Page Hospital served Sandpoint for many years
I was walking by the old Page House not long ago. I stopped, and as I looked at the house that Dr. Ones F. Page had built; I wondered about the man, and what the hospitals were like during his time. I would like to share with you some of the things that transpired, many years ago.
It was on May 23, 1903, that the Northern Idaho News heralded the opening of Sandpoint's second hospital by stating, "Dr. Ones F. Page established a hospital in the residence of Alex and Rosa Piatt at 719 N. Third Avenue." This latest hospital was about 50 yards from the building that housed the Sandpoint hospital of Dr. Nathan Goddard. Mrs. Piatt was the hospital matron in charge of the care of six or seven patients, about half the number that could be cared for at the Goddard site. Page had the same insurance coverage, as did Goddard, by offering to the public a ticket that covered a person for 12 months for $12. This covered the holder to medical treatment, surgery, hospitalization, and medicine for a year, without additional charge.
Both hospitals, closed their doors in June 1904, and for the next few months, Sandpoint did not have a hospital. In 1905, Dr. C.W. Slusser opened a hospital at 403 N. Third Avenue. He later complained that he was handicapped in trying to practice in a building not suited for a hospital and he made plans to build a new one. The Pend d'Oreille Review on Jan. 31, 1907, said, "Dr. and Mrs. C.W. Slusser will leave this week for Chicago …" He did not return to Sandpoint, and the hospital was never built. In the meantime, Dr. Page and Dr. Malcolm McKinnon were doing surgery in the home of William Costello, with Mrs. Costello acting as matron.
In the year 1906, the construction of the Page Hospital began. It was to be located at 514 N. Second Avenue and would cost about $5,000. On Thursday, Dec. 20, 1906, the Pend d'Oreille Review carried the following article, "The Page Hospital, opposite the Farmin residence, will be a big affair. Dr. O.F. Page expects to occupy it by Feb. 1. It contains a total of 27 rooms, with four halls and occupies three floors, and a basement. It is steam heated throughout, and has sewage connection through a private line to the creek." In 1908, the Page Hospital was reorganized and the name changed to "City Hospital." Drs. McKinnon, Warner, Patterson, and Page used the building for their patients, and a Miss King was the matron.
The Page, later The Commun-ity, or City Hospital, trained many young ladies to fill the role of nurses in the facility. Their duties varied as can be seen by the instructions given to Florence Hawkins, when she was a nurse at the hospital in 1922.
A few things for nurses to remember:
? Nurses are not allowed to visit in patient rooms or the ward when off duty.
? Nurses must be in uniform when on duty.
? Shoes to have rubber heels.
? Nurses to leave 6 & 4 o'clock temperature list on desk.
? Night nurses not allowed company when on duty.
? Day nurses must see that all soiled linen is taken to laundry & all garbage emptied before leaving floor at night, and night nurses before leaving in morning.
? When patient is admitted, leave patient name & address with Dr. name (if contract patient, company name) on my desk.
? When patient is discharged, leave chart made up to hour of discharge, with discharge slip on my desk.
? All charts to be printed. Great care should be taken in keeping charts.
? Night nurse to clean surgery the night before operating.
? All operative cases to have urine examined before going to surgery.
? Night nurses to see that all company leaves patient rooms and lights out at 9 p.m.
? Nurses to be in their rooms at 10:30 p.m., unless late permission is given. Late permission to be asked for by 7 p.m.
Over the years, Sandpoint's "hospitals" came and went. Some lasted longer than others, but the one at 514 N. Second Avenue, the Page Hospital, provided care for the community for 44 years. It was torn down to make room for the Bonner County General Hospital that opened at 502 N. Third Avenue in 1951.