New-York tribune., 1905-11-10
CALL HOSPITALS WASTEFUl
SLY REFORM is NEEDED.
Report of Committee on Hospital
Needs Makes Suggestions.

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extravagant ia the use OF costly drugs and
| dressings; that great economies are possible
| that the hospitals do not receive the support
from charitable persons that their work de-
serves are the findings of the committee ON
hospital needs and hospital finances which has
been at work since March OF this year. One
of the remedies the committee proposes is a
uniformity in keeping accounts and making re-
ports of work DONE which, it is believed, will
tend to economy in hospital administration and
| TO increased public financial support.
This first report from this committee comes
in the form of a communication to the hospitals
of New-York City, for the purpose Of receiv-
ing pertinent suggestions and criticism. The
hospital authorities asked to give the COM
mittee the benefit OF such comment as will be
suggested by their practical experience in hos
pital management. Upon these opinions will be
based the final report.
The committee is composed of men OF large
hospital experience and responsibility. The
chairman is John T.. Parsons president of the
General Memorial and Woman's hospitals. Other
members are DR.. John W. Brannan, president of
Bellevue and Allied Hospitals, who recently re-
ceived S15,OO0,OO0 of city funds to be expended
on new Bellevue: Hoffman Miller, secretary of
st. Luke's Hospital; Frederick Sturges. vice-pres
ident of the Presbyterian Hospital and president
of the Society for the Ruptured and Crippled; Dr.
John A. Wyeth, president of the Polytechnic: T. o.
Calender, a hospital manager and adviser in
Brooklyn; ex-Mayor Seth Low. l.. E. Opdyke
secretary of the Association for Improving the
Condition of the Poor; Frederick A. Cleveland
professor of finance at the New-York Univer
sty, who was recently made member of the
Mayors committee Of fifteen to investigate the
financial and accounting methods of the city;
THOMAS NJ. Mulry, president of the st. Vincent
de Paul Society, and Frank Tucker, vice-presi-
dent of the Provident Loan Association. William
H. Allen is secretary of the committee, which
has offices at No. 1O5 East 22d-st
The subcommittee economy investigated
on the premise that the public has a right to
know that hospitals are run on the most eco
nomical basis consistent with the utmost eff
cheney in treatment, and that it is the duty Of
both public and private hospitals to conduct
an active, progressive educational campaign, in
forming the public regularly of hospital needs
! and hospital results.
1t suggests that less expensive methods and
materials than those commonly in use would
prlng about great saving without lessening
efficiency. In the matter of ether for instance
the committee declares that surgeons of large
experience whose results nowhere surpassed
use ether costing considerably less than the
article employed now by the New-York in
st1tutions. The open method of inhalation
uses lOo per cent more ether than the closed
method which is used here. The use OF ether
as washing fluid to prepare the skin for oper-
attons is unnecessary.
Another economy suggested is the use of
towels, which can be easily washed and rester
llized, in place of gauze. which be used but
once. Plain cotton wadding costing one-fourth
as much as the absorbent cotton and answer
ing the same purpose be used. The rewash-
ing and resterilizing of bandages is also sug-
gested.
The committee declares that the most fragrant
nnOaCeEG1rV hnSnif1l
management is that Of alcohol. THE demonstra
tions clear" the report says that the guam
tity of alcohol used might be reduced by
two-t thirds and not lessen the efficiency. When
alcohol is needed as a local application the
% per cent to 30 per cent alcohol should be
substituted for the costly 80 per cent
The committee suggests that the hospitals
cooperate and purchase coal lin cargo, great
ly reducing the cost 1t is suggested that sim
liar cooperation would secure legislation which
would compel the gas company to furnish gas
to public institutions at the rate as it
is furnished to municipal buildings. The hospi-
tails should apply to the municipal government
for light from it's electric plant large saw
Ing would result from joint purchase of ma
terialS.
In regard to hospital support the sub-com-
mittee which has investigated this subject de-
clares that there is a general want of knowledge
in the plblic mind with regard to the functions
and work of so-called private hospitals. AS a re-
suit of this lack OF knowledge the hospitals re-
ceive financial support from a limited number or
persons in comparison with other forms of char
liable work. When facts relating to hospital
work are spread among the people and ap-
preciated by them the enlargement of contri-
buttons will surely follow. The situation f1nan-
cially is likely to grow worse instead of bet
, ter by reason of the constantly increasing num-
Der of private hospital activities In the absence
of any basis of cohesion among the private
hospitals which would enable educational work
to be done for them Jointly, it must remain for
each hospital to do individual educational work
with the community which will prove its own
right to financial support and existence.