As we look back on how the hospital's roots have built a foundation in our community, we can't help but appreciate how the hospital got its start. Our community literally started from the ground up and used its own resources, funds and connections to create what we have today. Here's a glimpse of the hospital's first 5 years...
Long before HIPAA was a gleam in the eye of Congress, the
local papers contained "hospital notes" giving the names of hospital
patients and their health status. You could also tune into the local radio station, where patients names were read. From these notes we find the first major
surgery at Community Hospital which took place the week of Nov. 17, 1949. It was an appendectomy. And of course, we
can't forget our hospital's first baby, Bill Smith of Fairfax. He was one of
three babies born the first week of the hospital's operation.
There were also big headlines in February of 1950 when the
hospital purchased its first portable x-ray. Funds were provided by the
Atchison County branch of the American Cancer Society.
In June of 1950, the hospital announced that its 500th
patient had been admitted. In that same time, 60 babies had been born. The June
24, 1950 edition of the Fairfax Forum relates,
"The number of patients that have used the
facilities of the hospital is evidence aplenty that
the establishment of the hospital here is more than justified. There have been instances where there is little doubt
that lives have been saved because the hospital service was at hand. No doubt other instances could be noted
where the availability of the
hospital prevented illness or caused it to be less serious. The satisfaction to
both patients and their
relatives in being near home during their illness has no doubt been a large factor in speedier recover, to say
nothing of the large amount of money saved by not
being compelled to make long trips and several days visits to hospitals in
other places."
The community had ceased to be no less appreciative of the
efforts made to build a hospital as they celebrated 5 years of operation in
1954. The program for the 5 year anniversary celebration states:
"Not until Fairfax was left without a medical
doctor in the late 40s did the full force of the situation hit the community. Through the years young
doctors would come to the community,
establish a good practice, only to leave for towns where hospital facilities were located. The answer seemed to be
"Build Our Own Hospital" but how?"
With the help of the Fairfax Kiwanis Club, the community
pulled up their bootstraps and built the hospital with their own funds. This
effort received both local and national acclaim. In the May 1951 issue of Readers Digest, Fairfax Community
Hospital received mention for their efforts to build a hospital and
successfully recruit physicians.
In 1954, the hospital celebrated its 5 year anniversary with
the news that expansion was needed. It was decided to add onto the original
building about 70 feet to the east. The second story would provide 8 private
and two double rooms, increasing the number of beds by 12, making a total of 60
adult beds in all. The lower story would be used for offices and storage. S. J.
Petersen was in charge of the construction work.
Such a positive first 5 years was just the beginning of how Community Hospital-Fairfax would continue to prove it was a perfect fit in Northwest Missouri.
Join us soon for another stroll down memory lane and please feel free to share your memories or connections in the comments section.
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