Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-16
DISCUSS SHORTAGE OF
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES
Important Meeting OF Physicinn, nnd
Hospital Superintendcnts Held
Mt Cnfycrsfty Club.

Never before in the history Of Ricn-
| mond was meeting held as unique In
ITS way and as distinctive in purpose az
| That called at the University Club
last night by Miss Il, II. Van Wort
chairman OF the nurses committee OF
virginia. Besides the superintendent
OF city hospitals. including Mr.. More
lock. OF Memorial. there were present
the nine. perhaps best known medical
men. not only OF Richmond. but or
the state OF Virginia.
THESE were Or. Ennion G.. Williams
state Health Commissioner: DR.. Roy
X. Flanagan, chief health officer. OF
Richmond; Or. w .A. Brumficld. OF
the state Board Of Health: DR. ~ Z.
Emmett. medical Inspector for the city
schools; Dr G. II. Rohins. Dr. j. All
son Hodges. DIR. Stuart Mcclure. Or.
Robert g. Bryan, Dr. Murat Willis. DIR.
H. II. 1iibbs. Jr.. head OF the Richmond
school Of Public Health: Miss Agnes
Randolph. OF tho State AutitubcrcuIo-
sis Association: Miss Mamie J. Minor.
head OF the Instructive Visiting Nurses
Association: Mrs. hanson. chief health
nurse; senator J. T.. West. Of Sunolh.
and others. who arc vitality Interested
in Tho matter Of increasing the supply
of public health nurses to Supplcmcn,
the work OF the alarmingly few doc
tors left home during the con-
tinuancc Of the war.
the meeting was presided over by
Miss Van Wort, and all the physician.
present made short ta,Hs. and several
OF the women who arc authorities on
the nursing situation in tho STATE.
spoke. The physicians present who
are the executive heads Of city hospi-
tails. speaking for their hospitals con-
Cured in an expression OF a common
desire to affiliate with the public health
course outlined for the senior class
by DIR. Eiibbs. and the two hospitals
which could not make the necessary
adjustment agreed TO furnish maintc-
nance for certain number OF their
graduates who could thus take the
course as post graduate work
The value of the public health nurse.
particularly in rural communities, was
shown. and Mrs. Ransom told OF wha,
far southwestern counties had done
along this line. Wise County. for in
STAGE. pays the salaries OF Two public
health nurscs-sl:j each every month
and also pays for the upkeep OF an
automobile to expedite their work in
the county
Senator West. speaking from the
viewpoint OF civilian, declared that
in his opinion. the health of tho pco-
pie was one of the greatest assets OF
i nation. and that public health mca =
surcS at this time should be strong.
constructive and aggressive in policy"
senator West is Il member OF tho SEN
ate Finance Committee, and he men
toned the careful attention which this
committee had given to Dr. Williarns's
report, and his earnest hope that some
thing really worth while might be ac-
complishcd without delay. tending to-
ward the conservation OF the public
health.
While tho executive heads Of the hos
pitfalls had mentioned in a general way
what each hospital was prepared to
do in this movement, it vas thought
that a committee should be appointed
to make a careful poll of all the hos
pitfalls and report definitely on the mum
Der OF senior nurses which each would
allow to take the pub health course
under DR. tlihbs. Miss Van Wort will
appoint this committee at once.