Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-21
PHYSICIANS 10 THE POOR
Repor. Mad. y the Health Officer Touching
1.-THE sarvios.
DR.. woodwsSd Makes a Number OF
susge.tio.A Interference to the
Care 81 Peer Patients.

Health Officer Woodward today made q
report, upon the request of Senator McMil
Ian. Of the duties Of the physicians to the
poor. which fs in substance as follows:
First. The work of the physicians to the
poor is supervised by this department
through weekly reports submitted by them.
and through prescriptions issued by them
| and returned to this department as vouch-
ers by the druggists who have filled such
prescriptions.
Second. No physician who desires to Sc
cure private practice would undertake to
treat any large number Of poor patients at
his Office. as their presence there would
keep more desirable class away. And in
View of the small compensation received by
the physicians to the poor, they cannot af-
ford to maintain separate offices for their
official work. In further view Of such
small compensation, and Of the fact that
dfspersaries are maintained in various
parts OF the city, largely at government
expense; and In order to diminish the work
OF the physicians. and to lessen the liability
OF 1t interfering with their opportunities of
securing private practice. 1t has been the
policy OF this department to diminish such
work as far as possible by instructing them
to treat officially, as office patients. only
such cases as unable to visit dispen-
saries for treatment. There Is. therefore.
IN my Judgment, very great need for the
establishment and maintenance of free dis
pensaries In this city.
Closer Supervision.
Third. With the view Of enabling the re-
sponsible officer to exercise a closer super
vision over the work Of the physicians to
the poor, l respectfully suggest that all
calls for their services be taken either at
the police stations or at the various dis
pensarfes already established, or hereafter
to be established; and that each of them
be provided with telephone, or that their
compensation be sufficiently increased to
lustl1y the Commissioners In requiring
them to provide themselves with tele-
phones.
The superiority of the dispensary plan
over the suggested arrangement of pro-
tients by the physicians to the poor lies in
mo fact that the dispenssry STATS include
the leading men in the medical profession
anu their equipment includes. or should in
ciude. the latest appliances for the diagno-
SIS and treatment of the various forms ef
disease; while the physicians to the poor
are USUALLY taken from the younger prac-
utloners whose experience has been COM
paratfveiy limited, who have not in their
private work. and cannot in their official
work, acquire special knowledge in any one
n ut,ia ana whose financial resources
WSuio NOT, ordinarily. justify them in pro-
v:d1ng all of the appliances afforded bv in
s.i1utlons treating much larger numbers Of
vA ~SSSTS 1ACSulI0.
In my judgment the most beneficial re-
suits In the medical relief of the poor
through dispensaries can be obtained when
the management of such institutions is
connected with. that of some hospital or
hospitals. andtthose in charge arc autbor-
lied to grant Certificates of admission to
thein. Ihls permits the prompt disposal OF
sucn cases as may. upon application to the
olspensary foritreatnhent. be found by the
~ fTNy
comm oda ton. - 10 ~
AS matter of fact the purchase of SIM
piles for all Of thee institutions receiving
government aid shotid at least CO f.r. &c
1t involves the expenditure of government
money, be made through a central agency.
SO as to secure the very considerable re-
auc'ion IN prize which c6uld. in my judg-
ment, be obtained by reason OF the n,lr
chase of goods in large quantities. and I'M
DER annual contracts; and so that an In
spector or chemist could test or anaIyze
SAMPLES OF all OF the various articles de-
1 iI before they are accepted for use
The question as ato the establishment of
branch dfspensaries Is also WORTHY OF serI-
GUS consideration. ~
Admission by Certificate. ,.-
ne admissions to the dispensary or d.
rectly to the hospital for treatment at nub
lie expense should be based upon a GER
tihcate issued by some government officer
or officers who have investigated the finan-
cidi conoltlOn OF the patient and of those
legally responsible for his or her care
Provision should he made for an institu-
tion Tor the treatment Of cases Of tuber-
cuiosfs. particularly of the pulmonary TYNE
me duration of these cases. ordinarily
covers such a very considerable period of
time that no general hospital can under-
take to care FOR them during the earlier
stages. when proper treatment may lead
to cure. ~
There is. apparently. need for new leeis-
lation In reference to the care of insane
patients, pending the determine ton of their
law. ~
While the question as to whether The
super vision of the government dispensaries
ard hospitals. and Of those which receive
the government aid, should be assigned to
some office already existing, or to some
new office to be created for that purpose
Is not at present before this department. /
have no hesitation in stating, as nv opin-
lon after fair experience in disrcnsary
and hospital work, that some SUPERVISION
In addition to that which now exists should
Undoubtedly be authorized and provided.