The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-07-06
STUDY WELFARE WORK
Application of Business Princi-
Piles Brings Increased RetdIns.
United States Department Of Labor
Gives Results of Wide Investioa-
tion-Nurs>s Have More Time
for Field Work.

Washington. - The application Of
modern business principles to welfare
agencies, and the increased returns on
the funds contributed effected thereby,
are described in a report just made
public by the United States Depart
ment of Labor through the cI!ldren's
bureau. This report, entitled office
Administration for Organizations SD
peryising the Health OF Mothers. In
fants and Children of Pre-. School Age"
is the outgrowth of requests for nd
vice which came to the chilflren's hu-
reau from organizations in various
cities. 1t embodies the experience OF
members of the staff whose services
were Loaned for studies and conSulta-
lions, and the results Of a study Of
methods used by 200 nursing agencies
in both large and small communities.
Although the report is directed espe-
cially toward the needs Of agencies SUI
pervising the health Of mothers and
young children, certain fundamental
principles set forth are applicable to the
conduct Of any office in the social
field.
The Immediate results of the reor-
ganization of the first agency studied,
which affected both the nursing staff
and the Office force, were: CD a
marked Increase in the nurses time
available for field work, due to elimi-
nation of duplicate clerical work on
their part, and to increased office cler-
lnrJ ooo;ntaroo /oN A., 80 80
fee output, due to redistribution Of
duties and orderly %rerouting Of clerical
work. (3) Increased accuracy in
Mndling records and office detail. "a
Elimination of lost motion, with its
waste Of time, energy and space, ac-
by standardizing routing
duties and rearranging the office equip
In addition to these immediate
the new system laid the foun-
dation for orderly development and
economical administration Of
associations affairs.
at is i~ndisputabIe.' the report
that in the long run modern
office management enables a society
70 do more work and better work than /
was possible at the same cost in old
If high standards of nursing
are to be maintained, strict re-
suiretnents regarding the education,
raining, experience and character Of
he nurse mast be compensated by adj
'quate professional salaries. The
nursing staff, moreover, must
'e supported by a skilled office force,
ntelligentIy and adequately equipped
nd directed.
The report is not intended for the n
organizations alone. 1t is not
unreasonable to suppose, 1t states, that
he waste occurring in the small public
ealth nursing organizations through
ut the nation bullzs greater than the
otal waste of the large organizations. |
he Office may be the desk of the one
urSe who is executive and staff at /
ne and the same time, but the appli- ]
alton Of the fundamental principles Of :
engagement are nevertheless necessary
} efficient service. !
The report is written with full
aovledge of the financial limitations
hich hamper many struggling socie-
es. 1.-The n~onpaying business concern
)es out of existence while the public
aalth nursing organization usually
on through many lean years,
ling countless things plainly undesir-
lie from the mere inability to meet
penses." 1t is of course on account
the limited revenues that scientific
anagement Is the more necessary to
complish the best results with the
cans at hand.
Among the subjects with which the
port deals are: The principles and
ethods Of staff organization, selec-
N and training of employees, office
,ation and arrangement, selection Of
ice furniture, equipment and sup
es, planning case record systems,
financial administration, and
blicity methods. 1t includes a bibli-
raphy and IN appendix giving details
four record systems in use by diff
'ent types of nursing Organizations.