The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-06-13

kind take precedence with the trustees
over equipment more directly neces-
sary for a medical and surgical dag
nosis and treatment of the patients.
Superintendent Boss"
The influence of the superintendent
is paramount. She always meets with
the board. No discussion is had, no
plans are made, no action taken with
out her full cognizance.
Although the training school for
nurses was established at the sugges-
ton and through the efforts of the doc
tors in face of the discourage cement and
doubts of the board, and although sue
cessfully managed by the doctors for
many years, the board at one time
decided to assume the management
themselves to the exclusion of the doc
tors. Protest caused them to rescind
their action and the school board of
Ictors (now appointed by the board
instead of being selected by the doc
tCrs) was continued but it has no voice
in the school, though doctors do most
OF the teaching. In this attitude the
Association of Nurses, which policy is
to make the nursing profession, in
their training and practice, independ-
CIT of the doctors, whose aids they
are supposed to be in caring for the
sick Thus an atmosphere is created at
the hospital which the doctors do not
ind congenial, and which does not en-
courage efforts to build up the institu-
ton.
A committee of three doctors is reg
ularly invited to meet with the board,
but they have no voice, nor, apparent
| ~, any influence with it. At a meeting
OF this committee with the board on
The eve of April End, 1912, they were
given to understand that in time an
amicable arrangement in harmony
with the recommendation of Councils
| Investigating Committee would be
made and desires of the doctors would
be met, but they were requested to say
rothing as to the result of this confer
ence except to reassure the rest of the
doctors. There is evidence that the
trustees used this interval of quiet
to influence the council to rescind
their action approving the report of
the committee.
Attitude of Doctors.
The doctors do not desire to domi-
rate in the management of the hospi-
ia, but they feel confident that a
measure of professional influence
would prove advantageous here as it
has elsewhere. 1t is not for profession
al aggrandizement or gain, but simply
that the institution shall fulfll the
functions of standard hospital.
Briefly, the ambitions of the doctors
of Wayne County Medical Society for
the hospital are that it shall become
in equipment and in progressive man
asement standard institution, render
ing every service to the community
rightly to be expected of it, and shall
promote the scientific practice of medi.
cine; that it may and shall have back
of it the interest, the confidence and
patronage of the people generally.
For the realization of these ends, We
ere convinced that the public and
doctors should have influence in the
management, The present constitution
of the board is admirably adapted to
safeguard the property interests of the
Hospital and TO exclude sectarian and
!, political influence and may we'll be re
tanned. We, however. suggest the
: adoption of a plan worked with great
success elsewhere in public institu
tons. We suggest the organization in
this community of Hospital Society
. composed of such citizens as would be
: interested sufficiently to contribute
nominal annual membership dues. lie,
: the members of this organization al
the annual meeting elect Board OF
: Item Directors from among the mem
lership. this Board of Directors to be
charged with the active management
! of the affairs of the hospital This il
!, the plan under which the local Y NJ
. c. A. the Home for Aged Women. and
Laany other, organizations successful,