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A Trip Down Memory Lane: 1971-1991

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Posted on May.26.2023July 31, 2024

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Posted on May.26.2023August 6, 2024

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A Trip Down Memory Lane: 1923-1949

Monadnock Community Hospital

[post_title] => The DAISY Award Ceremony 2023 [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => the-daisy-award-2023 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-11-04 15:35:06 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-11-04 20:35:06 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://monadnockcommunityhospital.com/?p=37154 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [9] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 36240 [post_author] => 2 [post_date] => 2023-05-26 16:52:15 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-05-26 20:52:15 [post_content] =>

A time of expansion in the hospital’s history.

[gallery columns="4" ids="37074,37072,37071,37070"] MCH Anniversary Series 1971-1991

The early years of the Hospital saw significant advances in the science of anesthesia, from the introduction of anesthesia machines in the 1930s to new, safer anesthetic drugs, devices that made intubation safer and more effective, and the introduction of the first intravenous anesthetics.

1950s

$2 office visit

($24.29 adjusted)

$3 house call

($36.43 adjusted)

In the 1950s Dr. Albert Chandler performed house calls which equaled his time spent in office appointments. He charged $2 per office visit ($24.29 adjusted rate today) or $3 per house call ($36.43 adjusted.)

Early on the Hospital was made to look as much like a cheerful home as possible, with a small kitchen on each floor. The rooms had fireplaces and carpets for comfort. The reception room had comfortable seating and often had fresh flowers. The old reception room is now the library and looks much the same.

Average per patient day during 1960s inflation:

Short term, general, and special hospitals

$41.58 ($397.67 adjusted*)

MCH

$38.84 ($371.46 adjusted*)

In the 1960s rapid population growth in the Monadnock region led to a hospital census at 100%. There was a shortage of patient rooms available. A fundraising campaign for a major million dollar expansion began in 1963. The average contribution from the community was $940 ($8,990.08 adjusted*) from doctors, $320 ($3,060.45 adjusted*) from small businesses, $97 ($927.70 adjusted*) from local families, and $75 ($717.29 adjusted*) from employees. On March 23, 1965 groundbreaking ceremonies were held. The addition increased capacity to 75 beds from the 1949 expansion leaving MCH with 55 beds.

1963 capital campaign average contributions:

Doctors $940 ($8,990.08 adjusted*)

Small businesses $320 ($3,060.45 adjusted*)

Local families $97 ($927.70 adjusted*)

Employees $75 ($717.29 adjusted*)

At the close of the fundraising campaign Dr. George Stewart said: “We are aware not only of the out-poured generosity of the living givers but, at the same time, are reminded also of the superb people who have befriended this institution in years that are gone and who have left us as grateful legatees some portion of their spirit. Over and above that material resources given by such citizens is the sense of trusteeship, the responsibility for the common good, the traits of character they have bestowed to help build in the community its distinguishing character as a worthy region. For all of these we are truly grateful.”

In the 1960s the Hospital’s Auxiliary supplied 5-inch television sets that could be rolled into patient rooms on a cart for $1 a day ($9.89 adjusted*). In 1964 the New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra began playing a benefit for the hospital each year. In 1968 a Chrysanthemum Ball was first held as a fundraiser. They were the first black tie, gala raising funds for MCH. The attendance fee was $10 per person ($84.10 adjusted*). In 1973 the Golden Anniversary Ball celebrated the 50^th anniversary.

*adjusted for 2022 dollars [gallery ids="37070,37071,37072,37073,37074,37075,37076,37053,37077,37078"] History - Monadnock Community Hospital [post_title] => A Trip Down Memory Lane: 1950-1970 [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => a-trip-down-memory-lane-with-monadnock-community-hospital-1950-1970 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-07-31 10:25:42 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-07-31 14:25:42 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://monadnockcommunityhospital.com/?p=36240 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [10] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 37151 [post_author] => 9192204 [post_date] => 2023-05-26 14:12:08 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-05-26 18:12:08 [post_content] => On Thursday May 25th 2023, Monadnock Community Hospital had the pleasure of recognizing the region’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers in celebration of National EMS Week which was from May 21-27. Providers from Antrim Fire and Ambulance, Dublin Fire Department, Francestown Fire Department, Greenfield Fire Department, Hancock Fire Department, Jaffrey Fire Department, Jaffrey-Rindge Memorial Ambulance, New Ipswich Fire Department, Peterborough Fire and Rescue, Rindge Fire Department, Souhegan Valley Ambulance, and Temple Fire Department attended the evening’s event at the Monadnock Country Club, where they were honored as vital members of the community. Doctors, physician assistants, and nurses from the MCH Emergency Department were there as well to celebrate their colleagues and friends. Cyndee McGuire, president and CEO of Monadnock Community Hospital, recognized all of the hard work the local EMS providers do every day. She quoted Fred Rogers from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood by saying “Fred Rogers is famous for his advice, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ I look out tonight at a sea of helpers. You are often first on the scene to care for people in their greatest time of need. The dedication you have for our neighbors and loved ones is incredibly admirable and we are lucky to have you all as a part of our MCH Family and our community.” Lauren Morton, Physician Assistant, and a leader in the MCH Emergency Room, thanked everyone for their tireless efforts and for continually giving so much of themselves to help the lives of others. She then had the privilege of presenting the 2023 EMS Lifetime Achievement Award to New Ipswich Fire Department’s Chief Meredith Lund. Chief Lund, who is soon retiring after over 30 years of service to our community, moved up the ranks in this male dominated profession. She started her career with Souhegan Valley Ambulance Service and later became the first female on the New Ipswich Fire Department team. In 2016 she was voted in as the Chief becoming one of only four female Fire Chiefs in the state of New Hampshire and the first in New Ipswich. Chief Lund was surprised and moved by this award and she presented an inspiring acceptance speech with a brief overview of her career. She shared that she is retiring to spend more time with her grandchildren and to travel the country as she continues her work fighting wildfires. She thanked all of her colleagues and friends in the room, some of whom she taught when she was an instructor with the NH Fire Academy & EMS, while others she began her training with in the early 1990s and has been friends with ever since. The Annual EMS Recognition event was the first one held since 2019 (before the pandemic) and Monadnock Community Hospital was pleased to be able to honor the community Emergency Medical Services this way.

Photo (Left to right): Donna Infante, RN, MCH’s Emergency Department Director; Lauren Morton, PA, Emergency Department Physician Assistant; New Ipswich Fire Chief Meredith Lund; Dr. Eric Lasky, MD, MCH’s EMS Director; Michael Greenough, MCH’s EMS Coordinator. [post_title] => A Salute to Our EMS Champions: Honoring Dedication and Service [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => ems-event-2023 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-08-06 11:09:04 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-08-06 15:09:04 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://monadnockcommunityhospital.com/?p=37151 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [11] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 36238 [post_author] => 2 [post_date] => 2023-05-26 10:46:27 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-05-26 14:46:27 [post_content] =>

The early formative years of the hospital’s history.

[gallery columns="4" ids="37069,37068,37052,37050"] MCH Anniversary Series 1950-1970

On June 21, 1923 the front page of the Peterborough Transcript proudly proclaimed:

"The Peterborough Hospital, which opens its doors to the public today, Thursday, June 21st, is something which has been in the minds and thoughts of some of our citizens for a long time and at last the realizations of these plans and dreams have come to pass..."

The highly anticipated opening day of The Peterborough Hospital was a monumental occasion. Over 750 people attended the festivities on opening day to see the new facility that would become a center for medical excellence in the Monadnock region. A visiting physician toured the newly built hospital and told the Peterborough Transcript:

“A finer location, better arranged, more completely equipped, up to the minute, modern hospital than this one cannot be found anywhere.”

At this time there were 47 consulting physicians that came to the Hospital from all over New England, as far away as Boston. They would take the train into town. The most common vehicle at the time was the Model T.

In the first month (1923)

4 births
9 average patients a day
36 operations
40 patients admitted
274 patient days

Within the first 11 months of operation, it was clear that the Peterborough Hospital was a needed service for the community, with patient numbers increasing daily. During this time there were an average of nine patients per day at the hospital. (Patients days are defined as a calendar day a patient is admitted in the hospital.) The first baby born was a healthy boy from Nashua, he was born at 3 AM on July 1, 1923 by Caesarean section. In the first 15 years of operation (ending in 1938) there were 7,525 persons admitted, and 80,559 patient days total.

In 1927 nine towns accepted a share in the future maintenance of the hospital. The breakdown of the amount pledged by each town follows: Peterborough $68,225.35 ($1,147,502.68 adjusted*), Jaffrey $12,751 ($214,462.90 adjusted*), Dublin $12,750 ($214,446.08 adjusted*), Hancock $3,501 ($58,884.3 adjusted*), Antrim $3,295.50 ($55,428.01 adjusted*), Bennington $2,056 ($34,580.48 adjusted*), Temple $1,224.25 ($20,591.03 adjusted*), Greenfield $655 ($11,016.64 adjusted*), and Harrisville $53.25 ($895.63 adjusted*). The community support from these surrounding towns set the framework for what would be incredible philanthropic support for decades to come.

Hospital Stats: 1923

2903 patient days
274 admissions
43 births

1949

1675 patient days
1844 admissions
286 births

In the 1940s it was common practice for hearses to be used as ambulances. Funeral homes handled ambulance calls as well as funeral transportation. The vehicles were bought as combination hearses/ambulances. Arthur Wheeler of Jellison Funeral Home never lost a patient in transit despite only having Red Cross first aid training.

1946 was a time of transformation and growth as the Peterborough Hospital changed its name to Monadnock Community Hospital. There was a continuing need for increased services, with the hospital running full census (full capacity) in 1934. The tight finances during World War II made expansion a challenge. By 1946 the Hospital was often beyond capacity. The community donated food from their victory gardens, and raised money with donations, benefits, bequests, investments, state funds, and more. In 1949 the North Wing addition began, which was going to increase the hospital’s bed capacity from 19 beds to 55. When the North Wing was completed in 1950 Monadnock Community Hospital was considered one of the finest in New England.

Profits 1937

net operating loss $12,000

(-$243,879 adjusted*)

1949

profit $691.41

($8,501 adjusted*)

2022

net gain

$2,897,000

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 36238 [post_author] => 2 [post_date] => 2023-05-26 10:46:27 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-05-26 14:46:27 [post_content] =>

The early formative years of the hospital’s history.

[gallery columns="4" ids="37069,37068,37052,37050"] MCH Anniversary Series 1950-1970

On June 21, 1923 the front page of the Peterborough Transcript proudly proclaimed:

“A finer location, better arranged, more completely equipped, up to the minute, modern hospital than this one cannot be found anywhere.”

In the first month (1923)

4 births
9 average patients a day
36 operations
40 patients admitted
274 patient days

Hospital Stats: 1923

2903 patient days
274 admissions
43 births

1949

1675 patient days
1844 admissions
286 births

Profits 1937

net operating loss $12,000

(-$243,879 adjusted*)

1949

profit $691.41

($8,501 adjusted*)

2022

net gain

$2,897,000

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