Salina Post, in partnership with the Smoky Hill Museum, is proud to present Flashback Friday. Enjoy a weekly tidbit of local history from the staff at Salina Post and the Smoky Hill Museum as we present "Salina-Flashback Fridays"
By SALINA POST
We are returning to downtown Salina for this week's Flashback Friday. Last week you might remember we focused on the Salina Fire/Police Station that was built in 1917. This week we are taking a look at one of the predecessors to Salina Regional Health Center, Asbury Hospital.
Named in honor of the "father of American Methodism" Francis Asbury, Asbury Hospital opened its doors to the public for the first time in Oct. of 1921. The hospital was housed in a converted residence located on the southwest corner of Santa Fe Avenue and South Street- the current location of Salina Regional Health Center.
When the hospital opened, it only had $27.80 in funds. The original structure was used as a residence and later a mortuary, before being donated to the Asbury Hospital Association. It housed sixteen beds for patients, quarters for nursing students, a kitchen, an office, and other facilities.
From the beginning, Asbury was usually full and running out of space for patients. Many times there would be patients in the office or in the hallways. When required, a tent was erected in the backyard in order to care for tuberculosis cases and other contagious illnesses.
The first superintendent of Asbury Hospital and School of Nursing was Florence A. Braddick. In 1927, the first permanent building was erected. The brick structure was located next to the residence and added fifty patient beds to the hospital's capacity.
Asbury Hospital was fully accredited and provided "pleasant facilities" demonstrating modern health care and sponsored a school for nurses.
The residential location was only intended to be a temporary home for the hospital until it was able to secure the funding to build a permanent structure.
In 1927, a brick structure was erected on South Street just west of the original hospital.
Private records of nursing students during that time refer to the "annex", a small room off the residence used as a laboratory. Urinalysis and blood counts were done by the doctors and often the nurses helped with the laboratory examinations.
Patients were asked to walk to the operating room on the upper floor as there were no elevators. The operating room was used for deliveries, also.
Early in the 1940s, the demands were such that another addition to the hospital was necessary. The original frame structure was moved to Eighth Street and used as a nurse's residence.
The 1940 addition added only fifteen patient beds but provided needed support facilities, including a new kitchen and adequate office space for business functions.
The growth of Salina during and following World War II created a need for further expansion. In 1951, the present central section of the hospital was completed. Additions in 1963 and 1976 were also completed.
In 1995 St. John's Hospital and Asbury Hospital merged to form Salina Regional Health Center.
The former Asbury Hospital building, now referred to as the hospital's North Entrance is where Veridian Behavioral Health Center is located and the hospital's outpatient wound clinic.
The fourth floor is where the hospital's organizational development department is located. This floor is where hospital staff trains with patient simulators to stay current on certain competencies and certifications.