The following speech was given by drsm Margaret ^nderson
a member of the board of dis-efctors of the Kenai Peninsula
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Public Utility District No. 1 and the chairman of the hospi
tal committee, over the Hauer Radio Station Tuesday, January
23, 1956..
As of December 31, 1955, we,yas citizen^ of the Kenai Pen
insula PUD No* 1, have invested $19,500.85 in the Honer Hos
pital-Health Center and have obligated ourselves for an addi
tional $10,000 which will be paid in 1956, making our tptal
investment in the project $29,500.85. The test of whether or
not this is a sound investment lies in the Utilization of the
facility. although the 1956 budget of the Utility District
has not been approved in its entirety as yet, the portion
dealing with the hospital-health center has tentatively oeen
approved as follows;
1. Utilities
a. Fuel Oil
b. Electrical Service
c. Telephone Service
d. Chemicals for water
$ 900.00
900,00
120.00
treatment
100.00
Total for Utilities
$2,020.00
2.. Building and Grounds
maintenance and repairs
3. Insurance
$1,750,00
$1j 200,00
970.00
TOTAL
You will note that the above includes all of the fixed ex
penses, those which we will have whether the building is in
use or not. Again, the test of whether or not this is a •
sound expenditure of our tax money lids in the utilization of
the facility*
In a pre-election radio address I gave on April 7* 1955* I
said the following: "With the financial obligations already
incurred on the Health Center project, and with our future .
responsibility for its solvent operation, I cannot foresee
‘ any possibility of the PUD initiating any further project^ in
the predictable future. If elected, I pledge myself to do
everything legally and ethically possible to make a function
ing Health Center in Homer a reality." In the interim be
tween April 7, 1955* and today my philosophy remains unchang
ed. 1 feel it would bolster the morale of the community if
we had one project which would be a source of pride to us all
The hospital-health center has the potential for being just
such a project. I feel I have lived up to my campaign pledge
"to do everything legally and ethically possible to make a
functioning health center in Homer a reality.11 If I were to
re-write that I would now say, "legally, .ethically, and hum
anly possible." The job is not complete, and, unfortunately,
I alone do not have it in my power to complete it.
Cn November 22, 1955* at a joint meeting of the board * of
directors of the PUD and the hospital advisory board, I was
nominated to serve as chairman of the advisory board, it
being.the recommendation of the Territorial Health Department
that a member of the PUD board serve in this capacity. I was
willing to accept this nomination sinco.it was felt by the
directors that I could serve most effectively in view of my
familiarity with the problem and personal interest in it.
Since I became chairman of the advisory board, we have held
weekly meetings, with the exception of Christmas week. The
following resolution as endorsed by the advisory?'board on
December 7, and approved by the PUD board of directors on De
cember 12, sets forth the function of the advisory board:
"de it resolved that the Homer Hospital advisory Board
be authorized to adminstrate the affairs of the Homer
Hospital-Health Center from this date forth and through
the calendar year 1956, subject to the approval %he
- PUD board. Administrate is hereby defined *as having *
complete authority to act and control operation of said t
Hospital. A monthly report is to be furnished the di
rectors on the first meeting of each month and any oth
er reports as requested by the directors, provided rea
sonable time is given Advisory Board to prepare saijje."
The first project Which the hospital board undertook was :
to prepare a radio and press release on the hospital-health
center project for the purpose of giving widespread publicity
to the fact that Homer was seeking a doctor. On December 6,
1955* the release was mailed to 6J4 newspapers,radio stations,*
medical associations* hospitals* and doctors. As a direct
result of this press"release, we have had two referrals—one
from the American Medical Association Placement Bureau, and
one from Dr. Phillips in Seward. Our follow-up correspon
dence on these two referrals is unacknowledged up to the
present time. Dr. Jackson of Anchorage volunteered to aid us
in locating a doctor; however, to date we have had no refer
rals through him. It was recently brought to our attention
that the Anchorage Medical Society might be in a position to
help us, and letters have been written to this Society* as
well as the Alaska Medical Association and the Territorial
Health Department. The hospital board is* in fact, exploring
every possibility toward locating a doctor.
Recently, a personal friend of mine associated with the
"Citizens of Greater Chicago" contacted by phone Dr. LeRoy^ at
Billings Hospital at the University of Chicago regarding this
Homer opening for a doctor* He stated that he would have to
know much more about the position-in order to recommend the
right person for the job. On puj^behalf, my friend also .con-?,
tacted The Medical Bureau 'Chicago, and the of
this institution has written us as follows: "Occasionally we
do hear of men interested in klaskan openings, but before we
institute a search for candidates, we wonder if it would be
possible for you to send*us more * infoimati on regarding this
opportunity*" I point out these remarks for the obvious rea
son that they dhow -that we cannot isolate the ^problem of
finding a doctor from our financial program as relates to the
hospital* The concrete inforation we can furnish a prospec
tive doctor hinges largely upon what financial backing we are
in a position to produce* Therefore, the problems of finding
a doctor and a sound financial program go hand-in-haid and
must be dealt with simultaneously*
The Hospital Fund Drive i/h ich is being inaugurated this
week and vfoich has been outlined in a letter to each of you
has a dual purpose* first, to raise money and second, to
measure, by means of the response, thw confidence of the peo
ple in this *project. The plan is, of course, an experiment*
.Whether the plan will be used again next year, or be changed,
or expanded, .or abandoned, will be dependent upon our exper
ience with it* me must have the experience in order to com
pile statistics by which we can anticipate what percentage of
all the contributors will become in-patients at the hospital
during-the year thereby, in effect, having their contribution
returned in'.the form of hospitalization. If this percentage
is, too high, the plan as a means of covering the operational
deficit will be negative*
Some of you are no doubt wondering how we have arrived at
an estimated* operational deficit. This could only be done by
setting., up a hypothetical situation and is based, in pari, on
:certain information furnished'us by Dr, Provonsha. In addi
tion to the funds to be appropriated by the PUD for fixed ex
penses, we have estimated that’ it will require $5,810,80 to
cover the deficit resulting from operating the facility as a
hospital. This is based on the premise that there will be 1
patient in the hospital 75$ of the time; 2 patients in the
hospital 15$ of the time; 3 patients in the hospital 7$ of
^the times . and 0 patients in the hospital 3% of the time.
This is further based on *the premise that the doctor will
furnish one nurse;, and that the hospital will hipe. two shifts
of nurses at such times as there is a patient in the hospital,
ho nurses are intended to be hired by the hospital when there
are no patients, —It might'be noted that under.this plan the
one-patient operation isathe most costly. According to Dr,
Provonsha, we may aticipale an average of one patient in the
..hospital at all.times, RecogniJSng then that it is to our
advantage to be prepared to serve the’ maximum number of pa
tients which we might diave the -'‘•opportunity to serve at a
given time, we have combined the-doctor's office and examina
tion room and mil use the room gained thereby for a private
hospital room. This, in addition to the originally planned
semi-private room enables us to •accommodate three patients.
The hospital is being adequately equipped with the best
quality equipment available, through the fund established by
tor* and Mrs. Edward E. Bartlett, Prior to the establishment
of this fund* Mr..^Bartlett solicited my end »r«<«oent of this
project being a just and worthy causo. ‘ As a personal friend
of tor. and Mrs, Bartlett, and as-a member of the PUD board of
directors, I assured theBartletts that the cause was a
worthy one; and I have assumed full responsibility for seeing
tp it that the money is wisely spent aid for the purposes .in
tended,- \At one time Mr. Bartlett said to me, UI believe that
you are having a harder*time spending the money than I* had
making-it," ' At the time I thought the statement was exagger
ated, but today, after devoting literally* hundreds of hours
to the task, !I am‘beginning to think that Mr. Bartlett may
have been rightl , Over 275 separate items of equipment and
supplies in various qiantities have"been ordered.
I Yjould like to repeal:,, in part, the brief address I made
at the openhouse held at the hospital-health center iasl fall,
"My first presentation is to 'the people of Homer. I pre
sent us With the challenge of fulfilling the obligation
and responsibility Yhich we assumed vhen we accepted the
generous gift made by Mr, and Mrs. Bartlett, May our
true token of gratitude manifest itself through the suc
cess of this institution, to vhich we pledge ourselves•"
No doubt I have failed to touch upon all the points con
cerning the hospital which you are interested in knowing
about. Please feel free to contact me or any member of the
* hospital advisory board to discuss further any aspect of the
'situation. I am asking that you talk this matter over—with
• your; fdmili&sy* with your friends, and neighbors—and on
Thursday, January 26, I will b e at the PUD office from 10
a,m. until 2 p.m. to answer any questions and to accept your
contributions; In accordance- with the letter sent to ; you
your contributions may also be mailed. Checks should be made
payable to the Hcmer-Hospital-Health Center Fund. A receipt
will, of course, be sent to you. /<e are asking you to give
what your pocketbooks will withstand and what your hearts
dictate.
In closing, I had planned to tell you that my husband and #
I would consider it a privilege to have receipt No, 1 issued
to us; • but before we had our check made out, a member of the
: hospital board delivered a check to me made payable to the
Homer -Hospital-Health v Center Fund so now it appears we will
have ‘to satisf^ ourselves with Receipt No. 2.
Thank you" f or listening and good evening*