[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 147 (Thursday, October 15, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2177-E2178]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         50TH ANNIVERSARY OF PASCACK VALLEY HOSPITAL AUXILIARY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 15, 1998

  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Pascack Valley 
Hospital Women's Auxiliary on 50 years of dedicated service to their 
community in northeastern Bergen County, New Jersey. The Pascack Valley 
Auxiliary is an excellent example of my longstanding philosophy that 
all issues are ``women's issues.'' The Women's Auxiliary was formed in 
1948--not only to support the professional staff and patients but with 
an additional goal as well--the establishment of a hospital. The 
Pascack Valley Hospital Women's Auxiliary was actually formed before 
the hospital itself--because these pioneering women knew that community 
health care was a ``women's issue.''
  Pascack Valley Hospital had its beginnings in May 1941 when Westwood 
resident Louise Bohlin was shocked that a Hillsdale friend died because 
they had to wait three weeks for admission to the nearest existing 
Bergen County hospital because of a shortage of beds. Mrs. Bohlin vowed 
that the Pascack Valley would have a hospital of its own and organized 
local physicians, mayors and concerned citizens into the Pascack Valley 
Hospital Association. The association held its first meeting November 
27, 1941. Unfortunately, that meeting came only 10 days before the 
bombing of Pearl Harbor, and plans for a hospital were put on hold for 
the duration of World War II.
  The end of World War II brought an influx of returning veterans and 
expanding families, and renewed interest in a community hospital. The 
Pascack Valley Hospital Association was reorganized in 1946 and a 
Women's Auxiliary was named to supplement efforts of the Board of 
Trustees. Mary G. Walker of Westwood was named as the first president. 
The Auxiliary held its first meeting in 1947 and worked for the next 
decade establishing branches in the various municipalities that would 
be served by the hospital.
  On June 1, 1959--18 years after the idea was born--the single-story, 
86-bed hospital

[[Page E2178]]

opened its door and welcomed its first patients. The hospital has, of 
course, grown tremendously since then. Today, it is a full-service, 
291-bed hospital providing a wide range of the most advanced, 
technically sophisticated health care services available. Pascack 
Valley Hospital serves 16,000 inpatients and 70,000 outpatients a year, 
yet still maintains an excellent reputation for individualized 
attention to the needs of each and every patient. The hospital is part 
of the Well Care Group Inc., which includes the hospital; Pascack 
Community Services, which provides outreach and educational services; 
Pascack Valley Hospital Foundation, the fund-raising arm; and Life Key 
Ventures Inc., which includes the Center for Human Reproduction, the 
Pascack Valley Psychiatric Institute, Pascack Valley Imaging 
Associates, the Bergen Nursing Team and the Pascack Healthcare 
Institute.
  The Auxiliary has remained an active force during the hospital's 
nearly 40 years of growth. Members have helped establish and run 
programs including baby hats, baby photos, the bookmobile, central 
transport, clerical services, the gift cart, gift shop, information 
desk, menu service and messenger service. The Auxiliary has raised more 
than $2.7 million over the past half-century, making an important 
financial contribution in addition to the incalculable value of its 
volunteer services. The current President, Barbara Musso of Park Ridge, 
and her officers and members, carry on in the tradition of public 
service set by Louise Bohlin and Mary G. Walker.
  A local hospital is one of the most basic amenities a community can 
be expected to offer, as vital as a police and fire department or 
infrastructure such as water, sewer and good roads. It was the women of 
the Pascack Valley who realized this necessity half a century ago, 
perhaps because it is women--even today--who are most often in charge 
of health care issues for their families. The hard work and dedication 
of the Pascack Valley Hospital Women's Auxiliary made a local, 
community hospital a reality and helped make the Pascack Valley the 
successful region it is today.
  I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me 
in thanking the Auxiliary, its leaders and its members for their 
vision, perseverance and dedication over the years.

                          ____________________