The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1912-03-05

For the guidance of your honorable
to the city rendered by the hospital
board should show, in a classified form
the exact amounts received. the total
number of patients treated, Row many
Of that total were full pay patients,
the number of days treated and
amount paid. those who pay partially
should be totaled. the number of days
treatment accorded them, and the
amount received from them set forth /;
thus showing to what extent the sur.
plus of receipts over the actual cost il
available to meet the deficiency Great
ed by the caring for charity patients.
We can see no reason why the city
should be called upon to make up a
deAcit. averaging 48c per patient per
day, created as a result Of patients be-
ing sent to the hospital by the Penn
sylvania railroad, the c. & O. railroad
and by other corporations, and by ply
sicians from without the city or state.
1t is in evidence that the trustees have
failed to make an effort to have these
corporations pay the full cost of pro.
viding for patients they send to the
hospital
The superintendent has declared
that the hospital opens it's operating
room at an actual financial loss rang
ing from $500 to $500, which provides
all supplies gratis to the physicians.
AS planned by laymen. inexperienc.
ed in matters of this kind, it seems
plain that the original hospital was
inadequate Changes have been found
necessary, involving considerable ex.
penditure, and, more recently, leading
up to the necessity Of an additional
building for dormitory and laundry
purposes. These additional expendi-
lures. of course, add to the fixed
charge of maintaining the institution.
The inaccessibility Of the hospital to
certain sections OF tho community.
which may have been more or less an
impediment to its progress. We hope
to see overcome within a reasonably
short time by the construction of an
electric railway or by a more economic
system than at present in vogue.
We believe the idea of selfperpet-
uating Board of Trustees is detrimen-
tai to the best interests of an institu-
tion such as the Reid Memorial Hos
pital, which depends wholly or in part
upon the public or munioipa! support,
and to this feature, we think, in a
large measure, is attributed many ad-
verse criticisms of the institution. We
are convinced that the hospital has
been deprived Of certain influences
for good that might have been availa-
BILE to a less exclusive administration.
The testimony of many witnesses dis
closes that there has not been suf1ici-
ent cordiality extended by the hospital
towards the majority of the physicians,
who feel the lack Of sympathy between
the management of the institution and
themselves and as a consequence, their
influence is not being used for the hos
pital in the matter of sending patients
there; in fact, many physicians seem
to prefer sending their patients out of
the city, not expecting any better ac'
commodations than are available here.
A very few of the leading practition-
ers of the community have manifested
any spirit of cooperation with the in
stitution.
In order that the hospital may live
up to the fullest measure Of its useful
ness, and that the avenues for the
dissemination of its benefits he enlarg-
ed, there must be such notifications
of the existing organization and condi-
tions as will tend to reach out and
bring in a greater degree OF popular
interest, confidence and patronage. To
this end. We respectfully submit the
following Recommendations:
That such of the Board of Trustees
which shall serve as authorized by the
original articles of Incorporation, shall
number six, who shall consist Of "repu-
table citizens of said city. who are in
terested in hospital work, and without
any reference to any political or Sec
tartan influence, and for the declared
purpose of keeping the government
and management of such hospital al
ways in the hands Of citisens interest
ed in it's work and clear and free from
any political or sectarian influence
whatever and as in such articles of in
corporation more fully set forth; that.
in addition to these, the city be privi-
legged to appoint two citizens to repre-
sent the city: and that the board be
completed, making its total member
ship ten, (the same AZ at presently by
the addition of two members Of the
medical profession to be elected by
and from the licensed physicians OF
said city. and of Wayne County.
That the methods of continuing the
organization Of the first named six
trustees be al per the plan outlined
in the bylaws Of the hospital asso-
citation; that the representatives Of the
city be appointed for a term Of one and
two years respectively; that the terms
of service Of the physicians be similar
ly limited.
The necessity for such a chance is
emphasized by facts developed during
the Investigation.
Testimony has been presented to
your committee tending to indicate
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