Opinion

McCook's first hospital volunteers

Monday, May 9, 2005

Each spring various organizations in McCook honor their volunteers, people who put in countless hours of their time and talent for the benefit of these organizations.

One of the organizations that benefits a great deal from the work of these volunteers is the hospital. It is probably not overstating to say that the very existence of this hospital has been dependent on volunteers, men and women, who have worked in behalf of the hospital. Today's volunteers are following a long-standing tradition.

Though McCook came into being in 1882, for many years the citizens did not see a great need for a hospital. The early McCook doctors provided some hospital services in rooms adjoining their offices, or in large homes, which were used to provide some nursing care for their patients.

In 1904 the McCook Tribune began a campaign for the McCook community to consider providing a hospital for use by the citizens. In response to a survey performed by the newspaper, it was determined that the need for a hospital in McCook lagged behind the need for a library and an auditorium by the people of McCook. A hospital was considered a "real luxury" for a town the size of McCook.

Dr. Reid (R-E-I-D) operated a private hospital in the large home in the 500 block of Main Street until his death in 1918.

Though Reid's widow attempted to keep the hospital going, with the aid of his former partner, Dr. Swaggert, after her husband's death, it appeared that the hospital would close, leaving McCook without any hospital.

That is the first time that there was widespread support for a Community hospital in McCook. Spurred on by the Chamber of Commerce, the city leaders approached The Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Sienna, of Springfield, Ky., about their founding a hospital in McCook. That order was well known for its hospital and teaching work.

In 1921 an agreement was reached with the Catholic Order, by which McCook would raise one half of the $75,000 building cost. The Dominican Sisters would provide the other half, together with equipping the hospital, and additionally, would initially send four Sisters to McCook -- our first hospital volunteers. Other Dominicans would follow.

Among the first local Hospital Fundraisers were the names of the leaders of McCook at the time, Real, Sommerville, Barnett, Colfer, Brady, Boyle, Kelso, True, Kelley, and Speer. A circular letter, which went out to residents of the County was summarized in the Red Willow County Gazette:

* A good up-to-date, well-equipped and well-managed hospital is one of the most pressing needs of the city. Trips to out of town hospitals for sick persons are inconvenient, dangerous, and greatly expensive.

* The Sisterhood of St. Catherine's is experienced in means, methods and facilities for managing a hospital economically.

* The hospital will be strictly non-sectarian, offering equally good care to persons of every denomination.

* The proposed hospital will have facilities for 40 patients and will be equipped with the most modern hospital equipment.

* A reminder to all citizens ended the summary: "sickness is bound to come into every family at some time and when it does come, the family will be most grateful to have in their midst an institution where they themselves and their loved ones can receive the best of care. A donation now may save not only hundreds of dollars (when serious sickness comes), but, additionally, may save what is infinitely more precious, (life itself)."

The original hospital, completed in 1923, consisted of just the center section of what is now St. Catherine's Apartments. It officially was named St. Catherine of Sienna. It contained 80 rooms and had a capacity for 50 beds. There were three operating rooms -- one for major operations, one for minor operations, and a third for eye-ear-nose-and throat work. Reports from that time called the X-Ray equipment "the very best in its line." The first surgery in the new building was performed on July 25, 1923.

The first Executive Committee for running the hospital was a cooperating unit of Sisters, Pius, and Odilia, and Doctors Knox, and Willis. The nursing Committee consisted of Doctors Kay, Easterday, and Swaggert.

At first, St. Catherine's was a teaching hospital in addition to its patient load. A number of the Dominican Sisters went through the teaching program and were qualified by the State to serve as nurses. The first training school opened in September 1924, and the first graduation exercises were held in September, 1927.

By 1930 the hospital had outgrown its space, and there was a clamor for larger facilities. The original plans for the hospital had provided for north and south wings to be added, both on the front and the back of the original building, eventually forming a large X. This time there was little problem in raising the $40,000 for the south wing that was added to the original building.

After World War II, there was a huge increase in demand for hospital services, both maternity, and surgical, so in 1948 a second wing was added to the north of the original building. This enlarged the hospital to a 120-bed facility. (The two planned for wings on the back of the hospital were never added.) About this time money from the A. Barnett estate was used to update the surgical facilities, and kitchen and dining room.

By the 1970s new government regulations were dictating hospital policies. An inspection showed that only five of the hospital's 64 "acute care" beds conformed to standards set down by Medicare and Medicaid.

There were insufficient toilets. The hallways were too narrow -- and the list went on and on. It was evident that major remodeling would be required to bring St. Catherine's Hospital into compliance. The alternative was that a new facility would have to be built.

By the '70s the ranks of the Dominican Order of Nuns, which had operated the McCook hospital with great efficiency for many years, were dwindling alarmingly.

Each year the Sisters were turning more and more of the responsibilities of the hospital over to the community. When community leaders decided in 1971 that a new "Community Hospital" would be built, the Dominican Nuns stated that they were no longer able to assume responsibility for running a hospital, and pulled out of the project altogether. An agreement was made with the Dominican Sisters that McCook would pay to the Order $3,400 per month for a period of three years, plus $150,000 for hospital equipment, which could be used in the new Community Hospital.

So, after 50 years of faithful and exemplary service, the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Sienna, left McCook, leaving a legacy of love and competent medical service to the people of McCook and Southwest Nebraska. We shall ever be grateful.

-- Source: 50 year and 100 year Souvenir Editions of McCook Gazette

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