . 51
Students graduated. 17
Students affiliating at Boston City Hospital. 8
Students affiliating at Taunton State Hospital. 2
Students affiliating at Chapin Hospital, Providence. 1
This leaves a total of nurses for duty in the hospital 51. During the year two nurses were asked to resign on account of ill-health, and one nurse was dis- missed for misdemeanor.
We have a great many applicants for admission to the Training-School and should take in just as many as it is possible to accommodate.
Fifteen will be admitted in February for training and that will fill every available room. We are being urged to train as many as possible, but in order to take any more we must have quarters for them.
The nurses have been X-Rayed regularly six months during the year-also all help handling food, and all have been found in good condition.
There has been very little sickness among the nurses during the year. One nurse operated on for Appendicitis and four others off duty for a few days with minor illnesses.
A "Refresher Course" for non-active graduate nurses has been held this year. This is to fit these women for work in their Community or Hospital should the need arise. This course has been given by our Science Instructor, assisted by one of our Supervisors. A good many of the doctors have most willingly assisted with this course by giving lectures to the group. We are most grateful to them for their help.
4994
146
ANNUAL REPORT
The "Gray Ladies" have been with us for the past year. We find them most helpful in every way. So many of the detail things in nursing, which nurses would like to do but never seem to be able to find the time to do, are done by these ladies. I know this is much appreciated by the patients. They also help out with Relief Work on the Switchboard. This is a great help for us for the odd hours required for this work, it would be hard to find anyone from outside to fill in, so we do appreciate their work and feel very grateful to them.
Respectfully submitted, Gwendolyn G. Rice, Superintendent.
Patients admitted from :
Attleboro
1143
South Attleboro.
119
Hebronville.
50
Dodgeville
29
1341
North Attleboro
369
Attleboro Falls. 56
425
Plainville.
69
Wrentham
53
Norton
117
Chartley
43
Mansfield
281
Foxboro
88
Seekonk
96
Rehoboth
75
Franklin
7
829
Other Cities and Towns
219 219
Total
2812
147
ANNUAL REPORT
NATIVITIES
United States
Foreign
Massachusetts
1989
Canada
130
Rhode Island.
292
England
28
New York.
52
Ireland
20
Maine .
43
Italy .
27
Connecticut
33
Portugal.
20
New Hampshire.
27
Scotland .
12
Vermont .
19
Poland.
11
Pennsylvania
12
Sweden .
9
New Jersey
11
Germany
8
Illinois
10
Russia
7
Ohio
5
Norway
2
Colorado.
5
Greece .
2
Kentucky
3
Denmark
2
Minnesota.
3
Armenia
1
South Carolina.
4
France.
1
Washington, D. C.
3
Bulgaria.
1
Oklahoma.
2
Spain . .
1
Wisconsin .
2
Switzerland
1
California
1
Alabama
1
Maryland
1
Indiana.
1
Iowa.
1
Michigan
1
Missouri .
1
North Dakota
1
South Dakota
1
Tennessee .
1
Washington
1
2528
284
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HOSPITAL LIBRARIAN
Despite the fact that only 99 visits were made to the hospital during the year and 106 were made in 1940, the circulation increased. This was probably due to the fact that there were more patients than in the preceding year.
The circulation of magazines has increased due to the gift subscriptions of friends interested in the hospital library. New magazines which have been particularly valuable are "Life", "American Home" and "Better Homes and Gardens."
Several books taken out by botlı patients and nurses are missing at the present time, but it is not improbable that they may yet turn up.
This year, as in the past, the instructors and supervisors have been particu- larly helpful and aided the librarian in many ways.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen MacKell, Hospital Librarian.
Nebraska.
2
Turkey
1
14S
ANNUAL REPORT
To the Board of Managers and Members of the Staff of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital,
Gentlemen:
Submit the following brief summary of the work done on the Surgical Service during the year 1941, just ended:
Total number of surgical patients admitted. Adults 791
891
Children . 100
Major operations performed. 511
Minor operations performed. 906
Transfusions. 76
Cystoscopies. 18
Total number of surgical deaths. 39
In line with the steadily growing field of usefulness of the hospital to this and the surrounding communities, more surgical patients were treated than in any previous year, with an increase of 116 patients over the preceeding year of 1940
511 major operations were performed during 1941, among whom there were 20 deaths, giving an operative mortality of just under 4%, which is a lower mortality than we have shown in any previous year.
The total number of both major and minor operations performed during the year was 1,417, with 22 deaths, giving a total operative mortality of 1.5%. There were 169 cases of appendicitis operated upon during the year, all of whom recovered.
In addition to 22 fatalities following some form of operation as recorded above there were 17 deaths among patients on the surgical service upon whom no opera- tions were performed. Only three deaths occurred as the result of auto accidents, which represents a decided improvement over former years. Another rather striking fact which develops from the study of this past year's statistics is the recording of six deaths in old people, all of whom were 80 years of age or over, following hip fractures caused by relatively slight falls. This points rather dramatically to the extreme care and watchfulness which must be exercised by those whose duty it is to look after these fragile old people.
During the past year we were fortunate in losing only one of our surgical group to the service of our armed forces. Dr. Carl DePrizio of Mansfield was called to active service with the army. He is a valuable and much needed member of our group, and it is only our realization of the importance to all of us of his present occupation which reconciles us to his temporary loss to the Staff. Regret to report the further loss of another valuable member of the Surgical Staff due to the departure of Dr. Leo Varden, who has recently moved to Washington, D. C.
With our country at war and rapidly expanding the size of its armed forces it only seems logical to expect a further drain on our Doctors and Nurses in the near future, which will mean longer hours and harder work for those of us who are left to care for the civilian population of the community. Such being the case, there is no question but what we will cheerfully accept and carry on in this im- portant part of our nation's all out effort to preserve the American Way of life in a chaotic world.
The usual devotion to duty and unfailing interest in the patients entrusted to their care, which we have learned to expect from the members of the Staff, has been most apparent at all times.
In closing I should like to take this opportunity in behalf of the Surgical Staff to thank the Board of Managers, the Superintendent and the nurses for the sincere attitude of helpfulness and cooperation which has existed at all times throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted, John A. Reese, M. D., Chief of the Surgical Staff.
149
ANNUAL REPORT
To the Board of Managers and Members of the Staff of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital,
Gentlemen:
The following is the summary of the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Service for the year 1941 :
A total of 271 patients were treated by the service as follows:
Tonsilectomies and Adnoidectomies 157
Mastoidectomies. 8
Submucous resection nasal septum. 4
Irrigation antrum . 13
Incision and drainage septum abcess. 1
Suturing tonsillar fossa. 5
Intra-nasal Ethmoidectomy 1
Reduction fractured nose. 1
Excision Chalazia 4
Suturing conjunctiva . 2
Minor operations and medical treatments 75
This service had an uneventful year, there being no serious accidents or deaths.
Thanks is hereby extended to the other members of the Staff for their cheerful cooperation at all times. We wish also to express our appreciation of the assist- ance given by the administrative staff.
Respectfully submitted, A. C. Conro, M. D., Chief of Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Staff.
To the Board of Managers
and Members of the Staff of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital,
Gentlemen:
The following is a report of the work of the Medical Service for the year 1941 and is submitted to you for your approval.
There was an increase in the number of adult patients admitted on the service, but the number of children treated during the year showed a decrease. This is the first year since the new hospital was opened that the children's service has not had an increased number of patients.
The hospital days for the year was 3,111, an increase of 709 as compared with 1940, and the average hospital days for each patient was 10.4; this is an increase over the past year.
A review of the data of the service shows clearly that cerebral and cardiac accidents have taken the greatest toll of deaths. It is noteworthy that the greater percent of these deaths occurred within 24 hours after admission to the hospital. The incidence of deaths of the cerebral cases was equally as striking. Seven of the patients survived only 48 hours. While there were complications in many of the cases the data shows clearly that several of the patients were entered at a time when hospitalization could accomplish nothing.
There was a decrease in the number of cases in the pneumonia groups and again we find a low death rate.
The following is a brief summary of the work of the medical service during the year 1941:
150
ANNUAL REPORT
Total number of patients admitted to the service 298
Adults 251
Children 47
Total number of deaths
58
Four cases were transferred from the Medical to the Surgical Service during the year. One of the patients admitted the latter part of 1940 is still in the hospital.
The total number of deaths was 58 due to the following diseases: Cerebral hemorrhage
1
arteriosclerosis, Dietl's crisis, ptosis of left kidney 1
hypertension. 1
1
arteriosclerotic heart disease
1
Cerebral thrombosis
1
Subarachnoid hemorrhage, essential hypertension.
1
Subdural hemorrhage, essential hypertension.
1
Meningitis, pneumococcus.
1
due to otitis media. 1
1
aseptic. .
1
streptococcus, pneumococcus.
1
Lobar pneumonia
obesity.
1
fibrous pericarditis, fibrous pleuritis, acute nephritis. 1
bacteremia, pulmonary edema . 1
Hypostatic pneumonia, arteriosclerotic heart disease
1
Bronchitis, chronic, bronchiectasis.
1
Coronary thrombosis .
4
arteriosclerotic heart disease.
1
myocarditis.
1
lobar pneumonia, terminal.
1
coronary sclerosis.
1
general arteriosclerosis
1
Coronary embolism, cerebral hemorrhage.
Rheumatic heart disease, mitral stenosis, regurgitation
Acute cardiac failure following acute bronchitis
1
Arteriosclerotic heart disease ..
2
myocardial decompensation.
3
cerebral thrombosis.
2
myocardial decompensation, coronary occlusion
Congestive heart failure.
Mitral insufficiency, broncho-pneumonia
1
Acute cardiac failure.
1
Acute nephritis 1
Chronic nephritis, cellulitis of right leg
arteriosclerosis, cerebral hemorrhage. 1
1
Chronic pyelonephritis, mitral insufficiency 1
Nephrosclerosis, general arteriosclerosis, uremia . 1
1
Gastric ulcer, hemorrhage
1
Mesenteric thrombosis with gangrene of ileus
1
Carcinoma of breast, metastisis to mediumstinum .
1
Carcinomatosis, primary source unknown, multiple myeloma, peripheral vascular disease. .. 1
Dermoid cyst of left ovary with malignancy, metastatic
carcinoma of liver. 1
1 1
decompensation, broncho-pneumonia.
1
1 1
Chronic interstitial nephritis ..
Cirrhosis of liver, hemorrhage from oesophagel varices
1
general arteriosclerosis, diabetes mellitus
arteriosclerotic heart disease
broncho-pneumonia.
151
ANNUAL REPORT
Lymphatic leukemia, arteriosclerosis, prolapse of rectum,
fistula in ano, ischio-rectal abscess. 1
Tetanus following wound of foot. 1
Septicemia due to pneumococcus infection of left knee 1
Chronic osteomylitis, amyloid disease of spleen and kidneys 1
The cooperation of the physicians and surgeons of the other services and their advice when called in consultation has been appreciated and their help found valuable. The advice of the hospital consultants has proved a valuable aid in our work. We wish to express our appreciation for their help and their willingness to respond when called in for consultation. The cooperation which the members of the service has had from these two sources has made possible our results in the care and treatment of the sick.
The careful supervision of the Superintendent of the hospital and her over- sight of the nursing care given the patients have helped to lighten the work of the physician on the service and they have played an important part in the results of the year. We extend to our Superintendent and her nurses our ap- preciation for her work and full cooperation in carrying on the work of the service.
Respectfully submitted,
Herbert Lowell Rich, M. D. Chief of Medical Service.
To the Board of Managers and Members of the Staff
of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital,
Gentlemen:
The following report is a summary of the activities of the Obstetrical Depart- ment for the year 1941:
Total number of patients. 1352
Mothers 684
Babies 668
Total births 665
Live births 644
Stillbirths 21
Babies born at home and brought in for care.
3
Total number of deaths in the Department.
18
Mothers
1 Babies 17
Causes of death:
Maternal death-Myocardial embarassment
Babies-Prematurity 8
2
Congenital malformation
Congenital heart disease. 2
Bronchial pneumonia.
1
Cerebral hemorrhage. 1
Acute Bronchitis 1
Patent foramen ovale and congenital defect in intestine 1 Congenital absence of part of abdominal wall. 1
152
ANNUAL REPORT
The ever increasing number of births in the hospital produces a problem for the Department to find adequate bed accomodations for both mothers and babies. Owing to this problem, a survey has been made and sketches drafted for a por- posed addition to the Obstetrics building. This has been worked out on a plan by which we can nearly double our accomodations by merely extending the present building backward towards the nurses' home. The Department is very hopeful that the Management will be able to make this new proposed development a reality very soon.
As ever, the splendid cooperation of the Staff, Superintendent, Nursing group and Management has made it possible to carry on the work of the Depart- ment in a satisfactory manner and by this cooperation balance the duties so as to relieve, as far as possible, any hardship to any of its members. All this is sincerely appreciated.
Respectfully submitted, Joshua W. Clarke, M. D., Chief of Obstetrical Staff.
To the Board of Managers and Staff of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital:
Comparison with the figures for 1940 show, for 1941 a considerable increase in blood typings and blood chemistry examinations. This reflects the increased use of transfusions and sulfanamide derivatives as therapeutic proceedures.
A brief summary of the work follows:
Routine blood examinations . 1799
Routine urine examinations 4994
Special urine examinations 16
Blood chemistry examinations 632
Bacteriological examinations 413
Pneumococcus typings 5
Blood typings 358
Blood cultures
41
Stool examinations . 37
Spinal fluid examinations. 38
Samples of blood collected and sent to State Labora- tory for examination 254
Other specimens sent to State Laboratory for Exami- ation . 22
Surgical Specimens 419
Autopsies 15
The time has now arrived when we need the full time services of our assist- ant technician.
The laboratory refrigerator no longer maintains a temperature adequate for safe storage over a long period of time. With the Defense set-up requiring sufficient supplies on hand and held in readiness for long periods of time, it seems to me that it should be replaced with a modern one.
A photo-electric colorimeter would remove a human equation and also save considerable time in blood chemistry examinations, and when possible I feel that one should be acquired.
Respectfully submitted,
James H. Brewster, M. D., Pathologist.
153
ANNUAL REPORT
To the President and Board of Managers, Sturdy Memorial Hospital, Attleboro, Mass.,
Gentlemen:
The work of the Department of Anesthesia during 1941 has proceeded routinely. There was an increase of about one hundred anesthesias over 1940. Spinal anesthesia shows the greatest increase in percentage of methods used.
Dr. Roy W. Nelson has been added to this department as an assistant in Anesthesia. The service will be arranged so that some member will be available at all times and in any emergency.
Advances in anesthetic methods and proceedure used in other hospitals have demonstrated to us that we are working with a minimum of nursing assist- ance during operating hours. Some provision for expansion of the nursing force . available during "rush periods" must soon be made.
I wish to take this opportunity to express the thanks of this department to the Executive, Nursing and Surgical staffs for their unfailing consideration and assistance
Respectfully submitted, Frederick V. Murphy, M. D., Chief of Anesthesia Staff.
154
ANNUAL REPORT
TREASURER'S AND AUDITOR'S REPORT
Deficit-General Fund:
Receipts exceeded disbursements by $3,019.97 during 1941, thereby reducing the deficit on the cash basis from $25,091.33 at the beginning of the year to $22,071.36 at the close.
A comparison of the deficit on the cash basis with the deficit as it would be on the accrual basis is shown below:
Deficit per books. $22,071.36
Add: Accounts payable. 6,352.99
28,424.35
Deduct:
Accounts receivable considered collectible 7,560.36
Deficit on accrual basis. $20,863.99
Cash-Trust Fund :
All trust fund cash transactions were audited in detail and found correct. The balance on deposit on December 31, 1941, was verified through direct cor- respondence.
Trust Fund Investments :
Securities and savings bank books were examined at the vaults of the First National Bank and found in order.
Balances on deposit in The Attleborough Savings Bank were verified by correspondence.
Two new life memberships were obtained during 1941.
An additional gift of $300.00 was received and added to the Frank P. Toner Memorial Fund. This fund was also increased by the addition of interest in the amount of $31.32.
The final addition to the Sara E. Darrah Fund, amounting to $2,602.70, was re- ceived during the year. The total amount of this fund is now $40,815.17, which sum, together with $8,879.07 from other trust funds, was used to construct and equip a nurses' home at a total cost of $49,694.24. Our audit included the separate records maintained for transactions affecting the nurses' home and no exceptions were noted.
Land in the rear of the hospital was purchased during 1941 at a cost of $445.00. Deeds covering this purchase were seen.
No depreciation has been set up for fixed assets, in accordance with past practice.
Details of investments are shown on Schedule D-1. The market value of bonds owed on December 31, 1941 was $262,230.62 as compared with the cost of $260,485.36. The market value of stocks owned was $88,233.75 compared with the cost of $95,811.42.
155
ANNUAL REPORT
Bonding and Insurance:
All insurance policies are held by the City of Attleboro, except the general public liability insurance, robbery and paymaster robbery, and fire and liability policies on the ambulance, which were seen.
The treasurer's bond for $10,000.00 expiring on January 9, 1942 was also examined.
General Comments:
The following unaudited tabulations present data regarding current accounts receivable and accounts receivable in suspense:
CURRENT ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Balance, December 31, 1940:
Discharged patients
$ 19,414.74
Patients in hospital
1,732.50 $ 21,147.24
Add:
Charges during 1941
120,155.78
141,303.02
Deduct credits:
Reductions in charges
1,330.47
Collections, less refunds.
107,352.44
Transfer to suspense.
13,297.31
121,980.22
Balance, December 31, 1941:
Discharged patients
18,294.80
Patients in hospital
1,028.00
19,322.80
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE IN SUSPENSE
Balance, December 31, 1940.
76,718.43
Add:
13,297.31
Transfers from current receivables
90,045.74
Deduct:
Collections in 1941
2,316.00
Adjustments made in 1941
190.70
2,506.70
Balance, December 31, 1941
87,539.04
15
ANNUAL REPORT
The present balance is made up as follows:
December 31, 1940
1941 Collections
1941 Adjustments
December 31, 1941
Prior to 1934
$ 36,990.24
$ 108.80
$ 36,881.44
1934
6,229.71
68.19
6,161.52
1935
5,147.01
53.40
5,093.61
1936
4,777.03
104.90
4,672.13
1937
5,091.25
206.80
$ .10
4,884.35
1938
7,266.23
589.80
6,676.43
1939.
11,246.96
1,184.11
190.60
9,872.25
Forward
76,748.43
2,316.00
190.70
74,241.73
Forwarded
December 31, 1940 76,748.43
1941 Collections 2,316.00
1941 Adjustments 190.70
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