The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-20
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL .
Information Bureau
FREDERIC >. HasKIs. Director.
washington, d. g.
THE PASSING OF THE WARD.
washington. d. c.

1
THE PASSING OF THE WARD.
New York City. Dec. 1.-THE hos
pitaI ward, which for centuries has
been considered wise and practical
accommodating, for the sick poor, is
now being attacked as an Anticipated
institution. The new idea is that every
hospital patient should be housed in
a private room, whether he can afford
to pay for it or not
Doubtless 1T will be more than "a
few years before this pleasing proph-
ecy is entirely realized. but New
Yarlz has already struck the first blow
for a waFdless hospital future in its
new Fifth Avenue Hospital.
This building, which is rising slowly
and magnificently between 105th and
106th streets on the avenue. opposite
Central Park, will bet is hoped for
just a short time--the only hospital
of it's kind in the world. 1t will have
no ward, but private rooms, each with
bathroom attached, are to be rented
{ at rates ranging from nothing up. The
| patient without cent to his name Will
receive exactly the same treatment as
the one with a large bank balance,
This sliding scale of rates is de-
signed for the special benefita of the
so-called middle class. which suffers
aeutely under the present hospital sys-
tenn. The extremely poor who do not
mind going into a ward can get free
treatment Indefinitely at many hos
| pitfalls, and the wealthy can afford te
| pay for private rooms but the middle
| class-that large portion OF the popu-
4 lation which must keep up appear
ances on small salaries-cannot take
advantage of either. It's pocketboek
will not permit it to have private
room, and its pride will not permit it
| to enter a ward.
"To provide this i'm between class
of peopleewith comfortable, well-light
| ed. well-aired private rooms at what
ever nominal fee they feel comfort
ably able ito pay, is one of thes big
aims of the new hospital" according
I to DIR. Wiley Egan Woodbury., who is
to be its director. mo other hospital
| in the world has been founded with
such an idea as this behind it," be
says. 80"
Middle Glass Suffers.
Consider the clerical forces, the
men and women at desks. counters.
and benches Their salaries permit
then to live comfortable home lives,
| but many have large families depend
ent upon them, and have been able to
save but little. Serious illness, espe-
cially if it is of long duration, is an
overwhelming calamity to them. To
swallow their pride and to subject
themselves to the humiliation and dis
comforts of going into a general ward,
or to bear lthe expense of obtaining
the sort of hospital service that they
really should have-either extremity
would be unfortunate"
/ This is illustrated by a ease which
| came to the reporters attention the
other day-that of a young married
couple who are in desperate circum-
stances owing to an unforeseen mis-
fortune. Both husband and wife have
worked bravely and ambitiously ever
since they were married a few years
ago. The young wife did clerical
work, and the young husband held
a position with a future attached to
it in Wall Street. At first they lived
in cheap boarding houses in order to
save money. Gradually, however,
they acquired their own apartment; a
judicious amount of real antique fur
, niture; then a valiant little second
hand car, and now they are expecting
} baby.
Yhe hard struggle OF their early
married years seemed to be splendidly
worth while several weeks ago-wheE
the Wall Street explosion occurred
The young husband was standing toe
, near the scene of the disaster, talk
ing to a business acquaintance, and
was horribly injured. He has been
in a hospital ever since, lat the ex-
pense of $500 week. This has swept
the. complies small board of savings
!
: sell her household effects to pay the
| bills. tsss
"As for mel can go into a ward
she. told a friend recently, but the
boy must have the best treatment
: available if he is to get well. Ever
now we fear that he win lose the, use
, of his right leg.p
Needless to say, private hospita
: room, such as the Fifth Avenue Hos
pital intends to provide, would be q
, tremendous boon to this married pair
the innocent victims of a cruel Hisfor-
tune.
n 1.-THE mere thought of putting two
| or more sick people together in tbs
, same room should be argument
enough against it." declares T.-Franl
ManYille. president of the board o.
{ trustees of the new hospital. 'eTht
+ Eward system, tho universally prac-
ticed for econony's sake, is a relic o.
the dark ages of hospital practice
Every sick person, with or withou
} means, should have a room to him
self. OF herself, and not be thrust int
the nondescript acsemblage and con
: fusing hustle of a. general public sicl
: ward
Economy of Private Rooms.
a But the wardIess hospital is justi
! fled from an economic as well as
sentimental point of view. Under thu
8 strictly private room system, for in
stance, Inere Is aDSOIuLely no waste O
= heat or light. since 1t is possible t
Shut off completely those rooms o
: wings which are not in use, wherea
C a ward must be kept well heated ani
+ lighted even tho it is only half occu
: pied. Furthermore, the elimination 0
5 and disease classification permits
e maximum use. of the entire hospita
4 at all times 1t frequently occurs il
], ward hospitals that a male, ward
half empty while corresponding fe
T male ward is so crowded that it /
y forced to reject patients. In single
room hospital rooms may be removal
ed or redecorated one at a time; tk
e same process under the ward system
e requires entire wards to be put out O
e commission.
t There are these additional advan
y tages in favor of the private room,hos
= pital; Each room. having its ow
n equipment lavatory and toilet, is a
r isolated unit. Danger of infection an
It contagion Is absolutely eliminated. Pa
o tients newly admitted are not greete