The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1911-05-05
Secs the Need OF a hosnitaI.

pmdha, May special TO The
News: Apparently having in mind
the crying need of "A hospital at Nor
folk which could accommodate the
sick and injured not only of Norfolk
but likewise of the big territory trib
utary 10 II, DR.. +. y Long of Madison
who today responded TO the welcome
OF DR.. drummer at the Nebraska State
Medical society, spoke earnestly of the
demand for hospitals in the smaller
cities of the state, and pointed out
what they would mean.
Dr. Long emphasized the fact that
1T is an open secret that private
hospitals in smaller communities. with
rare exceptions, do not pay
In this connection he dwelt upon
the plan of local physicians and citi.
2ens coming 10 an understanding for
a practical program of maintenance.
DIR. Long said in part:
Private Hospitals Don't Succeed
We like you so well that for years
We have sent you our best cases and
We have so impressed our respective
committees with your wisdom and
your skill. and our own shortcomings,
that the dear people are beginning to
flock to you and to your hospitals,
without our knowledge, assistance or
consent.
y comparison OF hospital facilities
published in last months Western
Medical Review tyou may have read
| it, although most of us do not read
our own journaD shows that Omaha
has more hospital beds than Kansas
City, Denver, st. Paul or Minneapolis
with double the population. In a di.
rect manner YOU have paid for these
| facilities, but indirectly. we of the
state at large and our patients have
contributed the money And here is
where wish you to take me seriously
for | do hope to make point.
The time is at hand for the estab
lishment of hospitals in the smaller
communities, or by the communities
in conjunction with physicians II
is, believe. an open secret, that priv
ate hospitals in the smaller commun
tiles, with rare exceptions, do not pay
| maintenance ihe PROBLEM.
1t seems however entirely reason
able that the physicians of a giver
community could get to basis OF
mutual understanding, and would ther
appeal to the community which they
serve. that an organization could be
formed that would maintain hos
pital suitable to the needs of tha
community. The local profession
might perhaps, reasonably be expect
ed to assume half Of the burden. Til,
number of surgical cases originating
in every community is really amazinf
when one stops to count them. Il
has been estimated that there ar.
enough hemorrhOidal cases in an aver
age county 10 keep one surgeon bus!
Operating for whole year, and enough
neglected hernia cases to keep one per
son busy for perhaps two years, no
to mention gall-stones, appendices anC
the like. These people would almos
without exception, prefer to remain a
or near home for operation. Surgeons
local or metropolitan, according to tn,
wishes of the patients, could be re
QUESTIONED 10 do the operating.
Thus would the community be bet
ter served. the patient better salts
fed, the rural profession better quail
flied through more varied experience
and would retain that which from
every viewpoint of eternal Justice be
longs to IT,
But what of the specialists?" The.
will then move to the smaller town.