Re: The history of Southern Pacific Hospital
Author: John West
Date: 07-23-2014 - 16:46
The SP Hospital Association's long time business manager wrote a history of the hospital and SP's medical activities..."Railroad Doctors, Hospitals and Associations" by Henry J. Short. Long out of print, I ran across a copy on eBay or Amazon, can't remember which. As a one time SP employee it was interesting reading. The the association and SP's medical department apparently was a pioneer in offering prepaid medical care, and was cutting edge in it's heyday. The railroad initially ran the hospitals itself, but eventually a separate association was formed to provide labor union representation. But as times changed the association went through some changes and eventually ended up filing bankruptcy.
At one time or another SP had hospitals in SF, Sacramento, Tucson, and emergency clinics in Ogden, Alhambra (LA), Eugene, Taylor (LA), and Sparks.
Thirty four railroads (or associations of railroads) ran hospitals, and apparently the very first was Central Pacific starting in 1867.
JBWX