Conemaugh Valley Hospital School of Nursing - Pink Cross Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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CVMH Mr. Herbert G. Fritz, Fellow ot The American College of Hospital Administration Hospital Superintendent HOSPITAL HISTORY Sitting in my room, as often, staring at the institution of which I was a part, cmd wondering of its exciting history, a cloud came over my eyes and a voice from nowhere began to tell me of an exciting, vivid story. The time was May 31, l889g and the scene one of disaster, gloom, and destruction. There was a cry of anguish, pallecl tearstained faces. A city in the valley of the Alleghanies had been visited by the drama of death and destruction, the great Iohnstown Flood . Upon some faces there was written bereavement and deprivation. Other survivors tryingly characterized patience, fortitude and cheerful submission. Illness and accident was everywhere. Out of the gloom came Dr. Pancoast and a chapter of the American Red Cross. still in its youth. They immediately began the work of house-to-house visitation and ministration to the sick and injured. As soon as possible they obtained a few tents and erected them in the orchard of Iudge Harnilton's place on Kernville Hill. The first patient was a 14 year old child with diphtheria, a disease prevalent at this time. Other patients were admitted rapidly and enlargement of facilities was deemed necessary. The tents were succeeded by an L-shaped one story wooden building. This was occupied from Iune to Ianuary 21 when the Red Cross withdrew and the institution was taken over by the Cambria Co. Medical Association.

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SANTA FILOMENA Lo! in that house of misery A lady with a lamp I see Pass through the glimmering gloom, And flit from room to room. And slow, as in a dream of bliss, The speechless sufferer turns to kiss Her shadow, as it falls, Upon the darkening walls. As a door in heaven should be Opened and then closed suddenly, The vision came and went, The light shone and was sent. A lady with a lamp shall stand In the great history of the land A noble type of good Heroic womanhood. -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow CVMH

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HOSPITAL HISTORY About this time the State Flood Commission found that they still had on their hands about SlU0,0UU of relief money. The amount was too small for general distribution, and the commission felt that if the money could be put to some general use, for the good of the people as a whole, greater benefit would result. The Medical Association immediately appealed for aid in erecting a permanent hospital for the reception and care of the afflicted. It was ap- paling to know that when the sick and injured were gathered from among the survivors there was no safe and adequate building in which they could be sheltered and cared for. The course once suggested, there was no question raised as to its' wisdom. There was appropriated sixty-five thousand dollars for the purpose of the erecting of such an institution. After necessary details had been worked out, ground was broken for the new building on the 26th of February, l89l. The committee in charge was fortunate in securing the services of Mr. George Orth, an architect of experience and ability, who left evidence of his skill in every section of the building. The building was completed on Ianuary 21, 1892. With transfer of the hospital to the local authorities the people of the valley assumed the management and maintenance of the institution. The hospital was named, The Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital , a memorial from the people of the world to the people of the Valley of Iohnstown. It is a memorial to the victims of the l889 flood and the great Christian spirit that prevailed from far and wide to aid fellow suffers in their hour of need. The hospital doors were opened to the sick and injured of whatever race, creed or position. The field of services extended over wide areas of all sur- rounding counties. The first staff of Memorial was: Medical-Dr. F. Schill, Dr. W. E. Matthews, Dr. H. F. Tomb, Dr. L. H. Mayer, Surgical-Dr. W. B. Lowman, Dr. A. Wakefield, Dr. I. C. Sheridan, and Dr. C. E. Hannan. The same year a Nurses Training School was established. Miss Louisa P. Sims, was appointed superintendent. Her duties began with matters relating to the care and comfort of the patient, to management of all departments from the operating room to the boiler room. All business of the Hospital in any department passed thru her office. Executive duties kept her so busy, the position of matron was opened. An efficient lady, Mrs. Laura Young, Vv as made happy in her work of caring for matters relating to housekeeping. The training course for nurses occupied two years and was under the control of the Training School Com- mittee, who had the privilege of deciding the fitness of the candidates for this work. The nurses wore plain uniforms, and were ranked as assistant nurses their first year. The second year they were to perform any duty assigned to them by the chief nurse, even to head nurse position. How our curriculum has changed. Their training was mostly practical, with few lectures by the physicians. They gained most of their knowledge at the bedside from the local physicians, on their professional visits. At the end of two years the nurses were given a paper signed by the Training School and Hospital Authorities enabling them to choose their own field of nursing. Steady progress was made in the Training School. The graduating class usually ranged from 5 to l5 students. In 1905 the cirruculum was advanced and the training periods extended to three years. In l906 there were additions to the hospital, because CVMH