For a print edition, please contact the editor of our Special Publications, Jennifer Mertz.
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STORY INDEX Service still most important product at Ligonier Telephone Co. A black and white sensation: Tiny Screens a big attraction in early years of television A man works from sun to sun, but a woman's work is never done Indiana Extension Homemakers better the lives of families Small towns once supported their own movie theaters William Jennings Bryan among among orators at Rome City's Western Chautauqua Dr. David Rogers - Man of mystery, and benevolence DNR restoration programs working: Once abundant wildlife returning to area Rise of girls athletics have changed face of school sports Decades of intramurals: Ruth was greatest player ever: Frick Frick's predictions for 2000 not far off Small Wolf Lake big winner in 1942 basketball regional Four in a row: Finally with a gym of their own, KHS cagers went to 'Sweet 16' four straight years Ink to flow into 21st century at county's newspapers Broadcast media: Manahan was pioneer in Noble County broadcasting WAWK's history dates back to 1959 Health trends: Changes through the century occurred in medicine, health care Scarlet fever, polio were early health scares From sanitarium to partnership: A century of Noble County's medical care Funeral directors ran ambulance service in county prior to '74 'EMS arrives in time for '74 tornado LaGrange County doctors once made house calls by horseback Country doctor delivered babies in his home and drove a Thunderbird Service to mankind condensed to footnotes of history Who are the people of the Amish faith? Two controversial religious sects from the 1970's have impact on Noble County Churches with rich heritages served parishioners in LaOtto, Ege
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Health Trends Changes through
the century occurred in medicine, health care
Before 1985, fund-raisers were frequently held and federal
aid funded the county hospital. In a contract with the county for 35 years, VenCare is to
continue to provide upgraded acute care hospital services. It
has embarked upon a building program intended not only to increase
the practicality of the hospital but also make it an attractive
setting for county residents and other patrons to share in the
LaGrange County Hospital tradition of "neighbors caring
for neighbors." The LaGrange County Hospital was opened in 1950 with 34 beds.
A new wing was added in 1971 which was to house the medical
floor and increased the bed capacity to 62. The hospital remained successful under the board of trustees
and administrator Edythe Gappinger for many years. As changes in medicine occurred, trends in health care changed.
Under Elsie Willard's administration in 1974, LaGrange County
Hospital was the first in the state to have permanent emergency
room coverage by a physician. In 1975, ambulance service, which was previously provided
by area funeral directors, became a hospital service. The ambulance
service is now being operated by the county. Escrow from the
original sale of the hospital to VenCare Inc. is used to fund
the service. Willard, administrator of the LaGrange County Hospital from
1974 until its sale to VenCare Inc. in 1985, stated, "Medicare
laws required small hospitals to be affiliated with teaching
hospitals. Changes in the small county hospitals would require
renovations and added equipment. Now larger hospitals are sending
out specialists to the small regional hospitals and clinics but
that was not the trend in 1985. The larger hospitals had the
staff and the equipment." "Things needed to be done." Dr. John Egli, a physician
on the staff in 1985, reported of the change in ownership. "County
ownership now became absentee ownership. Changes in medicine
necessitated those changes. Where would the LaGrange County Hospital
have been without Vencor?" Vencor Hospital-LaGrange has recently renovated and expanded
its services to include an updated physical therapy department
and sleep disorder clinic. Several out-patient and in-patient surgeries are performed
at the hospital as well as speciality clinics, radiology mammography
services, computerized axial tomography (CAT), magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) and Ultrasound; and VenCare Occupational Health
Services: 24-hour-seven-day-physician coverage; and also, community
education, nutritional counseling, and discharge planning/social
services. According to Egli, Vencor has the highest in the state of
percentage of physicians being State Board Certified in their
specialties. And what of the future of Vencor? Joe Murrell, administrator at Vencor Hospital-LaGrange, has
released a statement in light of the national Vencor Inc. chain's
recent filing for federal bankruptcy protection. The chain, which now operates 300 nursing homes and 38 hospitals,
cited rising debts due to declining Medicare fees in filing for
Chapter 11 protection in Delaware. "To provide care for people who cannot take care of themselves
is why this facility exists, and we have an unwavering commitment
to delivering quality care to those people whose health and well-being
is entrusted to us," said Murrell. "Vencor, like other long-term care companies, is facing
serious challenges, including decreased federal reimbursements
and corporate debt. While our board of directors has elected
to restructure our debt through a filing for reorganization,
it is important to separate this issue from the daily operation
of this facility," he continued. "Throughout the period of reorganization, we will continue
to pay our employees and vendors and maintain appropriate staffing
and supply levels, as well as the physical condition of our facility. "We are your neighbors, your friends and your devoted health care professionals committed to delivering the quality services and compassionate care this community deserves and expects. We do not intend to allow any issue to compromise the care we provide for our patients and residents every day," Murrell concluded. |
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