HISTORY

WHO ARE WE?
THE HISTORY OF THE LAKE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY

The first law that provided any type of control over physicians was passed in Indiana in 1881 when Lake County got its first Health Officer, Dr. M.G. Bliss of Crown Point. In 1885, the first licensing of physicians was required and in 1897, the State created the Indiana State Board of Medical Registration. No doubt in response to this surge of political pressure, the Lake County Medical Society was organized in late 1898 by William Frederick Howat, M.D. of Hammond. There were ten charter members:

• J.T. Clark, Hammond
• C. W. Campbell, Hammond
• A. Davis, Lowell
• W. F. Howat, Hammond
• T. W. Oberlin, Hammond
• J. C. Pannenborg, Hammond
• S. R. Turner, Dyer
• M. Vaughn, Hammond
• J. C. Watson, Hobart

Dr. Pannenborg was named as the first president of the society. The fee for State dues was $ 1.00. There local dues at that time.

Also in 1898, Lake County's first hospital, St. Margaret Hospital in Hammond opened. Provincial Superior Sister Alphonsa and Sisters Richardis and Edwarda came from Lafayette, Indiana, at the request of local community leaders and purchased for $9000 the Lautman farmhouse (owned by the mayor) at 30 Clinton Street in Hammond. It provided facilities to care for thirty patients. On February 3, 1898, settler John Stephens, who had broken his leg, became the first patient. Mr. Stephens was under the care of Dr. James Thomas Clark. A long narrow table in the living room served as an operating table, and each surgeon brought his own instruments. Dr. Clark bought the three nuns who began the facility a horse and  wagon so they could collect offerings of food from the farmers to feed themselves and the patients. The home was a large two story with a basement and a hot water heating system. Sister Edwarda was a druggist and she fixed up a closet next to the operating room as a pharmacy. If a prescription need to be filled that required having a scale, she would take it to the Ostrowski Brothers Pharmacy on the corner of Clinton and Hohman Streets.

By 1901 the Society's membership rose to seventeen.

In 1902 Inland Steel came to East Chicago. Inland brought in an industrial physician, Dr. R. Ainsley who became a member of the society. The first U. S. Steel physician, Dr. Merritt, came to Gary in 1910.

In 1903 the first female physician, Dr. Eleanor Scull of Hammond was accepted into membership.

In 1908 Dr. Boardman was the first specialist in the county. He was an EVT who had very few patients and lived in his office. Gary Mercy Hospital was also started in 1908.

In 1910 twenty-two physicians started Gary General Hospital which later became the Methodist Hospital. The first nurse was Margaret Pritchard who had served in the Boer War in South Africa. Also this year, Dr. Alexander Schleinker became Mayor of East Chicago. He also ran for Congress but was defeated.

In 1912 C. Yarrington M. D. was hired as a full-time public school physician, the very first in the United States.

In 1915 Dr. A. Giorgi established the St. Antonio's Hospital in Gary which cared for Blacks and the indigent. Also in 1915, St. Margaret Hospital opened an X-Ray department.

The Lake County Medical Society kept growing. During these years the society held approximately ten scientific meetings per year, a summer picnic and an annual dinner meeting.

In 1918 a clinical laboratory was added to St. Margaret Hospital, and in 1919 the hospital added an obstetrical department.

In 1920 the Lake County Medical Society was the first society in the country to accept a Black physician, Dr. Hedrick. Later, Dr. Hedrick would establish the St. John Hospital in Gary.

In the 1930's the Society accepted into membership two All American Football Players, one of whom was also an All Pro Football Player, Dr. Joe Kopcha and Dr. Joe Donchess.

In 1938 Dr. Ernest Schiable was elected Mayor of Gary. This year the Lake County Medical Society hired a full time Executive Director, Rollen Waterson. He was the second full-time county director in the country. During his tenure, he started the monthly Bulletin, the Medical Business Office, and the Physicians Bookkeeper Office. The Society did billing and collections for physicians.

In the 1940's the Society had 250 members, 73 of whom went off to war. Dr. Stewart Grossland not only enlisted in the Navy but donated his 60 foot sailboat to the Coast Guard for duty. He was seriously wounded in the War effort in the Solomon Islands.

In the 1940's physician members spoke on health care issues on local radio stations, the first being WIND in Gary, During this time the Society was also busy with Civil Defense and blood-typing of civilians in the area, a program that received national recognition.

In 1942, Our Lady of Mercy Hospital opened in Dyer. Hospital rates at that time were $5.50 a day to stay in a 6-bed ward; $6.50 for a 4-bed ward; $7.00 a day for a 3-bed ward; $8.50 to $12.00 for a private room and $12.00 a day for a stay in the O.B. Ward which included meals, telephone and baby care. St. Margaret Hospital had so many babies occasionally dresser drawers were used in place of bassinets.

In 1943 the Society wanted to combat what it perceived as socialized medicine though legislative efforts. The Lake County Medical Society formed the Association of Physicians and Surgeons. Its' membership grew so rapidly that the organization was moved out of the County Medical Society's office to Chicago in 1945. Also in 1945, the society hired Rollis S. Weesner as Executive Director. During his two year term he worked with returning war veterans, established several public relations programs for the Society and assisted in the development of the Visiting Nurses Program.

In 1944 St. Margaret Hospital was the first in the area to receive the miracle drug — penicillin. That year the dreaded Medical Records Department was also established.

In 1946 a local insurance agent developed a bad cough that was diagnosed as tuberculosis. He entered the TB sanitarium, Parramore, in Crown Point in December 1946 and did not leave until 1948. It gave him time to think about the loss of income due to a long illness. As a result of his stay, he decided to create  group disability insurance for the medical profession. His first policy was written for the Lake County Medical Society. You had to be a member of the Society in order to be eligible for the insurance. The idea was so successful on the medical society level that eventually the Indiana State Medical Association created a similar relationship, making identical benefits available to all members of the Indiana State Medical Association. The insurance agent's company became the largest brokerage firm in the world writing this type of insurance with over ninety percent of its business devoted to professionals. That agent was Charlie 0. Finley who later became the owner of the Oakland A's Baseball Team. Charlie was so grateful to the Lake County Medical Society for giving him his start, that he never raised his premium rates to the Society for the entire time he owned his company.

In 1947 Dr. James Niblick was the first physician in the United States to have a two-way radio in his car. John Twyman became the Executive Secretary for the Society. He attended most medical staff meetings at the various hospitals in Lake County and was often referred to as "the dean of medical execs in Indiana." Upon his death he was awarded an honorary membership in the Indiana State Medical Association, where he had been active in representing the voice of Lake County physicians.

In 1948, the Society held its 50th anniversary in the Hotel Gary Ballroom on June 10. There were 232 persons in attendance. During the evening, 50-year-old bottles of sherry wine were presented to Dr. A. J. Lauer for the longest practicing physician; Dr. A. G. Schleiker for holding membership for the greatest number of years; and to Dr. O. C. Wicks for being the oldest doctor chronologically.

In the early 50's house calls were common. The typical office visit was $2.00 and a delivery cost $35.00. Anesthesia consisted of open-drop ether and cyclopropane by mask. Morphine and Demerol were used for pain. Mitral valve heart surgery was frequently done without endotrachial intubation. The anesthesiologist had to bag the patient by hand.

In 1955 the Society conducted the Salk Vaccine program to eliminate polio. There was a 98 percent participation rate by Lake County Physicians, the highest for the state. Lake County's program became the model program presented to the National Polio Advisory Committee for the federal government's Public Health Service.

In 1957 the first Black physician was accepted into the State Medical Association's 50 year club. He was Dr. Dennis Bethea from Lake County. He practiced out of his home until the age of 96.

In 1960 the Cobalt Department opened at St. Margaret Hospital. The cost for malpractice insurance for general practice was about $145 a year.

In 1964 St. Margaret Hospital purchased the first artificial kidney machine. Drs. Santare, Repay, and Feldner ran the unit. Dialysis would take twelve hours. There were no technicians. The physicians had to mix all the solutions.

Dr. John Nicosia was chosen Mayor of East Chicago in 1964 and re-elected in 1968.

In 1969, the Society assisted in establishing the Lake County Comprehensive Health Planning Committee. Later, this committee would be disbanded and its function would be taken over by the Northern Indiana Health Systems Agency. Now NIHA is part of the Northwest Indiana Forum. It helped to secure a medical school for Northwest Indiana through a $5000 grant provided by U. S. Steel. Nick Angel, older brother of Virgil Angel, M.D. was also instrumental. Tom Sherrard from Purdue University studied the county and suggested blending the collection efforts for health services such as the Visiting Nurses and the local Community Chests to form the Lake County United Way. Dr. Santare served as treasurer for two terms with that organization. Dr. latridis became the first Medical Director of the medical school. During his tenure he was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash, The Thomas Hart Benton Mural Medallion, (the highest award of Indiana University,) the Glenn Irwin Distinguished Faculty Award from the Indiana University Alumni, and inducted as a member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Greece.

In 1971 the Society formed the Calumet Area Foundation for Medical Care. This foundation, one of the first of its kind, dealt with health care economics. It was created at the request of the insurance industry and the steel mills to establish what was appropriate care and what were usual and customary charges. This committee would review physician-billing practices and make recommendations. It was responsible for keeping charges fair and health care costs reasonable for a long time in Lake County.

In 1973, the Community Hospital in Munster was created and in 1974, St. Anthony Medical Center opened.

In 1975 Dr. Fred Adler, Chairman of the Medical Education Committee, requested through the Lake County Medical Society that post graduate programs in the county be coordinated and accredited. The Society worked with the Cancer Society to provide pap tests for indigents on a scheduled monthly basis. This year was most significant for the Society's efforts in securing passage of the Medical Malpractice Act, which has served as the landmark law and model for other states throughout the country. Mrs. Millie Pilot, wife of Dr. Jean Pilot, had a news show on WJOB radio which covered the activities surrounding the development and passage of the malpractice act. The Lake County Medical Society submitted her name to the I.S.M.A. for the annual Journalism Award given at the State Convention. Lake County Physicians and legislators played key roles in the successful adoption of this bill. Dr. Daniel Ramker was the Health Officer in Hammond and he knew many state legislators. State Representative Phil Bainbridge from Hammond was the Speaker of the House and Lowell Steen's patient. Dr. Steen could discuss the bill directly with him. Dr. Vincent Santare was Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the I.S.M.A. at this time. Bainbridge saw the bill and assigned it to the Labor Committee whose chairman, Jewel Harris, was from Lake County. In the Senate, the bill was killed in committee. Millie Pilot helped to keep the Society informed on the bill's activity. Finally, Adam Benjamin, State Representative from Hobart, spent a weekend at I.S.M.A. headquarters working through the bill with the physicians. He told them what was wrong with the language of the bill and physicians convinced him to go home and rewrite it in such a manner that it would be acceptable. In the House, 98 members voted with 97 ”yes” votes for the bill; and it passed in the Senate by a large margin. Otis Bowen, M.D. Governor, then signed it and true history was made.

In the 1980's the Medical Society responded to the decreasing employment in the steel industry by providing free care. Seventy-five physicians volunteered their services free of charge. Medications were donated by drug companies, and the hospitals provided supplies. Appointments were made through the Society and patients were assigned to physicians near their homes for office visits.

In the 1990's Dr. Frank Hieber continued this tradition of free care for the indigent. He first offered a clinic at the warming shelter in Hammond with the help of the Auxiliary working to secure medications and supplies; then by volunteering his time at the indigent clinic created by St. Margaret-Mercy System in Hammond.

In the 1990's Dr. Dave was able to work with State Senator Rose Antich to get the Governor's Office to make a direct inquiry into Medicaid Reimbursement issues. A Communication Hotline was established to answer physicians' questions.

In 1995 the Society hosted a legislative evening to explain and urge support of language changes to the Good Samaritan Law. State Senator Sue Landske from Cedar Lake co-authored the bill in the Senate. It changed the Law from care at the scene of an "accident" to care at the scene of an "emergency" thus allowing physicians to participate in patient care without the fear of a malpractice suit as a result.

In 1998 the Society worked to protect the Patient Compensation Fund and supported changes to the Medical Malpractice Act. Those changes resulted in Lake County physicians no longer paying more than the rest of the state for malpractice coverage or surcharge contribution.

The history of this Lake County Medical Society is rich with the selfless contributions of its members. As we look to the changes in medicine and the future needs of our patients, may we never forget that change begins with a single member willing to take the time to make it happen. I grew up in this county and as a patient and now physician, I thank this Society for caring, for working hard, for wanting physicians to be the best they can be, and for its plans for the future.

I want to express my personal thanks and that of the Lake County Medical Society for the support received in the research for this history from: St. Margaret-Mercy Systems, The Hammond Times, The Gary Post Tribune, E. M. Shanklin, M. D., Vincent Santare, M.D., Lowell Steen, M. D., Frank Hieber, M.D., Phil Chua, M.D., Geraldine Peiffer, M.D., Edward Alt M.D., Mary Carroll, M. D., Panayotis Iatridis, M. D., Vijay Dave, M. D., Bruce Woods of the Lake County Historical Society, and Kathy Nelson, Executive Secretary, Lake County Medical Society.

Respectfully submitted,
Martha J. Mechei, M.D.