The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1923-01-12
HOSPITAL FOR
MANY COUNTIES
Good Hospital an Asset, Worth
The Combined Support of
Many Counties

\ recent article IN the Raieign
News & Observer sponsoring the
idea of a hospital for every county
in the state, might be eclipsed in the
healthy counties Of Northeastern
North Carolina by the idea of a hos
pital for two or three counties, oper-
ated on community plan for maxi
mum benefit at minimum cost.
There are many counties in North
eastern North Carolina that are
sparsely populated, in comparison
with the density of population in
some of the counties in the central
and western parts of the state. For
such thickly settled counties, hos
pital is an economic necessity
standing need that will long be post
poned before the multitudes can see
the advantages of legislation or ap-
propriations for its erection or sup
port.
A hospital for several counties in
Northeastern North Carolina is an
asset that will not have to be acquir-
ed. Indeed it would be difficult to
acquire, if taxation to erect or sup
port It, is expected on the property
values of the present or the near
future. But with a hospital already
erected and underway in Elizabeth
City, the metropolis of ten North
eastern North Carolina counties, the
prospect appears more feasible, and
the idea launched in the foregoing
becomes more worthy of consider
ation
Three or four counties could derive
an advantage in pooling their resour-
ces to support centrally located
hospital. A scattering number of
small and poorly equipped institutions
could never prove as valuable to the
counties, both with respect to econ
omy of operation, and service to hui
manity as one big modern, efficient
well-eQuipped, and up to date plant,
such as Elizabeth City has already
acquired and is operating under mu-
nicipal direction. But the support
of one worth while institution would
result in unreasonable benifits here
in Northeastern North Carolina, even
If every county participating in its
upkccp. assumed the expense of
transportation of its INDECENT charges.
Such hospital with the addition
of very little equipment would not be
OutlclaSscd by any of the more expen-
sivc institutions in the larger cities,
that are today operated solely for the
benefit of the very rich. And with
the assurance of the support of GER
tain numbers Of counties pledging
Il definite sum. it would be possible
to retain a staff OF the most compe-
tent specialists in the county avail
able at all times for consultation and
medical advice to potential inyal.ds.
The good Offices of the institution
and its staff of medical experts could
go further. Such an organization
could maintain periodic surveys OF
the health conditions Of the district
embraced, and issue from time to
time such bulletins as would suit the
particular needs of it's section as to
how it could best take care of its
health. The ounce of prevention
would be worth many pounds of cure
in the saving it would oftentimes eff.
feet in the care of the sick, not tc
speak of what might be saved il
transportation and incidentats.
The idea might be well to think
over. and expressions from readers
at any rate, should prove interest
ing at future date.