The Detroit times., 1917-10-08
Hospitals
M ". AnDINGroN DRUCE
Author % '-The Riddle OF Person
atty. Psychology and
parenthood" etc.

The war has brought torcibiy 20
our minds the Importance OF haV.
inc the best possible hospital facili-
Ties for sick and wounded soldiers
May r also have the effect OF rOus
ing public interest IN hospitals FOR
civilians
Today there are many splendid
hospitals On the United States and
Canada but also there are many
sadly inferior ones.
Approaching this, the American
College ~ Surgeons some time ago
started a. movement 20 secure stand
ardization ~ hospitals I'm both coun.
tries Thi. movement has already
been productive OF some good re
suits
RHt ~ Get The best results an en-.
lightened public opinion must sup
port the efforts Of the College OF
Surgeons.
The trouble is that people do NOT
think much about the hospital Ques-
uon unless 80 is brought directly
home 20 them thru illness In their
families
Then. TOO often. they discover 20
their dismay that the hospital Ito
which they must send their sick is
far below The standard OF what =
hospital ought 20 De
Perhaps they discover that Il IS
like a certain hospital on the Pacific
coast; thus described by Dr. John
G bowman OF Chicago
I'm This hospital there are about
500 beds when visited q prac-
ticaliy every bed In tho building
was occupied The construction was
beautiful. expensive. and adequate
"Ru' what about The integrity uf
the institution toward the patient
~
microscope or anything that could
6y any stretch OF the imagination
be called q laboratory
There was not an inferno nor a
house physician There was not
case record ~ any kind There was
an odd Nray machine but no one
kn4w how to operate IT,
They hoped 20 have a laboratory
by and hy The superficial evidence
AZ least was nor such as 20 inspire
confidence
Reading this statement. the old
Biblical phrase "whited sepulchre"
comes Instantly 20 ones mind Alas
Suct a hospital Is FOR lamentably
many paNcnfs p0f place OF cure
bat mcreiy stopping place on the
WAY 10 an actual sepulchre
And The United states and Canada
I-ts.H h,-ftffafa -Ifff1a ~
any mor. deserving ~ the name
than fhi. preposterous institution on
the pac.fC coast
There are hospitals whose trus-
tees are much Ike The hank direct
.ors who Go not direct These trus.
-rss-4----. s+++ass- = AaiAt
their possibilities 20 The public.
They 30 not even ask questions n
the surge ons n their hospitals oper-
afe bungliaely, as shown by an IN.
usually high percentage OF unsuc
cessful operations They take their
hospital nurses for granted, seldom
inquirinc into their personality and
methods
IT, hospitals thus inadequately
equlpred and unsoundly manaEed,
patients must reeds be IN undue
peril Small wonder that the Amer
lean College OF Surgeons rs striving
~ put an ord 20 q state of AFFAIR
mat IS a blot and handicap on M.
ul0nal welfare
You can cooperate n YOU will by
studying The hospital situation in
your own city
AJAX your doctor what thc condl.
'lons are Learn from him whore
Improvement Is needed
II you find Tho situation really
bad. begin to talk OF Il with your
neighhors Organize agitation that
viii compel the city and hospital
authorities 20 mend matters.
The day may come 81 VII come.
II you or your wife or one OF your
children has 20 be taken 10 hos
pital when You will indeed be
thankful that you have bestirred
Yourself for hospital reform.