The Wreck of the Andrea Doria

Tom Kelly, a survivor of the Andrea Doria shipwreck, gave a presentation to the Lake Superior Elders on July 23, 2013.  The Andrea Doria was a representation of Italian national pride.  It was built with safety in mind. The wreck occurred on July 25, 1956 and was the result of one ship, the Stockholm, ramming into the Andrea Doria at the Starboard side which caused the boat to lean severely to starboard and left half of the lifeboats unusable. The efficiency of the ship’s design permitted it to stay afloat for 11 hours after it was struck.  The professional behavior of the crew, improvements in communications and the rapid response of other ships prevented a disaster of large proportions. Fifty-two people lost their lives as a result of this accident, 51 people died from the immediate impact and another person died from other causes as a result of the accident.  This incident remains the worst shipwreck disaster to occur in United States waters which surprisingly occurred only 45 miles offshore near the coast of Nantucket.  The event and its repercussions were heavily covered in the media and an investigation occurred to determine what caused the accident.

The Andrea Doria was 697 feet long and a gross register tonnage of 29,100.  It still amazes me that these massive structures can stay afloat.  The ship could reach a top speed of 26 knots.  The Andrea Doria was not the largest or the fastest vessel in the 1950s, the fastest and largest were the RMS Queen Elizabeth and the SS United States.  The famous Italian architect, Minoletti designed the ship for luxury.  Because it sailed in warmer waters, it was the first ship to be featured with three outdoor swimming pools for each class of passengers, first class, cabin class and tourist class.  The ship was capable of accommodating 1,241 passengers and 563 crew members.  The Andrea Doria was considered one of the most beautiful ocean liners of its time along with RMS Queen Elizabeth and the RMS Queen Mary. 

Because of Kelly’s details and the way he gave the presentation created an atmosphere of being there with him at the shipwreck. He explained his preparation for his rescue from getting dressed, grabbing his passport and waiting to be saved.  When he was rescued and arrived in New York they were surprised he had his passport. His passport picture was placed in one of the books that were written about this accident.  Kelly was returning to the states after attending training in Italy to become a priest.  When he reached land he was asked to give last rights to some of the survivors that were in serious physical condition.  He stated how his training provided him with preparation for handling crisis situations.  He told the audience how some of the people who were saved kept stating that they paid for first class and needed to be treated as such. 

There were several years of litigation to determine the fault. Both shipping lines contributed to a settlement for the victims.  Each line incurred it own damages caused by the accident. Both lines were insured by the same company.  An out of court settlement ended the disputes. The Swedish-American Line accrued $2 million for repairs to the Stockholm’s bow and lost business while it was being repaired.  The Italian Line accumulated $30 million in damages, the entire ship.  There were various reasons given concerning why the accident occurred:

1.       The Andrea Doria’s officers did not follow proper radar procedures.

2.      The Andrea Doria’s personnel did not follow proper “rules of the road.”

3.      Captain Calamai of the Andrea Doria was speeding through fog as was common for passenger lines.

4.      The Stockholm and Andrea Doria were experiencing different weather conditions.  Before the accident the Stockholm was not experiencing fog until it reached the area where the Andrea Doria was at.

5.      The Andrea Doria’s fuel tanks were half empty and not pumped with seawater ballast in order to stabilize the ship.  The ship was top heavy when it was struck.

6.      There was a missing watertight door between the bulkheads near the engine room, which  contributed to the Andrea Doria’s problems.

7.      The Stockholm’s navigating officer misread his radar thinking it was on a 15 mile setting when it happened to be set on a 5 mile setting.

As a result of this accident, there were several rule changes such as shipping lines were required to improve training on the use of radar equipment and approaching ships were required to make radio contact with one another.

Diving to recover artifacts from the Andrea Doria has resulted in additional loss of life.  Sixteen scuba divers have lost their lives.  Strong currents and heavy sediment can reduce visibility.  The depth is another cause.  With the wreck slowly collapsing, the top of the wreck is at 190 feet.  An invisible web of fishing lines can easily snag scuba gear. 

Several books have been written about the Andrea Doria:

Collision Course: The Story of the Collision Between the Andrea Doria and the Stockholm by Alvin Moscow

Saved: the Story of the Andrea Doria – The Greatest Rescue in History by William Hoffer

Desparate Hours:  The Epic Rescue of the Andrea Doria  by Richard Goldstein

Shadow Divers  by Robert Kurson

Alive on the Andrea Doria:  The Greatest Sea Rescue in History  by Pierette Domenica Simpson,  a survivor

Survivors went through their lives with a variety of experiences.  Kelly still remembers the crunching metal sounds.  Captain Calamai never accepted another command. He was saddened by the experience for the rest of his life.  Most of the officers returned to active duty on the sea.  Some of the survivors suffered mental health problems for years after the accident.  Others felt the experience helped them place more value on their lives, life was considered more precious.  Some of the survivors stay in touch through a newsletter and there have been reunions and memorial services. 

Klondike Gold Rush

Before the arrival of Europeans in the Yukon region, the tribal people residing in the northwest America traded copper nuggets.  Most of the tribes were aware of the gold in existence; but gold was not valued by them.  The Russians and the Hudson Bay Company had both explored the Yukon during the first half of the 19^th century, but ignored the rumors about gold.  They were in favor of fur trading, which offered more readily available profit.  They needed to rely on fur trading to survive.  After the 1850s American prospectors began to arrive in the Yukon area.  These prospectors made deals with the Native Tlingit and Tagish tribes which in turn succeeded in opening up the Chilkoot and White Pass trails between the years of 1870 and 1890.  The miners met the Han people, a semi-nomadic tribe of hunters and fishermen who resided along the Yukon and Klondike Rivers.  The Han did not appear to know about the existence of gold deposits. 

Ed Schieffelin discovered gold deposits along the Yukon River in 1883, and as a result an expedition up the Fortymile River in 1886 resulted in returning a vast amount of gold.  This discovery led to the creation of Fortymile City.  The same year gold was found near the Klondike River.  This discovery was not as profitable, only small amounts of gold was detected so it was not determined an official discovery.  By the late 1880s, more than a few hundred miners were working their way along the Yukon valley.  These miners were living in small mining camps and trading with the Han to ensure their survival.  On the border of Alaska, Circle City was established, a logging town in 1893 near the Yukon River.  In only three years Circle City grew to become what was referred to as the “Paris of Alaska” with a population of 1200 and saloons, opera houses, schools, and libraries. In 1896, a foreign correspondent from the Chicago Daily Record came to visit due to the notoriety of the community.  At the end of the year, Circle City became a ghost town when news arrived that substantial amounts of gold was found upstream at Klondike. 

On August 16, 1896, an American prospector named George Carmack, his Tagish wife Kate Carmack, her bother Skookum Jim and their nephew Dawson Charlie were travelling south of the Klondike River.  Because of a suggestion made by another prospector, Robert Henderson, the group of prospectors began looking for gold near the Bonanza Creek, at the time referred to as Rabbit Creek, one of the Klondike’s tributaries. There was some confusion of whom actually made the first claim, Carmack declared he did, however Skookum Jim and Dawson Charlie asserted that Jim did.  Gold was in existence along the river in massive quantities.

Carmack staked four claims along the river, one as his normal claim, the second as a reward for having discovered the gold, and one each for Jim and Charlie.  Jim stated that Carmack’s extra claim was really his; but the extra claim had to be staked for Carmack because no one would believe a Native American could have made the discovery.  The claims were registered at the police post at the mouth of the Fortymile River and news spread rapidly from there to other mining camps in the Yukon River valley. By the end of August, all of Bonanza Creek had been claimed by miners. 

The Klondike Gold Rush, also known as the Yukon Gold Rush, the Alaska Gold Rush and the last Great Gold Rush, involved approximately 100,000 prospectors who decided to try their luck and travel to the Klondike region of the Yukon in the northwestern portion of Canada between 1896 to 1899.  Gold was discovered in this region on August 16, 1896.  When the news hit Seattle and San Francisco the following year, a mad dash to this area was triggered. It took a year for the news to travel to these cities due to the inclement weather in the Yukon area. The journey was extremely difficult and only approximately 40,000 arrived.  Only a few became wealthy, only 4,000 struck gold.  The gold rush ended in 1899 when gold was discovered in Nome, Alaska.  My interest in the Klondike Gold Rush was peaked when I learned that Mr. Bayliss of whom our local library was named after in Sault Ste. Marie, MI took part in this excursion during the late 1800s.

The gold rush brought over $1,139,000 to the northwestern American ports in July 1897 which is equivalent to $1 billion in 2010 in gold.  The gold rush created a public fever, many left their jobs to set off for the Klondike in search of gold.  The stampede was joined by traders, writers photographers, and others trying to make a profit.  The prospectors arrived by taking a route through the ports of Dyea and Skagway in Southeast Alaska.  They followed either the Chilkoot or the White Pass trails to the Yukon River and then they sailed down to the Klondike.  Boats and canoes were constructed when they reached the Yukon River.  Each Klondiker was required by the Canadian government to bring a year’s supply of food on their trip to prevent starvation, their equipment and other supplies weighed close to a ton, which for the most part had to be carried in stages by themselves. To tell you the truth, I don’t know how they did it.  Due to the mountainous terrain and cold climate, most prospectors did not arrive until the summer 1898. 

Mining was difficult to almost impossible, the permafrost made digging slow and tedious.  Many of the miners decided to buy and sell claims, creating investments and having others do the work. To accommodate the Klondikers, towns sprung up along the routes.  Dawson city was developed near the Yukon River.  It grew from a population of 500 in 1896 to 30,000 people by the summer 1898.  Because of the poorly planned development of this city and due to its remoteness, it proved to be unsanitary and the inhabitants of this city suffered from fires, high prices and epidemics.  Even though these hardships were in existence, many of the wealthiest prospectors lived a life filled with gambling and drinking heavily in the town’s saloons.   The Native Han people underwent severe hardships, they were moved to a reserve to make way for the prospectors and many of them died. 

By 1898, the newspapers which advertised heavily about the gold in the Klondike, lost interest.  The newly discovered gold in Nome marked the end of the gold rush.  The boom towns declined in population.  However, the gold rush continued to a smaller degree until 1903 when production peaked after heavier equipment was brought in. Since 1903, the Klondike has been mined on and off and an estimated 1,250,000 pounds of gold have been taken from the area.  Today many tourists travel to the region and this interest continues to fuel the economy. 

 

 

Top Reasons to Volunteer at Your Local Animal Shelter

Top Reasons to Volunteer at Your Local Animal Shelter

Make a difference in your community and help animals!

The Humane Society of the United States

Interested in making a difference in your community? One of the best places to volunteer may be right near you: an animal shelter or animal protection organization.

Get started

Whether you walk dogs at your shelter, stuff envelopes for an educational mailing or assist with a fundraising event, you can make a difference in the lives of animals.

Here are just a few of the benefits of volunteering:

1. Be part of the solution. You'll join a network of hundreds of thousands of people working to make the world safe and more humane for all living creatures. You'll make the jobs of everyone working for animals a little easier by lending a hand and spreading the message of responsible pet ownership and animal protection.

2. Get warm fuzzies. You'll never find a more grateful and accepting comrade than an animal you've comforted.

3. Keep good company. You'll make lots of new friends—and not just the four-legged kind. Working side by side with people who share similar interests can forge lifelong friendships.

4. Meet the new you. You'll discover skills you never knew you had, and you may be surprised at what you're capable of achieving.

5. Gain a new career. You'll learn things that may lead you to the career—or career change—of your dreams. Employers and college admissions officers look favorably on time spent in volunteer service. More on careers with animals »

6. Enjoy a wagging tail, a purr, and a smile. Didn't someone once say that the best things in life are free?

To learn about volunteer opportunities with your local animal protection organizations, we suggest you check the Yellow Pages or search online for the headings "animal shelter," "humane society," and "animal control," or just call Information. You will need to contact each group directly or visit their websites to learn about volunteer needs and opportunities. How to find your local animal shelter »

 

Storytelling

Tips from Twilight Walking Tour River Lark (Mary Elizabeth Couling):

Winter is never too cold when you can tell stories with the friends of your heart, while the bear sleeps.
"A good story teller is a person who has a good memory and hope other people haven't." (Ivan S. Cobb)
The best way to improve story telling skills is to tell a story.
I am excited to tell this tale! (is a message you have to tell yourself)
Story telling is an art.
Involve your audience.
Visual aids are good.
Hands on is even better.
A small gift is nice.
Let guests use their voices.
Dress the part.
Go with the flow.  (expect interruptions)  Mary ready a poem she wrote about all the interruptions that occur during their Twilight Walking Tour presentations.
Slow down, enjoy, any one who comes to hear a story is already on your side.

During the presentation Mary Couling and three other story tellers provided very interesting stories associated with the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  The stories were colorful and interesting. We had to compete with trying to be louder than the other side when we sang along with Mary and Jim, her husband.  The presentation was started with the audience saying tongue twisters.  That was fun.  Mary and the other story tellers were entertaining.  Mary organizes story telling events around the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  Twilight Walking Tours in which Mary and her husband are the proprieters, provide a ghost tour in Sault Ste. Marie and they provide tours in St. Ignace, MI three nights a week during the summer months, on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.  I have attended several of these tours and recommend them to others, very entertaining. 

Richard Ford Presentation

 On the evening of June 11^th and the morning of June 12^th Richard Ford provided a presentation at the Bayliss Library in Sault Ste. Marie, MI.  The Creative Endeavors Writers’ Group and creative writing students from Lake Superior State University was granted a special privilege of attending a private session with Ford on the morning of June 12^th.  Ford was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his literary work and one of his books is “Independence Day.”  He’s written 10 books during his writing career.  I purchased an anthology in which he served as editor. Many other authors provided the short stories for the anthology. 

Ford is a professor at Columbia University, which is a prestigious university.  Students and their families pay approximately $50,000 a year to attend so he encourages the students to not waste their money and consider their education of the utmost importance.   He teaches literature classes.  What is amazing is he was able to accomplish so much and he is plagued with dyslexia. 

Concerning his writing, editing is vital.  He considers whose opinions matter and his wife’s is vital concerning his literary work.   Once he is near completion, he reads his manuscript to his wife.  Concerning distractions, he is like a dog with a bone, he doesn’t let anything disturb him.  I wish I could say that.  My life definitely gets in the way of my writing.  Ford simplifies the concept of developing characters.  Characters are considered a convenience.  We are what we think we are, we are how others see us, and we are what we actually are.  He believes that people have interior lives.  Ford projects a “mirror image” when developing his characters. 

About finishing a book on time, he sets his own finish time.  One of his sayings “If you can say it, you can do it.” When asked about his talent he responded by saying “He just busted his ass.”  He works very hard at writing.  Ford needs to be vigorous, persistent; it’s a matter of belief.  He explained voice in his literary works.  He ensures that he uses the right attitude and tone.   Ford considers his audience and how they are going to perceive what he wrote. 

  Ford suggested a few literary works: “Crime and Punishment,” “Art of a Novel,” Emerson’s essay, Thoreau’s work, Falkner’s work, and “The Movie Goer” by Walker Percy.  

He concluded his presentation by saying “Literature confirms life.”  He weighs every word and sentence.  It is better to write for yourself and have no public than it is to have a public and no self.  Interesting.  Authorship authorizes everything.  He wants readership so he tries to appeal to the public.   It was thrilling to meet with such a profound writer who considers himself of average ability. 

 

Riverside Cementary

On Saturday, June 8th, 2013 I attended a presentation given by the Chippewa County Historical Society.  It was quite interesting.  There were two main presenters who pretended to be Pierre Barbeau and Mary Ann Anthony.  Pierre even spoke the French language during part of his presentation.  The presenters covered various gravesites and described who was buried at the site and told us a little about their lives.  Here are some of the interesting people buried at the Riverside Cementary. 

Thomas Bickerton: He died in September 1902 at the age of 58 years of age. He was crushed between two railroad cars. During this time there was a decline in child birth and epidemic deaths. Accidental deaths remained the same.

Crew of S.S. Cyprus: Launched on Spet. 17, 1907 in Lorain, OH - sank on Oct. 11, 1907. Capt. Frank Brainard Huyck, 48 years old with 28 years of experience, 8 as capt. Sank 18 miles form Deer Point and 35 miles west of Whitefish Pt. 18 Sailors went down with the ship, 4 survived when flug overboard.

Joseph McGirr: Had a restaurant business that lost money, wife died earlier, onset of depression so on July 13, 1893 he jumped into the St. Mary's River and drowned on the Canadian side leaving two orphan sons, ages 10 and 12. Left suicide note behind.

Crews of the C.F. Curtis, Selden E. Marvin, and Annie M. Peterson: Steamer C.F. Curtis launched in 1874 out of Green Bay, WI. Schooner Selden E. Marvin launched in 1882 from marine City, Mi. Schooner Annie M. Peterson luanched in 1874 from Green Bay, Wi. The Steamer and Schooners had a crew of 28 - 25 men and 3 women. On Nov. 19, 1914 left from Baraga, Mi to Tonawanda, NY near Buffalo. Sank in storm - recovered bodies of 6 men and 3 women.

James Taylor: Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1831 and educated at Trinity College. Came ot America and began a 20 year career in seafaring in command of merchant vessels; retired in Flora and had five children of which three survived. He died on Easter Sunday in 1899 at the age of 68.

John Johnston: Born in Belfast, Ireland in 1762. Immigated to Canada in 1792 when he was 30 years old. He is the first permanent European settler. Married to Oshauguscodaywayqua (Susan Johnston). He was involved in fur trading in Sault Ste. Marie. Died in 1828 and his body was moved from Fort Brady to Riverside Cementary.

1st Sgt. Frederick Schmitt: Native of Germany, came to U.S.A. - joined the military, had a distinguished career in the army for 12 1/2 years. Was one of the best non-commissioned officers at Fort Brady. Early May in 1895 went on a two day binge and was repremanded and confined to quarters on a Sunday. On Monday he shot himself with a rifle; caused by excitable temper.

PVT. Edmund Myers:  Enlisted in Co. H of the 19^th U.S. Infantry at Fort Brady.  Died in Jan. of 1898 when he was only 44 years old, suffered a heart attack during a drill exercise.  Obituary misspelled heart and stated it was heat stroke that killed him in Jan.  Burial with Battalion’s 8 man firing salute. 

George Johnston:  Son of John and Susan Johnston. Died in 1861 at the age of 64.  Married to Mary Rice who died in 1858 at the age of 55.  After his death, all of his sons by second wife died in the Civil War.  Benjamin died at 21; while James died at 19; the youngest, Sam died in Gettysburg at the age of 18, his body was never recovered.

William Schoolcraft: Son of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft and Jane Johnston, died at the age of 2 years of age of croupe on March 18, 1827.  Mother wrote a poem commemorating her son

Archie Trempe: He was the first Sault Ste. Marie resident to be a casualty of the Spanish-American War.  Died on September 18, 1898 from Malaria.  He was 23 years old.

Pierre Barbeau: Born in La Prairie, Lower Canada (Quebec) on June 20, 1800.  Came to Sault Ste. Marie at the age of 17 to work in the fur trade.  August of 1830 was married to Archange Lalonde of Sault Ste. Marie, three children born in Torch Lake, WI, three girls – Henrietta, Flavia, Augusta.  Returned to Sault Ste. Marie in 1834 and in 1842 had own businesses, opened trading post and fishing enterprises.  Held many public offices in the county and the state.  Died on Oct. 21, 1882 at his home from heart disease.

Bessie Hecox:  She died on Feb. 18, 1897 from brain congestion, she was 11 years old, she died a good death. She comforted her family while she was dying.

George Kemp:  Born in Sault Ste. Marie on August 2, 1847. On Jan. 1, 1875 George married Viola F. Heichhold, they had five boys; Alexander, Harry, Guy, Dayton, and Jay.  Viola was born in 1854 and died in Aug. 1924 at the age of 70. George was involved in the business of forwarding and shipping.  His coal co. prospered and became his family’s livelihood.  His house was built in 1900 and located at 112 Glenn Ae.  George Kemp passed away in 1923 at the age of 76.

Guy Carlton:  Born on Nov. 1, 1819 in Bath, Grafton County, New Hampshire.  He came to Sault Ste. Marie as surveyor in 1845, he married Frances Clark Hogue on Oct. 5, 1846, she died in 1859.  Remarried on De. 1, 1862 to Christine Kemp, had four children.  Worked most of his life as surveyor, toll collector, and engineer, community volunteer and appointments were numerous.  On May 1, 1895 collapsed and died of heart failure at a city fire. 

Effie Atwood:  Sister of George Kemp.  Married in 1895, she was 34 years of age and one of the many women who married in their 20s and 30s, few married in their teens.  Gave birth to first child shortly before her death. She died in Dec. 1898 at the age of 37.

Mary Ann Anthony:  Born in Devonshire, England, came to Sault Ste. Marie in 1887 at the age of 30.  Rejoined her husband Thomas who had come four years earlier.  Buried with her are Archie; James; Jane; and Doreta.  Husband died in 1882.  Mary Ann died April 1985 at the age of 68 of Bright’s Disease.

Jacob Vanderhook:  Born in Sault Ste. Marie in 1847; undertaker in the late 1800s.  Jacob, his wife and his daughter all died at a ripe old age.  Him and his family were all buried at Riverside Cemetary and surrounded by their former clients.  Jacob also built a furniture store in the 1890s on Ashmun St.  He died in 1934 at the age of 87.

Hursley Brothers:  Capt. Burr Hursley died in Dec. 1892 form a lengthy illness; Capt. For Hursley committed suicide April 1895 – shot himself in billiard room at Park Hotel leaving wife and child; 2^nd child predeceased Capt. For Hursley Sept. of 1893.  Capt. Jay Hursley became mayor of Sault Ste. Marie.  Capt. Jay Hursley later relocated to Alaska on Business.  Capt. Wayne Hursley was forth brother who was Captain.

Joel McMahon:  Born at Sanila County and father died when Joel was 5 years old, remained on family farm until he was 17 years old.  Left for schooling and became a lawyer, politician and chairman of the Republic County Commission.  Married in 1871 and had 12 children.  Wife and 8 children survived at time of death.  Died Nov. of 1894 at 46 years old; Rev. Easterday officiated. 

Henry Newcomb:  Disappeared on July 15, 1891 after going on an errand to Furl to sail the family boat.  Body found 9 days later in Hay Lake.  It was determined that Henry fell from the skiff he was using – drowning was a common cause for death.

Robert Bowden and the Agar Family:  Robert Bowden: Early homesteader who settled around Hay Lake.  Daughter Mabel: married Andrew Agar, also a homesteader.  In 1908, Mabel Left 2 ½ year old James in care of 5 year old sister Frances. James fell into creek and drowned.  Sister was blamed though she was only five.  Young children were often left to watch their younger siblings.  Her mother was shown holding a rifle and carrying a dead rabbit.  Mother’s sometimes had to go hunting to put food on the table.

I learned a lot about this cemetery and who was buried there during this tour and I also learned how some of the names of the streets in Sault Ste. Marie, MI got there names such as Easterday Ave. and Hursley. By the way, there are two sides to this cemetery, a Catholic side and then everybody else on the other side.  I found that interesting also. One of my dear friends died and was buried in this cemetery a few years ago.  I think on the Catholic side.  My husband and I are organ donors and plan on being cremated.  However, I have been known to visit grave sites and read the tomb stones. 

 

 

 

 

My Thirty Years at War Memorial Hospital

Don Bumstead, assistant Laboratory Manager at War Memorial Hospital (WMH), provided a presentation to the Lake Superior Elders on May 21, 2013.  He introduced himself. He’s from Ohio, the Dayton area and began his career in the lab in 1983 after attending Lake Superior State College’s three plus one program.  He finished his schooling at the Saginaw Medical Center.  Soon after he finished his college requirements he began working at War Memorial Hospital. 

He covered the various areas during his presentation:

A.       Who works at the lab?

Pathologist (Medical Director)/ Lab Director is the manager

MT/MLT: Supervisory/Bench Staff

MT – Medical Technologist with a four year degree

MLT – Medical Laboratory Technician with a two year degree

Lab Assistants:  in 1983 it was Gladys and now Kim and Courtney fill that role

Phlebotomist (they draw blood)

Receptionist

Histologists: process tissues and specimens for the pathologist to review from surgeries and biopsies.

Cytologist:  Look at cells

B.      Departments:

Hematology/Coagulation – complete blood counts and prepare platelets (Coagulation – body’s ability to form a clot)

Chemistry/Special Chemistry – conduct blood sugar testing; cholesterol; tryglycerides, etc.

Microbiology – cultures, bacteriaUrinalysis

Serology – Strep tests, H Pylori, ulcers in the stomach, pregnancy tests.

Anatomic Pathology

LIS/HIS- Information System  (During the 1980s records were kept on paper)

Sendouts – When WMH does not conduct specific tests- these are sent out usually to Marquette General

C.      Lab when Don started

Shifts – total staff of 14-16

Days started at 07000, Techs drew blood, approx. 6 techs, one lab assistant, one receptionist and one clerical/phlebotomist

1985 – added phlebotomist to afternoons

1988 moved to new lab

D.       Staff transition

Late 80s added a second tech to afternoons and started a third shift (24/365)

2003 added a third tech to afternoons

Currently our bench staff configuration consist of:

Five on days, 3 on afternoons, one on nights during the week

E.       Phlebotomist

Transition during his time from 2 to almost 25

Permits lower costs for specimen acquisition

F.       Equipment

The most radical change was in 1983 on avg. there were 20 CBC (complete blood counts) conducted in one day.

2013:  There are 150 CBCs conducted each day.

G.     Insurance and Regulation

DRG’s –Disease Related Group

ABN’s – Advanced Beneficiary Notice

Healthcare Reform

CLIA – Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act

JCAHO – Joint Commission

DNV – now provides the review process for accreditation

Quality Control is conducted daily

Other discussions were held such as a discussion about the blood disease that may be fatal. The disease is referred to as Sepsis in which bacteria is located in the blood and then it is transferred all over the body, in the organs, etc.  There are certain technologies that measure the electricity in our bodies.  WMH services have expanded to Cedarville and Brimley. The laboratory at WMH provides a vast amount of services.