New-York tribune., 1907-12-16
FOR HOSPITAL REFORM
CITY PLANTS CONDEMNED.
Charity Organization Society Makes
SUeeping Criticism.

The Charity Organization Society condemned the
present medical administration of the municipal
hospitals. with the exception of Bellevue, in un-
quaIhed terms yesterday, in recommendations to
the commission appointed by the Mayor TO submit
plans for the betterment of the hospital service.
The condemnation principally the ground
that the present system of having unpaid visiting
surgeons and physicians and an unpaid house staff
In charge of the hospitals, both of which
tnually changing, made it impossible to have a
really responsible head, and resulted in waste of
money and lack of scientific and educational pro-
gress.
The commission mat in the United Charities
Building, D. Clinton L. Bagg presiding.
The recommendations of special committee of
the Charity Organization Society," consisting of DR..
Edward T. Devine. DR.. II. q. Janeway, DIR. S. +.
Hallock and Homer Folks. ex-Charities Commits
sioner, were read by DR.. Devine and DR.. Janeway.
The society. in the part of the report given by
Dr. Deyine, approves the plan already proposed
for a central ambulance station with various
branches and the control of the ambulance system
vested in city department under single head
in case of accident the central station would be
informed, and it would order ambulance to the
scene from the nearest Sub-station.
The society indorses the plans already approved
for the enlarged Bellevue, which provide for be-
tween 150 and 1900 beds, and would not reduce the
capacity below these figures as has been suggested
The recommendations called for new reception
hospital on the West Side to the situation at
Roosevelt Hospital. It pointed out that there
was no reception hospital with ambulance SER
vice between Roosevelt and ]. Hood Wright hos
pitals. on the West Side, and that Roosevelt Hos
pftal for many years had been overtaxed-
The society is in favor of single headed depart
ment. the Department of Public Hospitals. TO take
charge of all the hospital work now in charge of
the trustees of Bellevue and Allied Hospitals. and
the Charities Department including the Almshouse.
which the society considers is really a hospital
DR.. Janeway, in reading that portion of the rec
ommendatio dealing with the medical administra-
tion of the city hospitals, said that with the ex-
ception of Bellevue il so far behind the times
that it was the laughing stock of the country
The hospitals were in charge first of a staff of
attending physicians and surgeons. who were not
paid; assistant attending staff not paid and a
house staff paid. There was no one RESPONSE
bic head. the attending saffs being only nonnally
responsible for the whole and individually response
bic for their respective wards
The traditions and customs of the house staff,
which really in control. made 1t impossible
TO make any change In method as It was for a col
lege faculty TO rule the traditions and customs OF
the student body.
The house staff, he said expected to assume
all responsibility for routine economical administra
ton. This resulted in waste, and there never
would be anything but until the city paid
the men in charge of its hospitals There was
economic standard. economic uniformity.
The fact that salaries were paid. or where they
were paid were very low. meant waste and dis
honesty: meant responsibility.
The frequent changes in the attending staTs al
lowed no fixed teaching methods. New York City
hospitals contributing nothing to medical sci
ence. The records of ali the city hospitals, save
Bellevue. he called a disgrace
Hospitals he went on. should be concerned in the
prevention and cure of disease, the most efficient
economic treatment, the education OF medical men
and the contribution Of new medical knowledge
The society. lie said. willing to draw up
detailed plan for the aiation OF the city hospitals
and the three universities which teach medicine, IL
the commission desired.
The commission. which much pleased with
society submit such plan.
II voted that the heads OF the police and frc
departments meet the committee at its next meet
ing to consider the improvement OF the system OF
calling ambulances. The telegraph companies will
also be requested to cooperate, In the mean time
a special committee will he appointed to report
the suggestions that have been heard.
head for the hospital service
What we want and must have, said the com
missioner, is man whom we can hold
res3onsible-some upon whom We can place
our finger the same as some OF the other depart
ments have"
"welI the Governor has put his finger ore
of these men" said Charities Commissioner Heb
berd And. while you planning TO make all
these hospital improvements, don't forget that
Rrooklyn wants To come in for something, well
as Manhattan and The Bronx The people are
going to Brooklyn these days
-c------