Good Samaritan Hospital

Good Samaritan Hospital (known locally as Good Sam) was originally farmland. The construction cost $100,000 (due to inflation because of WWI the adjusted cost was approx $250k-$300k). Many of the Hospitals were overcrowded which was causing the spread of germs. Good Sam was built to help with the influenza outbreak. Good Sam was to be modeled after the larger medical institutions in the east in both technology and in style. Good Samaritan was to have fifty rooms, wards for men, women & children, as well as maternity, modern technology, lights, and xray.

The community came together for a hospital drive on February 15th of 1919. Some who could, donated canned goods and other money. Nathan Campell bought land and used it as a home for the Sisters of Saint Francis to live in. Nathan wanted to give the Sisters a place away from the people who were sick and a place to relax. Some just donated large sums of money; this would include F.G Keen. 

The Sisters of Saint Francis came to Kearney Nebraska to educate women and men to be employed at Good Samaritan Hospital. The Sisters also helped manage the establishment. Based on faith and wanting to lend a helping hand to those in need the slogan “Made for all people and all doctors” came about. The hospital was made for all people as patients and employees. The first two Sisters to come to Kearney were Sister Lilosa and Sister Colette in 1921. With the Influenza outbreak the call for nurses was big. Originally there were more Sisters than nurses but by 1964 there were 300 employees and 7 Sisters. 

Good Samaritan Hospital is still running today and is a major health care organization. Many people today still go to Good Sam when a medical crisis comes about. Not only is there a Hospital here in Kearney Nebraska but also in St. Joseph, Omaha NE; St. Elizabeth, Lincoln NE; St. Mary, Columbus NE; and St. Francis, Grand Island NE. These hospitals are associated with Good Samaritan and the Sisters of Saint Francis. Based on faith the hospitals listed here were made to help those in need because that is what Catholic faith teaches.

How it all began: Good Samaritan Hospital, Sisters of Saint Francis. Kearney, NE. [Kearney, Neb.] : [The Hospital], [1984], 1984.