The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-24
HOSPITALS IN HARD STRAITS.
TO SEE HOW THEY
CAN GET MORE MONEY.

n. =. Cutting says the Interests OF the
Poor Are Mena eed--WaSte Less and
You'll Get More Money, IL DR.. Bran
mans AdNIce-COmmittee Named.
That the private hospitals Of New York
are confronted by very serious hnancial
difficulties. which must he remedied II the
health Of the community is to be preserved,
was the consensus Of opinion at a con-
ference OF hospital representatives, held
Yesterday in the United Charities building,
The conference. which was called by the
Association for Improving the Condition
Of the Poor, was attended by representa-
tives Of every large hospital in the city
and Of many Of the smaller institutions.
All admitted the gravity Of the situation
as shown by constantly increasing deficits
in some Of the hospital reports
The hospital situation which led 10 the
calling Of yesterdays conference was first
brought 10 notice a year ago by Frank
Tucker in an article In Charities, Since
then. IL was said yesterday, the problem
has grown worse instead OF better. r.
Fulton Cutting chairman. said In open
ing the meeting that II had become 20
serious that the interests Of the poor we're
gravely menaced.
zone after another the hospitals are TO-
porting enormous Indebtedness, said Mr.
Cutting. why Ia ~ This city is the
most generous in the world and its hospitals
are the equal Of any. What is the reason
that the hospitals. which should appeal
to the people more than all other charities
are supported insufficiently''
Mr. Cutting said he believed IL was be-
cause the matter had not been brought
properly before the public. He suggested
a uniform system Of accounting 40 that
the hospitals could compare notes OF eE-
penses and the formation Of a COMMITTEES
10 gather information and bring the public
TO a sense Of the situation
Mr.. Tucker, who has been investigating
the condition Of the hospitals, said that
OF ten suggestions made by representa-
lives of the hospitals whose views had
been asked that Of educating the public
10 give more was the only one really funda-
mental He advocatd the creation OF
an independent body Of men or women.
chosen for their knowledge Of social con-
ditions. who should gather the facts about
existing conditions. secure the adoption
Of a uniform system OF hospital Bports
and educate the public on its responsibility
for hospital maintenance according 20 the
best standards Of medical and surgical
science,
He suggested that the cost per capita,
which each hospital now has different
vay OF computing should be inquired out
nv an independent body and given 10 the
pnblio The public, he said, had an idea
that 5000 was enough TO endow g bed
,Ebe-,as $40 900 was really needed to-day:
OakleiRh Thorne. treasurer OF the Pnesby-
terian Hospital. suggested monthly re-
r,ovts from each hospital. Isaac NallaCh
81 Mount Sinai Hospital suggested that
each hospital have a roll Of members, such
az Mount Sinai has each OF "hom u plesag1i99
10 give annually from SO up, and who should
have the right 10 vote for officers and thus
have an interest in the hospital. This
Dian he said yielded an annual income
~ $4,000 to Mount Sinai. Another sug,,
pestion made by Mr. Wallaohl which seemed
10 meet with great approval. was that
The CITY should subsidize the hospitals
In nroportion 20 the amount each hospital
contributed 10 the support OF the sick.
Il believe. said he, that the city is not
helpina the hospitals a. Il should by the per
capita per diem system a. at present.
trustees Of, Bellevue and allied hospitals,
aid Lees money would be needed II the waste
In hospitals was stopped. This was me
fault OF the American system. In the
German hospitals, where physlcians arc
nuraas were paid. attention was given 10
details Of administration and economy by
every one in hospital.
sin our hospitals said Dr. Brannan,
sour house stalls no sooner become eN-
perienced than they leave, The nurses
aren't Maid ANYTHING, either, and ere shifted
about This Il all night from the stand
point OF the nurses, but not for the public
Tbe hospital IL the only American institu-
ton which has not come under the modern
methods Of Bookkeeping for finding out
where every cent goes
DIT. Brannan pointed out that the plentiful
supplies OF bandaRes and dressings en-
cotiTaFed In hospitals waste unknown IA
private practice. Less waste and youu