The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-18
The INDECENT AFFLICTED,
Work Of the Board of Charities
Under the New System.
The Method of Issuing Permits to
the Various Hospitals of the City
and Plan of Paying for the Ser
vice Meet With General Approval

the various hospitals of the City
and Plan of Paying for the Ser
vice Meet With General Approval
ON July !. the beginning Of the present
fiscal year the Board Of Charities as
sumod control Of the hospital and an1bu-
lance service Of the city and the dishurse-
ment of the $3.50 appropriated for trans
portation of the-indisent poor and good
results are already apparent. In addition
to their executive officer on the sixth
floor of the District Building the members
OF the board have been assigned the large
room in the basement Of the same build
ing formerly occupied as the headquarters
Of the Fire Department This room has
been partitioned off into three rooms and
viii be mad use of IT, the ha adding of all
those cases that formerly applied to the
sanitary officer of the Police Department,
Mr. Frank.
Although but little complaint has been
received concerning the handling of this
portion of the business, it is the belief Of
Secretary Wilson and his assistants that.
as the police and those who nave bust
ness with the permit office. become more
familiar with its workings even more
satisfactory results VIII be attained.
Probably the most important part Of the
work IS that relating to the issuance Of
permits of admission to the various hos
pitalS toward the maintenance of which
the Government contributes A much clos
er watch VIII be kept on all Of these insti-
tutions than heretofore and The hospitals
viii be compensated according to the
number Of patients they treat.
Each morning every hospital in the city
that receives aid from the District Gov
ernment forwards TO the Board of Chari-
.1yt +E,
four hours. showing the number Of pa
tieUgs under treatment, those that have
been discharged. and those who have
been admitted. From these reports, which
show q complete history Of all cases. a
statement is complied showing the mum
Der Of persons that were under treat
ment in any one hospital on each day Of
the month and the institution compeHsat-
/ ed accordingly.
This also enables those who are in
charge of the hospital service to keep
track Of those Institutions where there
are vacant beds and TO inteIiigently dis
tribute the applicants for treatment where
there is the most room Another new
feature is the Individual record of all
cases that are cared for in any Of the
hospitals at the expense Of the Govern
ment- This is done by means OF "a series
'fl 4il+ItA tdIt~. Oh " 4lALt llltl' VIII w bL4I
for very patient that occupies a free bed.
As reports Of persons admitted to hos
pitaI are received q card is made out
showing the name. age. residence. date Of
admission To the hospital and various 9TH
ct Information concerning the person III
question This card is filed IN drawer
IT. which Is arranged alphabetically the
record of every patient under treatment
a distinctive color Of card is used to des-
ignate the distinctions OF sex and color
so as 10 facilitate the gathering Of what
ever information is wanted
When the individual is discharged from
the hospital a suitable entry Is made upon
the card. and it is transferred 70 another
card drawer for possible future reference.
Admission to the hospital is secured
through the Board Of Charities by max
ing direct application TO the permit Office.
where the necessary inf rnlation Is given.
one ot the twenty-five physicians 10 the
poor. each one Of whom is assigned 10
small district. is then called upon 10 visit
the patient and report IpOn his condition
The report is usually returned to the per
init room the following morning. and If
the circumstances justify such action a
permit is issued and the patient is sent TO
the hospital
All Of the hospitals have been directed
to receive emergency cases at all times
and in such instances it IS not necessary
to apply direct to the board, The ambu-
lance service is also under the control Of
the board. and they keep il service at all
times three drivers on duty in the day
time and one at night They are stabbed
at the Second precinct rstationhouse on
Fifth Street and are under instructions
to always respond TO emergency calls. to
calls from the police and from the physi-
clans to the poor. In the daytime, dur
Ing the office hours of the permit office.
from TO + o'clock OF week days and
from to y on Sundays, the requests for
ambulances should be sent to the office
but at other times requests can be sent di-
rect to The stables at the Fifth precinct
stationhOuse.
The police ambuIances are made use Of
for all kinds of cases and persons rang
ing in dignity and Importance from va
grant TO the highest in the land
have been passengers in them.
/ There is no private ambulance service in
I the city and the public ambulanceS are
frequently called upon to convey persons
! Of means. as the hospitals that have am
balances only make use Of them for cases
stitutiOns. II is peculiar thing to see
prominent person carried in d charity am
bulance from his home to the depot
| where a private railroad car is found
waiting Tor him.
| The Emergency Garfield. Freedman.
| and Barnes hospitals now have ambu-
/ lance services and il is SAID that the 9TH
| er prominent Institutions are likely TO
equip themselves with such conveyances
| in the near future. 1t is said that PrOVl-
dence Hospital viii be the first tustitu-
ton to place an automobile ambulance
| permanently in service in this city