Evening star., 1926-12-16
Would Define Policy.

IF the hospitals policy of making
| it a center for the curative treatment
and the study of mental diseases of
all types is to be continued that
/ policy should be embodied in leGisla-
! ton.
! There is not afforded that oppor-
tunity to patients to consult with and
! to obtain the assistance, legal or
otherwise. of financiallw disinterested
persons, which. though undoubtedly
| difficult Of practical attainment. would
seem to be most desirable.
There are too many patients in
some of the wards, resulting in
! crowded and unhealthy conditions.
Dining rooms. sitting rooms, toilet,
! bath and other facilities of some Of
! the wards are quite inadequate and
most unsatisfactory.
THE fire hazard in certain wards
| is too great and there does not ap-
pear to be sufficient firef9hting equip
ment or adequate firefighting force"
Urges Adequate Accounting
"The general medical and surgical
facilities are not properly concen-
trated to meet satisfactorily the legiti.
| mate requirements of patients.
"The necessity for maintaining
numerous kitchens unquestionably in
! creases the cost of operation,
"The method of distribution and
control of clothing, bedding and other
! articles issued from the storehouse
, should be improved and an adequate
accounting for property should be re-
quired of all services.
"The cost keeping system should be
carried with logical conclusion and
proper accounts of the expenditures.
should be established and maintained
and per diem charges should be based
upon the figures developed therefrom.
"rhe individual records OF patients
money should be sufficiently complete
to show thereon the sources of re-
ceipt and purposes for which used, in
addition to showing the amount and
dates of receipt and disbursement
and balances.
"a complete method o. recording
the valuables of patients by each in
dividual and also as a running con-
troll record should he installed, and
more adequate facilities for safe
guarding such valuables should be
provided.
Accountants Now Assisting.
There is lacking proper procedure
for ascertaining the property and ,ac-
counts due and becoming due
patients as represented by deposit re-
ceipts, bank books, military discharge
statements, inheritanceS ETC., or of
reducing the same to possession for
the benefit of either the patient or
the hospital, there appears, in fact,
no clear statutory authority for the
adoption of such procedure as would
appear advantageous.
"Some enforceable plan should be
authorized for the disposition of the
money or property held for patients
who die or otherwise become separat-
ed from the hospital in cases where
there now exists no clear and enforce.
able procedure authorized by law.
"A plan which can be readily ad-
ministered as well as adequately con-
trolled by the Congress for the use
available to the hospital appears to
sideration of Congress.
1T may be stated that in so far
as the formulation of better systems
of administrative accounting for re-
ceipts and expenditures and account
ing for patients money and property
is concerned, the general accounting
Office is now assisting the hospital In
solving it's problems
A resolution providing for printing
as a House document the report of
the special board Of medical adj
visers on st. Elizabeth's Hospital, as
made to the Secretary of the Interior,
was introduced in the House today
by Representative Cramton. Republi-
can. Of Michigan