Does anyone know where the records for the old Deaconess Hospital are and whether they are available for research?
Thank you,
Sandy Lipsey sbjol1@netzero.com

Hi Sandy, what records are you looking for? The birth and death records don't stay with the hospital and go to the state, see http://www.doh.wa.gov/EHSPHL/CHS/cert.htm .

I don't know where the medical records were sent but they would be sealed like all medical records are. Maybe they were transferred to Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee. Successful Searching!

Sandy,
What records are you seeking? Specific records concerning a patient? Financial records, architectural/building records

Hospital public record retention:
http://www.secstate.wa.gov/archives/pdf/HOSPITAL%20DISTRICTS...
--Most Patient related records are very short lived and are destroyed, such as the patient register, valuables log, surgery schedules, etc. (3 Years). Patient Menus - 3 years. Lab reports - 5 years. Emergency Room Reports-10 years after last discharge or 3 years after patient turns 18. Patient Case Files - same as previous.

I am not aware of a deaconess hospital in Chelan County, but I am not a local resource for Chelan County. I am familiar with one in Spokane. But, they were public institutions and not State of Washington institutions. The record retention rules were different. There are patient records for Washington State Hospitals back in time; BUT, these are strictly confidential due to most being of mental health records. It would be an ENORMOUS tasking for a public hospital to keep record archives of their patients, one that probably would drive most out of existence.

Is this search related to George Anderson that you posted about a year ago?
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.was...

If so, is this an attempt to find birth family? In that event, I don't believe there would be any hospital records available for that period of time.

Unlike the other poster, I will not WAG (Wild A... Guess) until you verify what records you seek.

Ron Bestrom

Judy and Ron,
Thanks for your info/reply. Yes, I am still looking for the Anderson family in Wenatchee. I have the birth record for the Anderson boy, but it only lists his father's name, George. I am trying to narrow down all the George Andersons that are listed on the State Archives site and it would be very helpful to have the wife/mother name. I was reading on adoptions sites that perhaps the chapel at the hospital might have kept records that would be accessible. The birth records are sealed and cannot be accessed. I was also told there were "liber" books kept at the county level that lists adoptees, mother-father, and maybe adoptive parents. Any thoughts on that?
Sandy

Hi Sandy, have you contacted the Washington Adoption Reunion Movement, http://www.warmsearch.org/ ? It's a non-profit organization serving the needs of adult adoptees and their birth families. Successful Searching!

Judy,
Yes, the man I am helping has done that and other things to find his birth parents. He was given info that was not traceable through genealogy sites and told that until his mother passed (father passed many years ago), that they couldn't help him. I found his birth announcement in the Wenatchee paper where it listed his parents as Mr. and Mrs. George Anderson. George Anderson is such a common name that it is hard to pin down much of anything solid. I have been on their website with no solid results. I will go again and re-look the info. Thank you for your help.
Sandy