New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-05
PROBING CLUB" DOCTORS
Medical Society Starts Inquiry
Into 25-CentS. a-Year Plan.
SOME HAVE 1000 PATIENTS
Physicians Point to Evils of Or
CARNATIONS Formed to Get
Cheap Service.

The abuses consequent upon the lorna
ton of hundreds Of small organizations
in this city to get medical attention
at low rate of pay have brought about
an investigation Of the conditions attend
ant on such clubs II was learned yeste;-
day. The Eastern Medical Society. which
has a membership of six hundred or more.
has committee inquiring into the prob
lem. and a report will be made
The presence OF the many small clubs
or societies which have been formed es-
pecially among the Italians and Jews OF
little means, has been well known to the
Department of Health. An official Of the
department said yesterday that they had
spread To all sections Of the city In the
last few years
The organizations are formed by persons
who pay anywhere from % to 80 cents
YEAR. \ doctor Is chosen at a stated
meeting. and from then on the accredited
physician of the club must he ready to
answer all calls from members Of the club.
Some Of the doctors are not only the ac-
credited physicians for one club, but have
that responsible post in two or three. il
was stated yesterday by member of the
llltul'dl lltl'SSlpH III tiIlN 'lNS WV nus '''
much TO do with the bringing about of the
investigation by the Eastern Medical So
ciety. At times II has been found that one
doctor has had as many AS so 2o-cent ciub
members TO attend in case OF Illness. IL
is human impossibilty 10 take care OF
such a number of persons 1t was declared
and il is because of this phase Of the case
as we'll as others, that the committee IN
charge of the investigation will recommend
sweeping legislation regarding the control
OF It.
DR.. Samuel l.. Kopetzky, Of No. 6lb Madl-
son avenue, president OF the Eastern Medi-
cal Society, is chairman Of the inVestsa'-
ing committee. He confirmed last night the
report that the investigation was being
made but said he could not go INTO any
detailed statement regarding what action
would be taken or the specific recon-
mendations that would be suggested t.
bring about reform.
Some Have a Thousand Patients.
DR.. Kopetzky said 1t had been found
that some of the physicians of the ira
ternal organizations had as many as one
thousand persons to look after, which on
the very face OF il. showed how much the
problem needed solving.
1T is a problem which has been noted
IN all parts OF the country said Dr. 80
petzky, "and medical societies have been
considering II for long time because Of
its abuses.
While the chairman OF the Investigation
committee would not go into further de-
tails. the other member OF the society I'D
III you ever saw how the men In sweat
shops worked" he declared, you would
see something which was in no way 10 be
COMPARED with the lot OF some of these
fraternal doctors when II comes TO hard
work. They are on the 90 from carly
morning to late at night. and even all night
during a period Of the year when there IS
grip and tonsilitis prevalent In the city
The situation has a humot Gus side, even
while It is serious. When member OF the
society has a stomach ache the doctor oil
the club Ia Immediately called. The mem
Der wants 10 get his % cents worth, ana ne
does before the year Is w, at least 80 lar
as calling In the doctor Is concerned In
serious cases II is nearly always certainty
that the patient will shake the club doc
tor for an outside physician The club doc
tor Is TO them Il Scent doctor In more
ways than one
II was pointed out that In some cases II
had been found that club doctor did not
inform one set OF persons that he was the
accredited doctor for another set. TO try
to cover the ground each day, especially
when colds were prevalent, he made visit
of about two or three minutes TO each pa
tient. He dashed of "A prescription. tossed
il to the family and hurried 10 his next pa
ticnt.
Such doctors, II was said. had little oppor-
tunity TO advance In their profession.
one recommendation IL II believed the
committee will make regarding the reSula-
ton II the problem is the setting Of a rea-
sonable limit TO the number OF persons who
shall be under the care Of one physician
Another Is the fixing OF rate Of pay for
the services Of the physician
In a number OF cases the clubs are formed
after the plan Of regular fraternal orders
The latter are not included in tho present
investigation, because the doctors of SUCH
orders receive fair remuneration. and it is