Local resident June Lastuka looks at a photograph of 14 physicians who worked at the Medical Arts Clinic established by Dr. Dan MacCharles in about 1929, and where she worked for 40 years. The clinic could still be considered state-of-the-art.--NEWS PHOTO GILLIAN SLADE
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
Dr. Dan MacCharles’ name may be associated with the former auxiliary wing at the hospital named in his honour, but for one local resident he was her employer and a man who brought the best health care to Medicine Hat.
June Lastuka, 89, says MacCharles was way ahead of the pack. He was a physician with a vision that would still be considered up-and-coming even today.
MacCharles established the Medical Arts Clinic in about 1929, initially in a house near to where the police station in located now, she said. His dream was a clinic where patients could get all the care they needed in one place modelled on the Rochester concept.
At a time the hospital did not have an emergency department and the clinic included a laboratory and x-ray equipment. It would soon include an optometrist, a room to set broken limbs, two rooms with OR beds for surgery, physiotherapy and a range of family doctors and specialists, said Lastuka, who joined the clinic in an administrative role in 1950 and stayed for 40 years.
If a family doctor felt a specialist was required for a patient he would simply call the specialist from down the corridor to see them.
“He was great for recruiting doctors,” she said, remembering when a Dr. E.G. Skinner was recruited from the U.K. There was a physician from Ireland and another from South Africa to ensure those with up-to-date skills were in the Hat.
A photograph of 14 of the doctors is still in Lastuka’s possession.
MacCharles was not only a physician who cared deeply about patient care. Lastuka used to wear ballerina shoes and remembers him telling her they weren’t good for her back and she should buy shoes with a small heel and preferably a lace-up. The first day she wore the new shoes he noticed and commented.
“The staff was family. He was so concerned. He was a wonderful person.”
New premises were required and after a fundraising drive, to which former patients make significant donations, said Lastuka, a new building was constructed at 51 Sixth St. SE, behind Safeway on the Southeast Hill. The official opening took place Nov. 16, 1959. The invitations included the names of 23 physicians who worked there.
“I idolized the man. I can’t say enough good about him,” said Lastuka, noting he was known to be gruff but also soft, was wise and had a sense of humour. Most of all he was constantly focusing on staying up to date in medical care.
“He always wanted to stay in Medicine Hat even though others wanted him,” she said.
In 1963 a new wing at the hospital with 100 beds was opened and named in his honour – Dr. Dan MacCharles Auxilliary Hospital. This wing was demolished on June 2, 2012 to make way for the new expansion of Medicine Hat Regional Hospital.
