New Britain herald., 1927-01-26
DR. REEkS FAVORS MAKING A CUT IN
 COST 0F SICKNESS
(Continued From First Page)

for"
 Dr. Reek's report and the treasur- er's report follow:
 T have the honor of submitting to you a report of the hospital activi- ties for the fisca, year ended Sep tember 30, 1926. together with some personal comments and observations, by way of explanation.
 Set forth before you are sched- ules of financial and morbidity statistics and you will readily ob- serve from the figures shown. how decided has been the increase in every instance during the last five years. Notice for example the in- crease in the number of laboratory cases-In the year 1921-22 there past year shows 20,47S. This increase cannot be attributed entirely to the greater number of patients but more to the fact that formerly laboratory only or as called for by the attend ing physicians. Today this work is carried out as matter of routine on practically every patient entering the hospital. Again these figures convey no idea Of the type os work now be- ing done by our la laboratory-such as blood chemistry, basal metabolism, microscopy, blood transfusion, which constitute the very props of modern medicine.
 While the financial report covers the last fiscal year only, there has been an increase over that of former years. This, again, is not due entirely to the larger number of patients car ed for, but rather because of the in- creased number of buildings and more especially, the employment of skilled personnel and maintenance of equipment that has necessarily been put in to conform with the modern type of medicine now carried on in the hospital. After all, these are but a group of figures and can in no wise express that greater interest which we all have in the professional growth of the hospital.
 Improvement In Hospital
 Tt is not an easy thing to express this phase of hospital life. Yet, standing on the side lines of medi- cine so to speak. I am placed in a advantageous position to evaluate the professional progress that has been made. And I am pre- pared to tell you that the attending and surgeons are now re- ceving the aid they long since have needed in their work and are using it to the utmost. This equipment and personnel has added tremen- dously 10 the upkeep of the institu- ton but it is making. indeed has made of our hospital, a place second to none in offering physicians the technical aids required in modern medicine.
 This is bringing about much de- sired condition in New Britain first, hospital well equipped to meet the demands of modern diag- nosis and treatment: and second, men who are conversant with the modern requisites pertain ing to their lir of work. The pro- fessional advancement has gone far ther than l have outlined for there are certain physicians at the hospital now devoting no small part of their time to some special line of work. Again, the hospital and the needs of the city are an attraction to spe- cialists to locate in New Britain. We already have one or two in the city specializing in branches of medicine which We cid not have year ago. All of this means but one thing: that there is the nucleus of a medical center right here in New Britain which will steadily grow.
 ''I dare bring this matter to your first. because it is fact: and second, probably because of habit or lack of confidence. some still feel it necessary to seek pro- fessional advice in other cities and in many instances they obtain no greater skill than they would receive right here.
 "High Cost of Sickness"
 Tt is these adjuncts to modern medicine that make the maintenance of a modern hospital expensive, which in turn, is felt by the patient. Indeed, the high cost of sickness in the home and especially in a hos siderable importance to the aver age wage-e learner. It was not so long ago that the vast majority of ill., nesses were watched and cared for in the home from beginning 10 end by the family doctor. Then diGg- noses were fewer and mortality was higher. But modern medicine aims at accuracy, which in a large meas ure requires the support of various laboratory procedures that can only pital. These advantages are enjoyed by the weil-to-do at no particular financial stress, and by the poor at practically no expense, but the man with the average income whose pride forbids him taking advantage Of free service, bears a financial bur den which he usually shoulders for many months following his dis charge from the hospital. And the end is not yet. for hospitals must look forward to maintaining fur ther scientific equipment and per sounel to meet the demands as medicine advances.
 T am happy 10 state that the New Britain General hospital is one of the very few in the east that makes no charge to the patient for many diagnoStic aids maintained at con- siderable cost to the hospital. Never theless the charges we do make con- stitute a burden to this great class of people. l deem this r alter