Author ORCID Identifier

0009-0002-7532-4598

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

10-27-2024

Publication Title

2024 South Central Chapter / Medical Library Association (SCC/MLA) Annual Meeting, Dallas, October 25-29, 2024

Abstract

Objective: To create a resource guide on closed and relocated historical hospitals in the southern region of Louisiana, documenting rural and urban hospitals with their address, years open, interesting facts, and photographs if available.

Methods: A reference question about a historical hospital in the area prompted the idea, as when doing research for information about the hospital, it was more challenging than initially thought it would be to find photos and other information. Information was collected from a wide range of sources such as directories, newspaper and magazine articles, government reports, etc. Using this information, we have built a public resource guide that reflects southern Louisiana's hospital history.

Results: Having a public resource that gives a better understanding of health care history in urban and rural areas, and how many hospitals have closed in rural areas.

Conclusions: While the guide is off to a good start, there were many challenges that came up during the research. The two biggest challenges being street addresses for rural hospitals not being listed in various directories, and finding and obtaining permission to use images of hospitals. Some other challenges that arose in the process were colloquial names versus the proper names of hospitals, and determining what constitutes a hospital. Stats of usage of the guide are not available yet as the guide is newly public. The intention of this guide is to have it be a constant work in progress, adding new hospitals, information, images, etc. when new information is made known.

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