An expanded board of eight laymen and two Medical Mission Sisters met for the first time on January 21, 1969. The meeting resulted from the adoption of new by-laws for the Board on October 7, 1968. This change in by-laws initiated the program of the Medical Mission Sisters to turn over the management and control of the hospital to a lay board of trustees. Members appointed to the board include: Alex Smith, Mr. Edwin Cross, R.R. Gammons, Edgar Schukraft, Jack Nagel, Frederick Storey, Richard Aeck, Robert Thompson, Sister Miriam Hoover and Sister Jane Pellowski. Election of officers and committee appointments will be made at the April meeting of the April meeting of the board.

The work of Medial Mission Sisters in Atlanta extends as far back as 1943 when they operated a free care clinic on Forrest Avenue. This clinic had strong support from many physicians in this area who donated their time and talents for many years. The present facility in Southwest Atlanta grew out of this work in the clinic, and it began operation in October, 1964.

Holy Family Hospital is a private general hospital which is located about eight miles from central Atlanta, and it serves a population of well over 100,000 people in West Fulton, South Cobb and Douglas Counties.

The hospital is a 128-bed, general-community hospital which accepts patients with all kinds of diseases except primary mental disorders and some communicable diseases. The hospital does not operate an out-patient clinic except emergency services, consequently all the patients are admitted through a private physician. It has the services of a general community hospital such as laboratory, radiology, cardiology, pediatrics, obstetrics, surgery and an intensive care area.

The obstetrical department at Holy Family is constructed to offer a unique service among Atlanta and even perhaps among all Georgia hospitals. Its program of family centered care is implemented through an early acquaintance with expectant couples, via physicians referral. Parent education classes, husband-coached labor and a conscious cooperative delivery experience are all included in the program. The postpartum area of the hospital lends itself to rooming-in. Conjugate nurseries adjoin each patient’s room. A more conventional type of care is offered to those mothers preferring a more traditional mode of obstetrical care, however, expectant couples preferring less supportive methods are seldom encountered. The potential contribution of this hospital in relation to maternal and child health cannot be measured, but it is felt that, given the right conditions it lends itself to a broad scope of research in this area of health care.

Holy Family Hospital was declared eligible as a provider of service under Medicare in April, 1966, and as a result of an investigation by the Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation, it was awarded a three year certificate of accreditation in April 1968.

The transference of the control of the hospital form the sisters to the full lay board does not imply a change in its direction of philosophy or the Church affiliation. The enlarged investment of community talent and interest is coupled with the close affiliation of the Medical Mission Sisters by way of investment of personnel, representative membership on the board, and keen interest.

The present administration has full intention of maintaining the Catholic character, the philosophy of service, and an attitude of respect for man’s dignity and right to good health, which were inherent in the hospital beginnings.