The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-17
WATCHING HEALTH
OF POLICY HOLDERS
Industrial Insurance Firms
Plan Social Aid.
WILL OFFER FREE NURSING
Extensive Programme of Medical
Attendance Begun by Great Con-
cernS-win Cooperate with Char
liable and Health Authorities.
Find II Paying Investment.

/ A new factor in combating disease has
entered the field in Washington In CO.
operation with the Instructive Visiting
Nurses Association. the Industrial life
insurance companies have inaugurated a
social programme" which promises TO
have a far-reacEing effect upon the life
OF the masses.
The work involves the establishment
I Of free nurses for the sick. The com
panies aim to exercise scientific care over
those Of its policy holders who will ac-
cept its aid in the event Of illness. They
may be accused Of seif-interest, for their
purpose is the lowering OF the death
rate; yet this plan VIII be for the well
/ fare Of the community
So successful has the plan worked in
the larger cities that the Insurance COM
panies are contemplating its rapid ex-
pansion. It will soon reach all the i'm
/ portrait cities Of the country Every
where a welcome Is extended TO Il by
settlement and charitable workers.
a Business Proposition.
Such organizations as the Associated
Charities have been quick to grasp the
significance Of the new plan. involving as
It does the millions OF the insurance com
panies behind IT, The latter are frank 20
say that the free nurse" system. estab-
lished for the benefit Of their policy
holders. will not only prove a great life
saver, but a great money saver. and.
therefore, do not ask to be given credit
for benevolent or philanthropic idea,
The benefits are mutual.
Wherever their insurance has been
granted the. free nurse system will be
extended. They will care for the sick.
inculcate sanitary and hygienic princi-
pies. guard against disease. and repor,
TO the health authorities
In Washington the companies will draw
their assistance from the Instructive Wis
iting Nurses Association. and contribute
20 the support OF this organization in
return. Slips We're handed 10 the agent s
OF the companies Saturday and distribu-
/ ton was begun yesterday These slips
explain the plan and request the co..
/ operation Of all policy holders.
AID viii be extended promptly 70 al
policy holders who will accept it," said
I N-'N Va AtAN ht tllAAlA All4l4AAFAs y yesterday
/ cot course. there can be ne attempt "a
force It on any one. although we may
feel that Il is necessary. We will in
/ crease the force OF nurses according 10
the demand. The plan is yet IN the ex-
perimental stage. and Il would be unwise
TO announce any contemplated expansion
until we learn Just how the public is
going TO accept t.
/ A New Epoch Begun.
I'VE think. however that life insurance
| administration has entered upon a new
Z epoch with this work. which has been
gradually developed. and the forces ot
social amelioration have been prompt 70
meet rs half way In Washington we
look for the same success that has met
| Us In Chicago and New York"
A still greater project will be launched
by the industrial insurance companies In
| the near future-the establishment OF
| great sanatoria in which tuberculosis pa
TENTS viii be given free treatment. The
buildings would be under construction
now II the rigid new insurance laws did
not debar real estate investments. But 4,
( is deemed probable that the New York
State legislature Will amend the statutes
at the next session so as 10 permit OF
the erection OF sanatoria.
The public may think this an extrava-
CANT and experimental project" said an
/ Insurance man yesterday. They may
| think it wrong to spend the policy hold
er's money in this way
'As a piece Of cold calculation, however.
II may be said that the lowering Of the
death rate even by a small fraction will
mean the saving OF many millions 20 US
In contrast 20 this. the cost of construct
ing and maintaining a sanatorium will ba
Insignificant. 1t pays to keep our policy
| holders in good health"