Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Bossier Parish's First Hospital

Otis Allen Collection: 1998.030.157


Bossier Chamber of Commerce: 1998.047.182
On the front page of the Bossier Press, Wednesday, September 7, 1966, the headline reads “BOSSIER CITY GETS ITS OWN: Local Hospital Opens Doors To Public.”

“Dedication ceremonies for the new $2.5 million Bossier City General Hospital – the first such major medical facility in the history of Bossier Parish – will be held at 2:30 Sunday afternoon, with thousands of proud Bossier residents expected to be on hand.”

“Richard Herrmann, administrator of the new ultra-modern facility, will serve as master of ceremonies of the 30-minute dedication program which will be followed by an open house until 5 p.m.”

“Mayors George L. Nattin of Bossier City and Clyde E. Fant of Shreveport will be on the program, and invitations have been extended to Senators Allen J. Ellender and Russell B. Long and Rep. Joe D. Waggonner, Jr.”

“Also on the program are Charles R. Gage, executive director of the Louisiana Hospital Association; Wyatt L. Kirk, minister of the Airline Church of Christ, who will deliver the invocation; and the Rev. Charles Glorioso, pastor of St. Jude’s Catholic Church, who will give the benediction.”

“Herrmann said the new hospital, located at the intersection of Airline Drive and Shed Road, will begin receiving patients on Sept. 19.”

“More than 100 physicians have been accepted or have applied for positions on the staff of the new hospital, and Mrs. Margie Jordan, director of nurses, said her staff is composed of 37 registered nurses, 26 practical nurses, 35 nurses’ aides and eight orderlies.”
Heads of the various departments on the medical staff include Dr. D. R. Martin, Medicine; Dr. E. B. Robinson, head of the staff and in charge of surgery; Dr. John C. Miciotto, obstetrics and gynecology; Dr. Jean R. Hunter, pediatrics; Dr. William R. Mathews, pathology; Dr. Bruce O. Brian, radiology; and Dr. Robert W. Borders, anesthesiology.”

“Herrmann said the hospital will employ 167 persons, all but four of whom are residents of Bossier City.”

“The new hospital, made possible by a $2.3 million bond issue passed by Bossier City residents in 1963, features the most up-to-date innovations in hospital planning.”

“The facility, designed by Bossier City architect Tom Merideth, was constructed by the McInnis Brothers Construction Co. of Minden at a cost of $1,699,000.”

“Work on the 100-bed hospital got underway on Jan. 18, 1965.”

“The facility includes a 10-bed section described by Herrmann as the ‘only complete care unit in the tri-state area.’”

“The complete care unit – one of the most modern concepts in hospital planning today – features 10 private rooms encircling a nurses’ station. This unit is for coronary, post-operative and other patients requiring intensive care.”

“Another unique feature of the parish’s first hospital is a lighted screen located in the information booth. This screen shows the entire layout of the hospital, and contains lights which blink any time a
malfunction of equipment occurs anywhere in the building. These lights will pinpoint the location of the trouble and will enable attendants to take corrective measures immediately.”

“The hospital has four surgical suites, a six-bed post-operative recovery unit, two delivery rooms, a three-bed maternity ward, which includes three private rooms and six semi-private rooms.”

“The first floor of the facility includes the lobby, 24-hour snack bar, kitchen, cafeteria, business and admitting offices, physical therapy, radiology department, emergency and out-patient department, chapel, medical records division, medical library, central supply, pharmacy, personnel offices, morgue and autopsy facilities, linen supply, general storage area, mechanical equipment and a 38-bed patient wing, including 10 private and 14 semi-private rooms.”

“The second floor will include a doctor’s lounge, separate nurses’ lounge, maternity ward, nursery, operating suites, complete care unit and another 38-bed patient wing.”

To learn more about the history of Bossier Parish visit the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center at 2206 Beckett Street, Bossier City.

By: Amy Robertson

No comments:

Post a Comment