In January 1913, the Loma Linda College of Medical Evangelists (CME) Constituency held a special meeting to take advantage of the fact that the General Conference Committee was meeting in Mountain View, California, January 19 to 25.
Board Chair George Irwin followed up with some powerful words to emphasize the mounting pressure: “The question of the continuance of our medical school must be met fairly and squarely at this time. A medical school must be chartered under existing laws which are based upon certain definite requirements for imparting a medical education. These laws dictate and supervise the course of study, the efficiency of the Faculty, Laboratory equipment, library advantages, Hospital facilities, and the Dispensary advantages that must be provided.”
Ruble then reported that from the previous year’s accreditation survey of laboratory courses representing the first two years, the school would have merited a position high in Class B. However, because CME had identified itself as providing a complete course, and because it lacked at least half of the facilities needed—a hospital and outpatient clinic—the survey proclaimed it deficient. Ruble then confronted the Board by emphasizing the urgency of the matter in the strongest words possible: This means death to our college unless immediate steps are taken to provide what is necessary for giving a thorough medical course. One year has already passed since this matter was placed before this board, and what we see today was fully prophesied at that time. The question now before us is, Are we to make good in establishing this medical college? If so the Hospital must be built at once.”
In addition to the hospital, Ruble reiterated the immediate need to provide outpatient facilities for the school, and projected his vision of possible rewards: “With these two most important features provided, in addition to what we have, there is no reason why our school should not be rated sufficiently high to admit our students to any of the State Examining Boards when they have completed their course.
To emphasize the fact that the institution’s administrators were doing all they could with limited resources, Dr. Ruble then reported that CME had opened temporary hospital facilities on Monday, October 28, 1912. The southwest cottage on the east crest of the hill with eight rooms accommodated up to ten patients. One room was used as an office and one for examinations, dressings, and clinics.
To promote these facilities, administrators sent announcement cards, giving purpose, rates, and names of the members of the staff, to ministers, church leaders, and other workers in the Pacific Union Conference. They also promoted the temporary facility to the physicians of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties and to prominent officers of religious, fraternal, and philanthropic societies in these two counties.
Ruble then provided statistics from the temporary hospital through January 1913. As we can see, times have changed. Seventeen patients had been admitted. Care totaled 134 hospital days, averaging nearly 18 days for each person. Revenue was $205.15, including $57.50 for operating room fees. The average receipt for a hospital day, excluding surgery fees, was $1.15 per patient.
The Constituency responded to the need for a permanent hospital the next day, January 28, 1913: “We hereby approve of the plan of the Hospital…and authorize its construction at a cost not to exceed $20,000, including furnishings, and recommend that the Board arrange at once for the extensive solicitation of gifts for the erection of the building, and that this work be carried on by solicitors appointed by the Board….”
By request of CME’s administration, a commission appointed by the General Conference Committee interviewed department heads and managers to investigate the financial status of the institution and rendered its findings. Subsequently, the institution underwent a reorganization in order to increase efficiency and reduce its cost of operations.
Report, Commission appointed by the General Conference Committee to investigate the financial condition of the Loma Linda College and Sanitarium: “The cost of labor being greater than all other expenses combined in the operation of the institution, we recommend for departmental use a system of time reporting involving the daily marking by the head of each department of all time served under his direction; exercising as great care as if he were to pay for it from his own pocket.”
To encourage conservation of supplies and electricity, the commission asked management to maintain a continual educational program for everyone, including students, physicians, nurses, teachers, and the “family of helpers.” They observed that, in some instances, one manager could lead two departments.
In looking at every potential saving, they even recommended that administrators seek lower rates of interest on notes of indebtedness. With two and a half employees for each patient, the commission recommended a reduction of personnel in the Sanitarium. They recommended that rates for nursing service and physician’s services be increased and that the Sanitarium be spruced up in order to attract increased patronage.
Regarding the culinary department, the commission recommended that the institution purchase food in bulk, or at least in large cartons at greatly reduced prices. They noted that increased water in some areas of the farm would increase alfalfa productivity by three or four cuttings. They recommended that the laundry accept outside patronage. Of the 90 telephones on campus, only three were paid for by the parties served. They recommended that revenue be sought from at least some of the users to help cover the maintenance costs.
Finally, the commission recommended that a representative committee, who would guard against all extravagant expenditures, supervise construction of the new hospital and the purchase of its equipment.
On February 27, 1913, the Board voted to reinstate hospital construction beginning the first of March, and that the work be pushed as rapidly as funds were received.
To be continued….