New-York tribune., 1907-01-08
FOR HOSPITAL REFORM.
DR.. Stephen Smith. IN "MedicaI REQ
ord" Proposes Special Department.

A suggestive article by DR.. Stephen Smith, one
of the leading surgeons of the country, on the or
ganzation of adequate hospital service for this
city, is published in THE Medical Record of jan
uary s. He says that department OF hospitals,
to consist of the Commissioner of Hospitals, the
Commissioner Of Charities and the Commissioner
OF Health, should be provided for by an amend
ment to the charter. This department. he
says, should create hospital districts.
Certain public hospitals. ne believes, should be-
emergency hospitals One more GONZALES
cent hospitals should be created ample farm
lands the water front near the city. The 'spe-
cap' and "contagio disease" hospitals would take
their proper places In this scheme of organization
DR.. Smith advocates that all physicians should be
allowed to send their patients to public hospitals
and attend them while thare and that the hospitals
should be the centres of medical instruction rather
than merely accessories.
The public hospitals he says, should furnish ade-
quate facilities to all classes who require hospital
treatment and to meet these requirements the
buildings should be erected TO furnish apart
ments adapted to all grades. from the wealthiest
the charity patients. The rate of pay should be
graded according to the apartment used by the
patient. who should have his own physician. IN
connected with the hospital staff or otherwise.
After referring to the administrative changes to
be made in the hospital staffs, DR.. Smith says OF
the convalesoent hospitals:
The location Of convalesoent hospital should be
IN The open country on an eleya9eo sbo6 Sy he on
eesslnIe 20 'e CITY Inc me- % i+ 2or two Tea
sons viz FirstSFor facility OF transportation OF
curative effect Of the recreation afforded TO the sick
by excursions on the water oo,ou, .,., mt
togeH the n family tyPs and sufficient in number
The administration OF the convalescent hospital
should be under the direction OF medical otlcer
pitaI management, with resident medical staff
Wee.
DIR. Smith thus summarizes his suggestions or
organizing the hospital system:
Ffrst-The Department of Hospitals should be
provided for by an amendment Of the charter Of
ss the dSRs5a Sf sef4SFS saSS
tenement house classes and the sickness rate;
come eergsnSy hosp % Propery Ssgned
districts. viz: Gouverneur. Bellevue. Harlem and
New Beievuo Hospital. to Accommodate acc; c 1000 or
81 hod nf % Be- d. Disabled ea a. and iGs5 m en-
hospital should be constructed there the plans
remaining grounds should be sold, the income Of
WSSR T0gd osB I t9s 5yqs Es
T woe f TO sse SSs hGt b 9n s9 bs bs
100000 for the extension Of hospital aocomnoda-
tons on BIackwells Island.
dIstr1ota where none now exist the Department q
aaapsd hosO a T pSS
sns Ior 61e STS al P0e to become the
FfthNone or more ''oonvaiesoent hospitals
should be at onoe created on ample farm lands To-
Gated the water front within easy Of ths
city When such hospital Is ready for occupaL-
ton the inmates Of the hospitals on Backwells
Island should be removed they convalesce TO the
"convalesoent hospital. and these island hospitals
should be converted into lnhrmartes for The incur
abes and other classes in that Department OF
Charities BY this change the 81 600 GOO REQUIRED
for the additions to these buildings for hospital
purposes would be saved to the city, and the ac-
oommodatio Of the Department. Of Charities would
be greatly improved
Sixth-The Special and CONTAGIOUS disease5'
a 9s sais Bg Paofs
partment OF Hospitals, and their location organiza-
ton and management would be IN accordance with
the latest teachings OF sosnce and experience.