Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-10-07
TRANSFER WAR
RISK PATIENTS
To Be Gathered Into Hospitals
Controlled by Govern
: ment.
NECESSITY OF CHANGE SHOWN
Part Of General Plan OF Bureau Of
War Risk Insurance to Concentrate
tho Invalid and Convaleseent Vet
Grams In Institutions Where They
May Be Given Better and More
Specialized Treatment.

Ex-service men disabled by reason
Of wounds, injuries or disease incurred
In the world war and in need Of hos
pital treatment are to be gathered into
hospitals owned and controlled by the
government within the next year.
This transfer Of patients from pri-
vate hospitals, and hospitals only par
TALLY controlled by the government,
constitutes part Of a general plan OF
the bureau Of war risk insurance, so
authorized to act by recent legislation,
to concentrate the invalid and con-
valescent veterans In institutions In
which the government will be able to
discharge Its obligation to them Of
better and more specialized treatment.
Director r. g. Cholmeley-Jones Of
the bureau, acting In cooperation with
United States public health service,
has announced that as soon as al
ready existing accommodations have
been taken over adapted. and suit
ably equipped by the government,
every effort will be made to encourage
such transfer Of patients unless the
men are not In condition to be
moved. The wishes Of the men are to
be consulted, but purely personal rea-
change in the program, once investiga-
ton proves that they would benefit by
such changed environment.
Necessity Of Change.
These instructions are not intended
to interfere, In localities where gov
eminent owned or operated hospitals
are not available, with the use Of con-
tract hospitals which are used solely
for the purpose Of obtaining a satis-
factory examination of the patient.
For this purpose patients may be ad-
mitted to civilian hospitals and so
kept until their examination is COM
pleted. In the event that treatment
is necessary, they will later be trans
ferred to some government institution.
The urgent necessity for such change
In the disqualification of disabled world
war veterans is seen by reviewing
Of existing conditions.
At the present time there are 1881
cA-ScItlCe 1ucH "OIuCH
(war risk patients) being cared for in
more than 1000 hospitals scattered
throughout the United States. OF
this number, 1923 are in hospitals
owned or operated by the government
and 1858 are In private hospitals, in
Guiding state and county sanitariums.
In New York state, for instance,
kNNnt. 4 vtstx
they are cared for in Las hospitals.
Similar conditions obtain proportion
ately In other sections of the country.
BY the end of the year, 1t is esti-
mated that approximately 10000 ex-
soldiers will be receiving hospital
treatment.
Authorized by Congress.
This whole situation was laid be-
fore congress and recommendation
made for building program, which
program would naturally take some
time to put into effect after the pass
ing of any act authorizing the con-
struction Of government hospitals. In
order to relieve Immediately the stu
alton, congress, at its last session,
authorized the use of the hospital
facilities Of the army, navy and ma
tiOnal soldiers homes, which authOri-
zatlon makes available approximately
thousand hospital beds.
Furthermore, In making use of the
facilities Of the national homes for
disabled volunteer soldiers, arrange
ments have been completed with Gen.
Geo. II. Wood, president of the board
Of managers of the national homes for
volunteer soldiers. for the con-
verting of two Of the national homes
into tuberculosis sanatoriums and one
Of the homes into a sanatorium for the
care and treatment of mental and
nervous patients. This program Is
being put into effect by the close CO.
operation of the National tuberculosis
association and the National Commit
tee for Mental Hygiene, and 1t is the
aim that these institutions converted
TO government uses shall be made the
best of their kind In the world.
1t is important that the government
to receive the cooperation Of
Ill those organizations and Of all In
iividuals who are equally interested
and concerned In making sure that
these disabled men and women re-
reive the very best care possible In the
hands Of the government and of the