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Description

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Mission
I would like to welcome you to Perry Memorial Hospital on behalf of our Board of Directors Medical Staff and employees While you are here the entire hospital team will strive to make your visit as comfortable and pleasant as possible It is our objective to provide the highest level of quality care and customer service If we do not exceed your expectations please let any member of our team know where we can improve and we will take immediate action to address the opportunity for improvement You may also contact our Patient Advocate at Extension 2252 for further assistance

It is our hope that this information helps you become more familiar with Perry Memorial and the people who will be caring for you or your loved ones It is important for you to understand and participate in your own healthcare When you are informed understand and participate there are many direct benefits to you

We very much appreciate your comments and suggestions Our Customer Service program may provide you with survey forms to complete and return Your feedback is vital to us as we strive to provide you with compassionate quality healthcare and the highest levels of customer service Please visit our Customer Comment Page to see what some of our customers had to say about the care they received at Perry Memorial

The opportunity you have provided us with to help you with your healthcare needs displays the trust you have placed with us We hope that we have exceeded your expectations and you will again utilize us for any future healthcare needs

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History

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Early area healthcare consisted largely of home remedies and traveling medicine men who would periodically visit and advertise their arrival in advance as well as giving information on their qualifications special medical talents magical potions and successes They would also give guarantees of good health Frontier medicine was extremely practiced in this area as was characteristic throughout the US at that time After the first settlers arrived qualified physicians began migrating to Princeton and the surrounding townships around the midnineteenth century They came from the East Coast and large Midwestern cities and Canada as well as from European countries such as England Scotland and Ireland Population expansion religious affiliation and development of industry attracted them to the area By the end of the 1800s the influx of doctors to the county increased significantly and in 1893 the Bureau County Medical Society was chartered with forty physicians as members Although the physicians treated many patients in their offices they would also travel great distances to the homes of patients Occasionally a physician would convert several rooms in his home to house a few acutely ill patients providing them with nursing care and closer medical treatment and supervision It was not until June of 1903 however that a hospital was opened in Princeton Two brothers Drs LD Hickman and HV Hickman who were osteopathic physicians obtained loans and purchased a home on Park Avenue East from Hermas Gray This was to be a resting place for osteopathic patients Their interests were in xray and surgery Expensive and uptodate equipment was purchased However due to personal illness financial problems and lack of support the brothers closed their doors on their hospital after one year of operation

In 1905 the closed institution was purchased privately and successfully operated by a physician named Dr Blackburn who opened it as a private hospital and ran it for three years During that time it received the support of Dr Scott from Princeton and other area physicians Drs Hess and Horner from Tiskilwa and Dr Lewis of DePue Miss Alm was the surgical nurse Miss Sodenberg second nurse and Miss Holmberg third nurse

It next was purchased and privately run by Miss Cox for two more years until an accident patient contracted small pox Nine patients were in the hospital at the time Two nurses also came down with small pox Although it had received support from the community for five years the epidemic of small pox in one of the wards resulted in two deaths and the closing of the facility once again

Julia Rackley Perry
Although Julia Rackley Perry of Malden Illinois had suffered with illness for several years and had required two surgeries prior to her failing health from May 1912 her death was unexpected but peaceful on December 291913 She had been born on June 7 1858 the daughter of George and Calesta Rackley and married Jesse A Perry on October 18 1877 They had one child George Nathan who died at the age of nine years and two days She was devoted to her home a lover of music was active in her churches the Congregational Church of Malden until its closing and the Methodist Church and had many friends In her later years she displayed a deep interest in the immortality of the soul and arduously searched scriptures for light upon life beyond death It was the religious side of her character and her desire to give to others that provided the spirit in which she showed through her will She left a will that provided 25000 to be held in trust and administered by Mabel S Priestly Hubert A Clark and Cairo A Trimble to be held in trust with the income used for the benefit and assistance of worthy poor people in Bureau County Illinois It had the provision that if within five years after her death either the trustees or the City of Princeton IL should make plans for the construction or endowment of a public supported hospital in Princeton that would use the entirety of her funds At that time 25000 was bequeathed for establishing a hospital and the remainder was to be invested by the executor and the income paid to Mrs Perrys husband and upon his death the remainder given to the hospital Other amounts bequested were Jesse A Perry husband homestead and life use of the 25000 aforementioned Christian Childrens Home Council Bluffs IA 5000 Illinois Humane Society 5000 George F Rackley Malden 1000 Freeman Rackley Boone IA 1000 Fred Robbins Barre VT 1000 Florence N Perry Malden 1000 AM Perry Cambridge OH 1000 Sadie Seymoure Chicago IL 1000 Kate H Blackburn missionary 1000 Catherine Carter Malden 500 Hattie Bell Malden 500 and Man Devoe Chicago 500

Hospital Built
The Julia Rackley Perry Memorial Hospital was officially founded on May 29 1916 when an ordinance was passed by the City Council for the establishment and maintenance of a public hospital in the City of Princeton Illinois There was also provision for the appointment of a Board of Directors This action was taken after a great majority of the citizens of Princeton voted in favor of a taxsupported public hospital in April 1916 Two years before the issue had been brought to the people but was defeated

In October 1917 the old hospital property was purchased for 471158 Parker N Berry was the architect and the contract for the building was given to WF Peterson of Chicago on July 25 1918 for 88730 After months of unavoidable delays caused by labor and transportation shortages and innumerable problems that confronted the building committee the hospital finally opened on June 17 1920 ten years after closing in 1910 Conditions became crowded as admissions increased HH Priestly HU Bailey and CA Trimble served as trustees under appointment of the mayor and commissioners of the City of Princeton until 1929 An Advisory Board was formed and named to assist the management of the hospital The seven members appointed by the City Council were Mrs HM McKee Chairman Mrs CA Omen Mrs M J Eggah Miss Mable McClenahan AH Ferris HH Priestley and Mrs SL Bradley The committees were named as follows House Mrs HM McKee Mrs C A Omen Miss Mabel McClenahan Mrs JM Eggan AH Ferris and HH Priestley Ground Mrs S L Bradley Mrs MJ Eggan Mrs Florence Perry HU Bailey and TP Gunning Culinary Mrs CA Omen Mrs MJ Eggan Mrs Florence Perry and Miss Mabel McClenahan Finance Mr Ferris Dr Gunning Mrs McKee Mrs Omen Mrs Bradley Dr Flint and Mr CA Trimble Medical Dr Flint Dr Barrett and Dr FB Schroeder Executive Mr Priestley Mr Trimble and Mr Bailey Room was made for 28 patients and 5 babies Miss Kathryn Pond was superintendent assisted by Miss Teresa Kinsella An informal reception was held to acquaint the public with the hospital however much was still needed to complete the hospital When a request went out to the community for assistance people responded with everything from furniture to live chickens to help out Members of the Needlework Guild voted to devote their annual collection to the hospital and was able to donate 1254 articles of linen Neddy Nedved became the first baby born at Perry and records show that the hospital had 32 admissions within the first two weeks of opening Additional nurses were added to the staff Credit for the success of the hospital was given to Miss Pond for her hard work and wonderful personality The operating room and xray department had the latest equipment However more funds were badly needed several months after the opening and a doortodoor fund drive was held headed by BM Gibbs WO Stevens gave a days receipts from the Apollo Theatre A total of 330677 was raised Valuable aid was given from the Womans Auxiliary of which Mrs CV Fields was president Mrs Emma Carlson was secretary and Mrs CA Best was a chairwoman The Auxiliary work included mending and making curtains bed linens towels table linen gowns and all related supplies They met each week with each church sending workers Success for this project was largely credited to Mrs Florence Perry and Mrs WE Sapp Seventeen elm trees were set out around the hospital drive by the Princeton Post No125 American Legion in memory of 17 area men who had died in the line of duty Memorial rooms were designated as follows First Floor 101 OB Harrauff 109 FC Bollman 100 In Memory of Samuel M Knox 108 Princeton Fire Department Second Floor 100 The English Lutheran Church 202 In Memoriam Lorella B Cushing 201 The Westminster Guild of the Presbyterian Church 204 Kasbeer Junior Household Science Club 205 Mrs Eli Mathis 206 Mrs Watts A Johnson 207 Garner May 208 Heatons Point Household Science Club 209 Congregational Church Guild 211 Mrs CP Gardner 217 Kasbeer Senior Household Science Club

Hospital Damaged by Fire
On December 23 1920 the hospital was damaged to an extent of 1500 The roof of the old building was burned as well as a few rooms The superintendent and nurses handled the emergency with quick fire control from the Fire Department without the patients even knowing until after the fire was extinguished thus preventing panic Insurance covered the loss which was repaired by A Omen Furniture bedding canned fruit and jellies and chickens for Perrys chicken yard were donated throughout the years At that time patients were being brought in from all over the country for operations and treatment Interest in the hospital was spurred greatly by Mrs HM McKee who wrote weekly articles about the hospital for publication in the local newspaper the Republican The hospital become so crowded that it became necessary to occasionally put cots in the ends of the corridors to provide for the overflow It was then the hospital board made the decision to erect a new addition A new eastwing was added to the building and completed July 17 1931 at a cost of 45000 The architect was Schmidt Gardner and Erikson of Chicago and the contract was given to CA Omen Trustees at that time included HU Bailey Josef T Skinner and JC Larson all of whom had been appointed in 1929 The wing was made possible by accumulated interest earnings and gifts from various sources A solarium was provided by the Needlework Guild at a cost of 2000 This was dedicated to the soldiers and sailors of World War I An endowment of 1500 for the upkeep was also given by the same organization Through the efforts of Mrs Carey Johnson two flags an American flag and an American Legion flag were presented by the American Legion and placed on either side of the memorial bronze table at the entrance Harry Swanson gave an electric clock for the solarium as well as three other clocks for various areas of the building The top floor of the new wing was devoted entirely to a maternity unit that included an obstetrical room a nursery and rooms for the mothers The nursery had a soundproof ceiling and was isolated so that patients would not be disturbed when the infants cried The Kasbeer Junior Household Science Club which had always taken a great interest in the nursery sent linen and other gifts and gave 100 for new basinets The first floor was for patients and the basement was made into badly needed nurses quarters The 28bed capacity was increased to 41 beds and 12 bassinets for babies Gifts received were 1923 Chautauqua 100 1925 Mrs Helen G Dayton Estate 1000 1927 HA Clark Estate 200 1929 Mildred E Martin Permanent addition 7000 1929 Mildred E Martin Endowment 3000 1929 JM Stevens Memorial 15000 1935 Viola Mercer 10000 and 1937 Effie W Parker 83369 In 1935 the Rotary Club of Princeton decorated and refurnished the reception room at the entrance of the Hospital Mrs CC Barrett and Mrs OV Shaffer are to be credited with decorating this muchused room In 1937 a need for further expansion was identified and a grant was secured from the Federal Government for 22900 conditional upon raising the additional funds by the City to make a total of 50000 A municipal bond issue of 13000 was approved by voters of the City and the balance of 14100 was raised from gifts and City funds In 1938 a west wing hospital addition was completed but not equipped It included nine additional beds new operating rooms preparatory rooms xray room laboratory and other needed space By October 1939 the entire project was completed and included new xray and sterilization equipment and surgical rooms the conversion was made of the old original hospital building at the rear into the nurses quarters and kitchen Funds were made available from the Federal government the City of Princeton and shortterm loans made possible by citizens who were repaid in later years

1940 1960 Decades of Challenge and Change
The next twenty years were crucial in the hospitals development Changes had to be made in order to keep up with the increasing demands of medical care More facilities including beds were needed In 1950 an extensive financial drive was conducted throughout the City and Bureau County A total of over 300000 was raised and these funds together with many other special gifts which had been received by the hospital made possible the remodeling of the center wing and the construction of an addition to the east wing which was completed in 1954 This increased the capacity of the hospital to 66 beds and 16 bassinets and added new administrative offices xray and laboratory facilities

When yet another expansion needed to be done to keep up with the rising needs and technology contributions and pledges in a similar drive in 1959 totaled another 300000 The funds were used for the construction of the new 44bed wing Construction was completed that same year and in the process of construction the original house that served as a hospital had to be razed The 1960s brought on an accelerated chain of events In view of the growing need for improvements and additions the need to a new facility became obvious There were two phases of development The building was completed in 1969 A basement and two floors were occupied in 1969

The third floor was completed in 1976 for a surgical inpatient unit providing a total bed capacity of 105 The Medical Office Building completed during the summer of 1978 adjoins the hospital on the north side along Park Avenue East The 1978 buildings cost was 32 million The Department of Health Education and Welfare granted 934000 and a loan in the amount of 1790000 was received from the Farmers Home Administration of the Department of Agriculture The balance was funded by contributions and money from the hospitals operating fund This facility now houses Medical Rehabilitation Perry Home Medical Supply Physicians Offices Bureau Valley Hospice and the Hospitals Administrative Office

Growth and Change
During the 60s and 70s the hospital was enriched with an influx of new physicians from various fields of medicine Since that time Perry has over 80 physicians on staff with specialties that include allergy and asthma anesthesiology cardiology emergency medicine family practice gastroenterology general surgery gynecology internal medicine nephrology obstetrics oncology ophthalmology orthopedics pathology pediatric cardiology pediatrics physiatry podiatry pulmonology radiology and urology

A new 65 Million Emergency DepartmentOutpatient Services wing and renovation Phase I was completed and opened in December 2005 Phase II construction which consisted of transforming and renovating the old Emergency Department into an Outpatient Pre and Post Surgical area was completed in May 2007 Phase III construction is complete and included a new Hospital Chapel renovation of the main lobby which provides better handicap accessibility and the refurbishing of the Business Office and Hospital Cafeteria The Auxiliary Gift Shop was relocated in the main lobby and has a wide selection of new inventory A conference room on the lower level was enlarged for additional meeting space and mechanical equipment was upgraded The canopy at the main entrance of the hospital was also given an updated and fresh look Perrys next phase of construction will consist of the renovation of patient rooms on second floor A start date for this construction has not yet been set

Perry Plaza which is currently owned by the hospital has offices that are currently being leased out to the Bureau County Health Department Bureau Marshall Putnam Special Education Department of Child and Family Services Access Services and North Central Behavioral Health Systems Perrys industrial linen services business is also housed in that building

Services at Perry include the Perry Memorial Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic Medical Rehabilitation Department which offers Physical Occupational and Speech Therapy Sports Medicine Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab Aquatic Therapy Continence Therapy Lymphedema Therapy and more a fullservice Laboratory Radiology Department with the latest radiological equipment Sleep Center new and larger Emergency Department addition Womens Healthcare Unit Respiratory Care Surgical Services Special Procedures Center which includes both an Endoscopy Unit and Pain Clinic for treatment of chronic pain through such methods as RFA radio frequency ablation and much more

Additionally Perry Memorial Hospital has been able to take advantage of an offer that was made to small rural hospitals in order to receive better reimbursement under Medicare By applying for and receiving the designation of a Critical Access Hospital Perry has been able to receive cost based reimbursement for Medicare patients hospital expenses Previously Medicare had been paying approximately just 37 cents on the dollar to the hospital While the hospital is licensed for 89 beds this designation requires that the inpatient hospital census usually be restricted to 25 patients However that number does not include patients in observation ER new babies and other such arrangements Special designations can also be made during times of outbreaks of flu inclement weather that prohibits a previously scheduled discharge of patients etc Because of this designation a larger demographic base of patients enhanced patient services and technology and cost containment Perry is experiencing unprecedented growth and is looking to the future to be ready for an even larger trend in outpatient services Through technology advanced procedures and patients wishes for a return to home after treatment it is expected that the future will continue to bring added growth in outpatient areas