Remodeled X-Ray Room-June,1970
11
2 Last Graduation St. Elizabeth School of Nursing-May,1969 Remodeled X-Ray Room-June,1970 Phase 11 Construction-July,1970 Finally, his enthusiasm, his creativeness, his concern for others, was infectious to his staff and his employees. He encouraged people to look at problems in new ways, to think for themselves, to be sure that they were right and then move ahead. Today, in the health field, if the pace of an institution is less than rapid, it is falling behind. That doesn't mean to change for the sake of change; it does mean to plan, to move, to adopt, to progress. In the least it means to do something. Earl R. Gilreath has done a lot. The following is a chronological summary of events at St. Elizabeth Hospital during the Gilreath years of April 15,1968-April 15,1974. April,1968 Earl R. Gilreath assumes position of Administrator. ``I have been appointed administrator at a time of significant physical expansion and renewal of St. Elizabeth Hospital. I will need all the help which the members of my staff can give me; I know these people are well qualified and dedicated. I also know that there is little I can do alone and that there is little we cannot May,1968 January,1969 May, 1969 july,1969 july,1969 August,1969 March,1970 May,1970 May,1970 June,1970 do together." E.R.G. Last class of nurses was graduated at St. Elizabeth. Decision to phase out school was made in 1966 because of changing trends in nursing education. Toddler Inn opens at 313 East Twenty-first Street. A project of the Women's Guild, the expanded day care center is immediately successful in assisting recruitment of medical personnel. Begin Phase I construction to air-condition all patient areas, renovate Central Sterile Supply and nursing stations, add seventeen beds and toilet rooms to patient rooms and extensive rewiring. William I. Temple, M.D., F.A.A.P., appointed director of Medical Education with primary responsibility of reactivation and coordination of medical intern and resident training. Announce acquisition of Dudley Road property as future site of satellite health institution. Office of Planning is organized under direction of Sister Mary Joanilla Mcclain, S.F.P., administrative assistant. Sister Martha Marie Lichon, S.F.P., named director of newly established Department of Human Relations. The department was organized to place emphasis on developing present and future needs for social and rehabilitation aspects of caring for patients in the hospital and the community. Establish department of Management Engineering to apply individual engineering and scientific management techniques. Krishan K. Bedi named director. Mr. Gilreath, a board member of Doctorcopter, becomes a simulated cardiac patient to demonstrate advantages of transporting patients by helicopter. Eight interns compose first class at St. Elizabeth since 1961. St. Elizabeth approved by American Medical Association's Council on Medical Education for twelve rotating internships.
Transcript of Remodeled X-Ray Room-June,1970
2
Last Graduation St. Elizabeth School ofNursing-May,1969
Remodeled X-Ray Room-June,1970
Phase 11 Construction-July,1970
Finally, his enthusiasm, his creativeness, his concern for others, wasinfectious to his staff and his employees. He encouraged people to look at
problems in new ways, to think for themselves, to be sure that they wereright and then move ahead.
Today, in the health field, if the pace of an institution is less than rapid,it is falling behind. That doesn't mean to change for the sake of change; itdoes mean to plan, to move, to adopt, to progress. In the least it means todo something.
Earl R. Gilreath has done a lot.The following is a chronological summary of events at St. Elizabeth
Hospital during the Gilreath years of April 15,1968-April 15,1974.
April,1968 Earl R. Gilreath assumes position of Administrator. ``Ihave been appointed administrator at a time ofsignificant physical expansion and renewal of St.Elizabeth Hospital. I will need all the help which themembers of my staff can give me; I know these peopleare well qualified and dedicated. I also know that thereis little I can do alone and that there is little we cannot
May,1968
January,1969
May, 1969
july,1969
july,1969
August,1969
March,1970
May,1970
May,1970
June,1970
do together." E.R.G.
Last class of nurses was graduated at St. Elizabeth.Decision to phase out school was made in 1966because of changing trends in nursing education.Toddler Inn opens at 313 East Twenty-first Street. A
project of the Women's Guild, the expanded day carecenter is immediately successful in assisting recruitmentof medical personnel.
Begin Phase I construction to air-condition all patientareas, renovate Central Sterile Supply and nursingstations, add seventeen beds and toilet rooms to patientrooms and extensive rewiring.William I. Temple, M.D., F.A.A.P., appointed directorof Medical Education with primary responsibility ofreactivation and coordination of medical intern andresident training.
Announce acquisition of Dudley Road property asfuture site of satellite health institution.
Office of Planning is organized under direction of SisterMary Joanilla Mcclain, S.F.P., administrative assistant.Sister Martha Marie Lichon, S.F.P., named director ofnewly established Department of Human Relations.The department was organized to place emphasis ondeveloping present and future needs for social andrehabilitation aspects of caring for patients in thehospital and the community.
Establish department of Management Engineering toapply individual engineering and scientificmanagement techniques. Krishan K. Bedi nameddirector.
Mr. Gilreath, a board member of Doctorcopter,becomes a simulated cardiac patient to demonstrateadvantages of transporting patients by helicopter.Eight interns compose first class at St. Elizabeth since1961. St. Elizabeth approved by American MedicalAssociation's Council on Medical Education for twelverotating internships.
3
june,1970
June,1970
July,1970
September,1970
October,1970
December,1970
January,1971
February,1971
May,1971
June,1971
june,1971
June,1971
August,1971
October,1971
November,1971December,1971
February,1972
March,1972
March,1972
May,1972
June,1972
June,1972
End Phase I construction with a total cost of $939,900.
Medical Library occupies new and expanded quartersunder direction of full time medical librarian, DonSmith.
Begin Phase 11 construction to provide new Emergencyand Outpatient Departments, new five-bed CardiacCare Unit, administrative offices, and sixty-eight newbeds in Tarsicia Hall.Women's Guild named Woman's Club of the Year byCincinnati Enquirer.Organize department of Physical Medicine andRehabilitation with Dr. lose Orbegozo as director.
Speech Therapist added to department of PhysicalMedicine and Rehabilitation.
Visiting hours expanded to provide and increaseconvenience for visitors and benefits for patients.
Open First Aid Station in Covington Model CityNeighborhood.
Cardiac Care Unit opens with five beds utilizingtelemetry monitoring equipment.
Department of Audiology established with JudyMarlowe as department head.
clinical Chemist Dr. David H. Buzzee added toLaboratory department to guide Clinical ResearchProgram.
Extern program started to give first and second yearcollege students experience working in communityhospital .
St. Elizabeth and Northern Kentucky State Collegeannounce cooperating program in radiologicaltechnology.
Campaign instituted to help all hospitals gain paymentfor bills of indigents.
Establish daily hospital newspaper, Daily Dialogue.Board approves 175-bed hospital on Dudley Road site.
Loan of $5,100,000 from group of Northern Kentuckyfinancial institutions was closed to financeimprovements, consolidate existing loans and providefunds for site development of Dudley Road satellite.
Earl Gilreath named administrator at ProvidenceHospital in addition to his post at St. Elizabeth.
Opening of new Emergency and OutpatientDepartments, administrative offices, and sixty-eightnew private rooms in West Building.
Completion of Phase 11 construction at a cost of$2,080,000.
First total hip replacement operation in NorthernKentucky performed at St.Elizabeth.
Began program of Family Center Maternity Care,permitting fathers in delivery room and rooming-in ofbaby and mother.
Graduation of first Intern Class since1961-May,1971
Cardiac Care Unit opens-May,1971
Lt. Gov. julian Carroll and Kentucky HospitalAssociation officials-July,1972
4
Opening Ackerman Pavilion for emergencycare-March,1972
RTKL named Architect for Satellite Hospital-October,1972
Begin demolition for Phase 111 Project-June,
1973
Ground breaking for Family Practice Resi-dency unit -March, 1974
july,1972
August,1972
October,1972
January,1973
February,1973
February,1973
April,1973
june,1973
june,1973
July,1973
August,1973
August,1973
August,1973
October,1973December,1973
March,1974
First Annual Financial Report published for year 1971.Establishment of St. Elizabeth magazine, Care 80.
St. Elizabeth receives national award for internrecruitment brochure at American Health Congress.Name RTKL architect for Dudley Road satellitehospital .
Establish Home Health Care Agency, providing nursingservice, physical therapy, speech therapy and socialservices.
Begin Explorer Posts at St. Elizabeth for youthsinterested in health fields.
St. Elizabeth and Speers Memorial Hospitals formalliance in attempt to save Speers.First knee replacement operation in Northern Kentucky.
Phase Ill projects begin with estimated cost of$2,719,500. Projects will renovate East Building groundfloor and enlarge Laboratory, Radiology, Biometrics,Pharmacy, Social Service, Physical Medicine, employeelockers and lounges. Provide new Snack Shop, GiftShop, Intensive Care Unit, East Building entrance andlobby. Remove open central stairs and construct twoexterior enclosed stair towers. Renovate boiler roomadding oil and gas burner.Announce closing of Speers because of continuingdecline in occupancy and need for extremely extensiverenovation for `safety.
Announce plans to change sponsorship of St. Elizabethfrom Franciscan Sisters of the Poor to the Bishop of theDiocese of Covington.Establish modern new identity symbol for St. ElizabethHospital.
Establish three-year Family Practice Residency Programfor training of twelve physicians specializing in familymedicine.
Earl Gilreath announces decision to conclude dual roleat St. Elizabeth and Providence Hospitals and to beAdministrator at Providence only.
Install cobalt 60 unit for treatment of tumors.
Campbell County Grand Jury clears St. Elizabeth of all
questions in Speers Hospital closing.St. Elizabeth receives full complement of four residentsand eight interns for teaching year beginning june,1974.
During the five-year period,1968-1973, St. Elizabeth Hospitalorganizations provided funds in the amount of $195,649 for the addition ofmedical equipment and facilities.
The support was.. Volunteers, $84,000; The Crusaders Club, $61,449;Women's Guild, $42,500; and Circle of Mercy, $7,700. The.ir comb.ineclhelp assisted many of the above events.
A five-year summary of growth of hospital services is included in the1973 annual report at the end of this issue.
5
A Time To LiveBY DAVID N. KELLER
When he was asked on his104th birthday to provide a recipefor young people seeking long life,the late Dr. Philip Zenner replied, `couldn't talk to them soon enough.I'd have to tell them what
grandparents to select."That was in 1956. The pioneer
Cincinnati physician, who didn'tretire from practice until he was 96
unattended. Waiting lists at nursinghomes usually are imposing.Rampant inflation has its mostdevastating impact on fixed incomes.
But in the words of philosopherConrad Dubilier, ``Americans seemcompelled to hide their acts ofcompassion behind screens of self
`1 criticism."
(``in time to enjoy my old age'')might want to revise his observationtoday. Requirements of selectiveancestory have given way toadvancements in medicine, nutritionand other ingredients of longevity.
The net population gain ofAmericans over the age of 65 is1,000 per day. That in itself placesnew emphasis on problems of age,some admittedly baffling: Facilitiesfor geriatric care are strained. A
youth-oriented culture supposedlydowngrades the value of age andexperience. Older citizens becomefrustrated in their natural desire forindependence.
There are tragic examples ofelderly persons being stricken withstrokes and heart attacks while left
While much remains to bedone, there is overwhelmingevidence that our society is r}ot, asseveral writers have chargedrecently, callously subjecting oldercitizens to the strain of negativeattitudes and isolating them from themain stream of community life.
In 1974, monetary outlays tobenefit the elderly represent 24percent of the total Federal budget.This year's budgeted $63.8 bil.lionrepresents an increase of 71 percentin less than five years.
In the same period, Medicareand Medicaid benefits haveincreased from $7.8 billion to $11.5bi I I i on '
A few months ago, the 16thGerontology Center in the countrywas opened in California forresearch, graduate training,continuing education andcommunity projects in aging.
Universities offer courses insuch subjects as ``Aging in AmericanSociety." The University of Kentuckyhas a Council on Aging. Lastsummer it held a workshop oncreative writing for elderly persons.Many other uriiversities, state andnational organizations hold regularforums on aging.
A television series,``Retirement~A Time to Live" has
offered advice for senior citizens viaeducational TV.
Volunteer groups in cities andsmall towns help the elderly byscheduling visitations, telephonereassurances, home delivered hotmeals, personal care, and legaladvice.
The Elder Artisan Shop inChicago sells handcrafted itemscreated by senior citizens. A GoldenAge art exhibit in New York City iswell attended annually.
Day care centers for agedcitizens emerge every month.Hawaii became the first state toenact legislation providing publicfunds for day care programs. Othersundoubtedly will follow.
Social Security benefit levelshave risen 51 percent since 1971.The American Association of RetiredPerson and the National RetiredTeachers Association have foundreceptive audiences in appeals tocommunities and privatefoundations.
The American Geriatrics Societyshows a continuous growth. Medicalattention has expanded into suchareas as geriatric psychiatry.
A group of Philadelphianeurosurgeons recently discovered amethod of restoring many memorypatterns lost through advanced age.Initial treatment of 28 patientsresulted in 18 total restorations oflost capacities for memory.
California biologist BernardStrehler predicts that the next 25years will find Americans enjoyinggood health as they extend their lifespans by 20 to 30 years.
Hundreds of other examplesrefute the idea that modernAmerican society turns its back onolder citizens. The opposite is true.
Problems of aging surface fromthe swarm of national concernsbecause they, more than any otherhurdle, represent our struggle tobring social progress in line withmedical advancement. So far it hasbeen what sportsmen define as agame of ``catch-up." The situation isperplexing, but not hopeless. Wecannot permit it to become futile,and we won't.
As time marches on, it becomesincreasingly deceiving even to defineold age. A woman is photographeddoing acrobatic ice skating at age77. Men and women in their 70'scompete in tennis meets. An annualtrack meet brings senior citizens toFlorida to compete for nationalchampionships in the mile andtwo-mile runs. Newspaper articles
about 90-year-old painters, sculptors,businessmen and lawyers havebecome routine.
There are more than 20 millionAmericans over 65. About two-thirdsof them own their homes. That initself is the basis for debate onmatching programs to current needs.
Family situations no longer are
geared to take care of older people.Children are apt to live hundreds ofmiles away. They face the questionof giving up careers and possiblyneglecting their own children to takecare of aging parents. Many try invain to bring parents into their ownhomes; the fires of independence arefanned by advancing age. Besides, itis not easy to leave the surroundingsof a lifetime's accumulatedrememberances.
An unfortunate result is thatolder persons frequently turn ag-ainstfamilies who are frustrated in theirattempts to help. They misinterpretan action such as acquiring the rightof attorney as a form of theft, whenit is instead a means of protection.
Physicians today recognize thatsuch stress has an influence on anolder patient's physical health. Therelationship an elderly person haswith family and neighbors affects thecourse of an illness.
Feelings of defeat areexaggerated further whe.n an olderperson becomes hospitalized.Surroundings are unfamiliar.Confusion can become panic.Thoughts of becoming immobilized,with no means of coping with theproblem, become anguish. Love andunderstanding seem necessary forsurvival. But survival too isthreatening.
There are no pills tosatisfactorily combat physicalmalfunctions arising from feelings ofloneliness or uselessness. To providetotal care, physicians and hospitalsmust call upon the resources offamily and society.
The degree of public responsecan determine the extent ofrecovery. Beyond that, it is abarometer of a community's successin meeting the future needs of seniorcitizens.
Obviously a basic need is forunderstanding. Communityrequirements for the elderly vary aswidely as the communitiesthemselves. A tendency to stereotypeolder persons leads to arguments oncomparative merits of competingprograms. It would approach thetruth to say that we need them all.
7
Most persons are surprised todiscover that only about 13 percentof the 65-and-over population livewith members of their families, andonly four percent live ininstitutionalized housing. Onereason for the surprise is a tendencyto stereotype older persons as beingdependent and feeble. Coupled withthat is an association of theMedicare-established minimum of65 as some sort of absolute divisionbetween middle age and old age.
The fact is that nearly half of allAmericans between 65 and 69continue to work in regular jobs.The same is true for nearly a third ofthose between the ages of 70 and74.
Our immediate concern is notso much for age in itself, but foraged persons who really need help.Even then, it is necessary to definethe various meanings of help. It canbe medical or financial assistance,home care for a partially disabledsenior citizen, or an inventiveprogram for the octogenarian whoremains vigorous but no longer feelsu sefu I .
The demands are complex andchallenging.
Success of senior citizenscommunities, some of them inNorthern Kentucky, is notable. Rentis within reasonable limits of SocialSecurity incomes. The environmentis protective. Residents can maintaintheir independence by living in theirown apartments equipped with suchfacilities as supportive bars besidebeds and bathtubs. They can takepart in activities planned for theirage groups. They associate withfriends every day. Alarm bells bringimmediate assistance if it is needed.
But even those seemingly idealconditions do not match allpersonalities. Some older personsprefer loneliness and the fear of anunnoticed emergency to the thoughtof leaving home. For them, the needis for medical, dental, and socialhome care programs that may becarried out by hospitals, communityagencies, or independentassociations.
Spiritual dependency oftenincreases with age too. Churchescan provide the personal associationthat helps reduce feelings ofdepression and anxiety.
In several instances, the seniorcitizens themselves assumeresponsibility for remaining actively
productive.
Community ContibutorMrs. Mary Mae Summers believes that senior citizens can continue
to make important community contributions after retirement from careerpositions. More over she offers the best possible proof in her ownactivities.
Every day, the 84-year-old Mrs. Summers serves as a volunteerworker in the family lounge, flower room or gift shop at St. ElizabethHospital. Her schedule includes weekends and holidays.
Before her ``retirement" she was house mother for 15 years at theformer St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing. When the school wasdiscontinued, she worked as a receptionist at the information desk.
Her late husband, Edward, was a 50-year employee of CincinnatiTerminal.
The vivacious 5'1" Mrs. Summers resides with her daughter, Ann, inCQvi ngton .
An Eastern acting troupe, LaCommedia, just finished its ninthseason of performing in churches,clubs and recreation centers. Actorsand actresses range in age from 68to 88. Many of them had noconnection with performing arts untilreti rement.
Many elderly persons continueeffective community lives, despiteserious physical disabilities. Most ofthem attribute their motivation to theencouragement of families andfriends. That gives a strong clue forthe future.
It would be unrealistic tosidestep the obvious factor offinances. Many families simply donot have the financial means ofsupport. Bureaucratic entanglementscomplicate Medicare, Medicaid andother programs. Even with assistancefrom social agencies, most seniorcitizens have no idea of the extentand limitations of medical and socialaid.
Defining such problems asnegligence, though, is brutuallyunjust. Before hurling barbs ofcriticism, we might all ask ourselveswhat we are doing to help. Agingis the one confrontation that affectsus all.
9
able to leave their rooms. Talkingwith others is good therapy. It is
particularly helpful to find thatfamilies and friends really care.Visitors contribute immeasurably torecovery.
"Each person has individual
reactions to hospital care, ofcourse," observes Rose Hook,Associate director of Patient Care.``You can't group older patients into
a category any more than anyoneelse. Some don't like to be alone atnight. The nurses are verysympathetic to that feeling and youwill see them talking with patients inthe middle of the night. Others areworried more about what they willdo after recovery than they are aboutrecovery itself. Will they be able tolive alone as before? lf not, wherewill they go? Will Medicare pay alltheir bills?"
To help determine answers,trained staff members of thehospital's Social and HumanRelations Service department oftenare called upon for assistance.
``Usually our help is requested
by the patient's doctor," explainsSocial Worker Gay Yezovit.``However, we try to check all
admissions sheets for a patient's age,family, insurance involved, andother things that can help usanticipate problems that might besolved by the time the patient isready to leave the hospital. We thenconsult with the doctor regarding hissuggestions. We never contact apatient directly until we are advisedto do so by the attending physician."
The Social Service staff is inregular contact with nursing homesto keep current on vacancies-ormore often on the length of waitinglists. It works with several agenciesin Northern Kentucky, helpingarrange financing, housing, andcontinued care.
Senior Citizens agency offersmeals, transportation andentertainment. Job Registry is asource of names for possible homecompanions and part-timehousekeepers. Comprehensive Care
has testing services. State andFederal agencies help with financesin carefully defined situations.
The hospital's Social Servicedepartment makes the contacts,handles voluminous paper work,helps arrange for places to stay,continued home health care, andeven transportation from thehospital, all without charge to
patients.A high percentage of older
patients need some kind of extendedcare after leaving the hospital. St.Elizabeth's Home Health CareAgency plans individualized
programs of continued medicalservices whenever applicable, againunder instructions from attendingphysicians.
Medicare and Medicaid areconfusing in their complexities, butthey help overcome many problemsin an area of acute concern-finances.
Contrary to an all-too-commonbelief, Medicare does not givecomplete coverage for hospital careas long as a patient wants to stay inthe hospital. There are restrictionsand strict guidelines that the hospitalmust follow in order for a patient to
qualify for Medicare assistance.One requirement is that a
Utilization Review Committee ofdoctors make periodicdeterminations on each patient'seligibility. Although they can receivecompensation from Medicare,
doctors donate their services on St.Elizabeth's committee.
Senior citizens are urged tocheck with family doctors onprovisions of Medicare beforesuffering injury or illness. However,after they are hospitalized, they canrequest assistance from the SocialServices department.
By understanding the confusionsthat confront older patients,members of the St. Elizabeth staff tryto lessen the impact of movingsuddenly into a hospitalenvironment. The change fromindependence to dependence is notalways an easy transition. Difficultiesof rebounding from illness or injuryincrease with age.
Still, nurses throughout thehospital name examples of elderlypatients who have maintained adesire for recovery, refused to acceptadversity, and returned to satisfyinghome and community lives.
It can be done.
10
Home Health Care
A friendly greeting awaits the St.Elizabeth home health care nurse asshe parks in a Covington residentialneighborhood and heads for her firstvisit of a busy day. By the time shereaches the top of the steps, herpatient is standing in the doorway,smiling. She returns the smile andenters a small living room.
William Robinson is a big man.A former miner and railroader. Buthe hasn`'t been able to work full-timesince injuring his leg in 1959. Nowhe is retired.
``My wife is downstairs doing a
washing, but 1'11 get ready," he says.He goes into a bedroom, lies down,and pulls up his shirt so the nursecan change the dressing on hissurgical stitches. The procedure isroutine. A nurse stops by every day.
Today she is Sister DianeMoroney, S.F.P., head of thehospital's Home Health Agency.Usually it is Sister Maria Klosterman,S.F.P., full-time home health carenurse. Occasionally it is Mrs. FranClare, the third member of theHome Health Agency team, whogoes into homes three days a week.All three are registered nurses.
Mr. Robinson tells Sister Dianehow much he appreciates her visitand how much he likes the othernurses. He is feeling much betterand his stitching soon will behealed, so the visits will end.Fortunately, he is able to movearound and his wife is in goodhealth.
As if to prove the point, Mrs.Robinson emerges from thebasement carrying a basket ofclothes, smiling broadly. She greetsSister Diane as a good friend.
Other St. Elizabeth Hospitalnurses, who accompany the homecare nurses periodically to observethe program, always comment onthe close relationships with patients.
Bill Robinson and his wife leadthe way back to the living roomwhere their small granddaughter,Lisa, is watching television. On themantel are two long rows ofphotographs. The Robinsons have 40grandchildren and four greatgrandchldren.
Mrs. Robinson displayswell-deserved pride as she explainsthat nine sons served in the U.S.Armed Forces.
Families play important roles inthe home health care of olderpersons. Spectacular cases of seriousaccidents and ``crisis" surgeryoccupy the headlines and therebydraw most attention from supportiveagencies. But the vast majority ofhome patients need custodial as wellas professional care. They needfamilies and friends who are willingto cook and clean for them, helpthem bathe and move from bed towheelchair, and observe how theyfeel.
Teaching those techniques tomembers of a patient's family is partof the job of the home health carenurses.
in
Like many other patients, BillRobinson was an active, vigorousman who now must adjust to a quietlife. Helping him prepare for thatchange is as much a part of thehome health care nurse's concern aschanging the dressing on his stitches.
Sister Diane predicts that theRobinsons will cope with theirsituation quite well.
Home visits take the nurses intoBoone, Kenton, and CampbellCounties. Sister Diane's second stopof the day is at the home of Ceciland Phredonia Stetson.
Mr. Stetson opens the door andwelcomes his visitor. He explainsthat he and his wife have beenwaiting for her and hope that shecan stay for a while this time. Mrs.Stetson waves from her bed in frontof the television set.
The Stetsons, like many seniorcitizens, both require home healthcare. Mr. Stetson was hospitalizedrecently with congestive heartfailure. His wife already had beenconfined to her bed after a stroke.
Sister Diane checks both bloodpressures, then answers somequestions Mr. Stetson has about hisheart pills. She reminds him also thathe cannot help his wife move to awheelchair and that they must havesomeone else come in to do that.They have no other family.
``1 wish you would come more
often," he says. ``We enjoy havingyou here."
The television set is about allthey have to keep them occupiednow. Mrs. Stetson should havesomeone to help her most of thetime, but the couple requires onlybi-weekly visits from nurses.
That dilemma is characteristic ofhome care efforts across the country.Nursing homes provide part of theanswer. We need more good nursinghomes, senior citizens high riseapartments, and similar projects thatmeet financial capabilities of socialsecurity and other retirementprograms.
But many older persons find itdifficult to adapt themselves tomoving from established homes.
Some simply refuse to move.Success of St. Elizabeth's Home
Health Agency in the little morethan one year since it was startedindicate a need for continued growthin that direction.
Just as important, according toSister Diane, is some method ofgetti ng non-professionals-aides,families, friends-more involved inhome care. It is not an easy goal toreach, but every step along the wayis helpful.
Sister Diane's third stop of themorning provides evidence of whatshe means. The front door of the Mr.and Mrs. Will Gerhauser home isopened by a neighbor, Mrs. GeorgeTurner.
12
Will Gerhauser, whose greetingis nothing short of exhuberant,explains that Mrs. Turner comes tothe house every morning. ``She notonly cleans the place, she brings allkinds of good food," he tells SisterDiane.
Mrs. Turner says only that theyhave b.een neighbors ``for a longlong time," then, considering thatexplanation enough, goes quietly tothe kitchen while Sister Diane walksto a bed where Mrs. Gerhauser iswaiting to grasp her hand.
The patient is a witty, delightfulconversationalist at 89. She can walk
some, but not much. On thisparticular day she remains in bedwhile she is checked by SisterDiane. Afterwards, as the twowomen talk, their genuine affectionfor each other is obvious.
\Mll promises to cook lunchhimself if Sister Diane will stay. Shecan't, but she hesitates long enoughto talk a little about the energyshortage. Will used to work in therailroad shop. He wonders if thepassenger trains might make acomeback now, and reminiscesbriefly about the great days of therai I roads.
Mr. and Mrs. Gerhauser havelived in their home since 1917. Theidea of moving doesn't even occurto them.
After one last offer of lunch,Will Gerhauser thanks his guest forstopping by, says good-bye, andreminds her to say hello to SisterMaria. Mrs. Gerhauser waves andsmiles.
As she drives toward the nexthome care stop, Sister Diane tellsabout the administrative work thatnow occupies most of her time. Sheorganized the program and missesmaking more home visits. Since the
program's growth, she has becomeincreasingly involved in talking with
physicians and patients to matchhome health care schedules toneeds.
She explains how home healthcare provides physical and speechtherapy, in addition to medicaltreatment. She details some of theinstructions nurses give a husband,or wife, son or daughter, or friendon what should be observed andwhat should be reported to thehospital or to the doctor.
Medicare pays for some homehealth care expenses, but not all.State Medical Aid pays for a few.The rest is paid by the patient, withhelp from families, or absorbed bythe hospital.
There are shortcomings, butSister Diane has optimistic hopes forthe program, both at St. ElizabethHospital and throughout the nation.
IMPRINT OF AN
ADMINISTRATOR
Perhaps, the time was right for change, maybe it was the man, probablyit was a combination of factors, which somehow magically blended to makedynamic and far reaching events occur. Whatever the blend, the man wasEarl R. Gilreath, the place was St. Elizabeth Hospital and the time was1968-1974. His influence, his strong principles, his ability to get things doneand his un fearful determination to meet any challenge in any circumstance,did more to promote progress in the delivery of health care andimprovement in the quality of that care in Northern Kentucky than any otherfactor in recent history.
This is a strong testament.But when one looks at the list of accomplishments it is difficult to
disagree. Of course, not all of the innovations were as successful asanticipated. But most importantly, for every action there was acorresponding reaction. For every improvement at St. E.,.a ripple in thehealth care pond spread and multiplied its effect. The imprint of Earl R.Gilreath upon the health system of this area will continue to benefit futuregenerations. Who can tally the number of patients who will be treated byphysicians trained in the medical education programs of St. Elizabeth whoremain to practice here? His strong and uncompromising position to providethe highest quality of care possible has benefited everyone living inNorthern Kentucky.
Once when asked why he was so outspoken, Mr. Gilreath responded,``1 try to be respectful, but not phoney. I can't mask my dislikes and I don't
think I should. An administrator must communicate with the medical staffand respond to its needs. He must inform the board of trustees and thepublic. He should be fair but firm with the staff. After all, peoples' lives areinvolved. I could give everyone the right answers, say the things they wantto hear. But I do not choose to do that."
The most noticeable change which he guided has been the new andreconstructed facilities. There has been almost constant construction workduring his six year tenure. One construction phase would begin as anotherended. Each was based on the concept of ever improving the quality ofservice for the people of Northern Kentucky. His belief in the importance ofbright colors, carpet, pleasant drapes, air conditioning and color television,was not for luxury's sake, but because of the belief that pleasant andcomfortable surroundings would manifest themselves in quicker recoveryand a less stressful hospitalization. The results support his ideas and otherinstitutions are following his lead.
Earl R. Gilreath at desk-January,1969
Welcoming Tea-April,1968
