The Sanitarium Work in Washington, D. C.
By H. N. Sisco
THE Washington Sanitarium can report success and progress for the year 1911. The spiritual life of the institution we believe is good. Because of the faithful and consecrated work on the part of the nurses and helpers, many expressions of appreciation have come to us from our guests who have received their kindly ministration. Work of this kind is the only legitimate cause for the existence of our medical work. Our added and efficient Bible instruction in class work this year, culminating in the week-of-prayer services, has brought into our training-school, and is keeping in it, an excellent spirit. Considerable work has been done by the physicians in the way of health lectures, demonstrations, etc., in the city of Washington. Just now a health school is in progress in connection with the W. C. T. U., which is very much appreciated. We believe this outside educational work should be a part of the mission of every sanitarium. Our former nurses’ dormitory has been remodeled and equipped as a hospital, having offices, treatment-rooms, kitchen, dining-room, and all modern conveniences. This will increase our efficiency in caring for patients, and will also enable more patients to avail themselves of sanitarium treatment. During the past year, our undergraduate men nurses have had the privilege of a period of service in one of the hospitals of the city; and more recently arrangements have been made with the largest emergency hospital in Washington to take our postgraduate nurses for a similar term of service. This work is reported as excellent by those who have already completed their time at the hospital. Very recently the large government hospital near us has granted our men nurses the opportunity of being present at all operations performed there, and thus our ordinary sanitarium work is being supplemented by this extra work, mostly surgical in nature. Our patronage for the past year shows a substantial gain over the previous one. Four hundred different patients have been with us, each one remaining on the average five and one-half weeks. Fifteen thousand treatments have been given in the institution during the year. A good amount of surgery has been done also. This department of our work is building up well. The Branch Sanitarium in the city is also prospering. Thirty-one hundred treatments were given there during the year. Eighty-three patients were entertained. Dr. Margaret Evans, recently of California, is now resident physician there, and the patronage, both in the house and in the bath-rooms, is good. We are thankful for the blessings of the year that is past, and are entering with courage upon the present year.