Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-12-20

empty while a corresponding female
ward is so crowded that it is forced
TO reject patients. In a single-room
hospital rooms play be renovated or
~redecorated one at a time: the same
process under the ward system re-
quires entire wards to be put out of
commission.
There are these additional advan-
tages in favor of the private-room
hospital: Each room. having its own
equipment. lavatory and toilet. Is an
isolated unit. Danger of infection
and contagion is absolutely elimi-
mated. Patients newly admitted are
not greeted by the sight of the SUE
fering of a dozen or more other per-
ions. Nor r these dozen or more
occupants disturbed by the admit
lance of new patients, perhaps IN
the middle of the night. Visitors
may come all day if the physician is
willing. while in wards certain limi-
tations are necessary.
One of the newest features of the
Fifth Avenue Hospital is its shape.
1t is being built in the form of a
huge *" so that a large space in
tervenes between the wings, and
each room is an outside room. Every
bed may be placed within three feet
of an outside window. and the tenn
perature of the room regulated to
meet the requirements of the in
dividual case,
A Floor for Children
An entire floor will be devoted TO
the cart of children, from the new
born infant to boys and girls of fif-
teen. Glass partitions instead of
solid walls will be a feature of this
department. These will provide the
necessary isolation, but will permit
them the pleasure of seeing the
other little people in the cubicle. On
this floor also there will be one out
side and four inside playrooms, lib
orally supplied with toys, games,
and picture books.
The basement of the hospital will
be occupied by its quartermaster de-
partment. including a general store
room, pharmacy, surgical. supply
room, diet kitchen, main kitchen
and linen supply division. Orders
from the several hospital floors will
be transmitted by telautograph to
this department. where they will be
filled and delivered by electric dumb
walters.
Nurses will not be interrupted in
their Cdre OF patents to p
special rourishment. This important
detail will be handled in the diet
kitchen by trained dietitians. The
same time-saving method will be
used for any supplies necessary to
the patients welfare. Standard sets
of instruments for surgical dress
ings, together with all other sick
room equipment. will always be on
hand in the supervisors office on
each floor throughout the building.
When instruments have been used
they will be sent to the surgical sup
ply room for cleaning and steriliz-
ing. The great value of these inno-
vations may not be at once apparent
to the layman, but they will be
greatly appreciated by the medical
profession.
Naturally such a hospital will be
only partially self-sustaining but Ii
is backed by a number of wealthy
men n women. who have been at
tracted by its high purpose. Many
of the rooms have already been en-
dowed by sympathetic individuals.
The Barrymores, for instance, have
endowed n for the benefit of the
acting profession.
The Fifth Avenue Hospital Will
be ready for patients on the first Of
next July, according to the present
schedule. In the meantime, a move
ment for more wardless hospitals Is
growing throughout the country and
may produce additional results by
the time the first r. is completed.