Evening star., 1928-06-17
SURGEONS |NDORSE
BETTER-CAREP PLAN
Movement to Get Best Treat
ment for Auto Victims
Gains Support.

The movement recently started by the
American Automobile Association for a
higher standard of hospital treatment
for the victims of automobile accidents
received today the whole hearted in
dorsement of the American College OF
Surgeons.
The Endorsement Of the College of
Surgeons. which consists of 5000 OF
the leading surgeons of the United
States, Canada and Latin America, took
the form of letter from DR.. Franklin
H Martin, director general of the coll
lege. to Thomas p. Henry, president OF
the American Automobile Association.
Dr. Martin pointed out that the inter-
est Of the worlds largest motor fedora
ton in the question of safety after
ward" would materially aid in mobiliz-
ing public sentiment around what the
College of Surgeons is doing to put into
effect "a minimum standard of eff
cheney with which all hospitals and
surgeons should comply"
List of Hospitals.
He suggested that the A. A. A. utilize
for the information of motorists the list
of hospitals in the United States and
Canada approved by the College of Sur
geons This list includes over 80 per
cert of the hospitals in the United
State and Canada with a capacity of
100 beds or over.
DR.. Martins letter to President Henry
follows:
MY attention has been drawn to a
recent article in the public press, entit-
LED Better Care of Auto Victims.
wherein the interest of your great or
ganization in the treatment Of the in
jured is expressed. InaSmuch as you
have cited the findings Of our research
group OF the board on Traumatic surg
cry. and as our college is actively en-
gagged on this very subject Of improve
n1ent in the care of the injured. 1t
seems appropriate to make brief state
ment concerning the college and its
aims in this particular direction.
THE American College of Surgeons
Is an organization of over 5000 of the
leading surgeons of the United States.
Canada and Latin America Their or
ganized effort to improve hospitals and
surgical service was begun over 10 years
ago. Their initial step was the formula
ton Of a minimum standard Of eff
cheney with which all hospitals and
surgeons should comply.
Comply With Standards.
"Over 90 per cent of all hospitals in
the United States and Canada with
capacity Of 100 beds and over are now
complying with this minimum stand
ard and are upon the approved list Of
the college: and a constantly increas-
ing number of the smaller hospitals are
complying and are approved as rapidly
IS the facts justify. In brief summary.
the practical results which are recogniz-
ed over the entire hospital world are:
The shortening of the average days
stay Of patients in hospitals.
Tine lowering of the hospital death
rate.
The elimination of unnecessary and
incompetent surgery.
Many of the changed conditions in
our modern, high-geared life center
accidents requiring emergency treat
nnent is increasing and many of these
are In cur rural districts. In many in
stances for want of immediate adequate
hosDital and surgical service. undue dis
abilities and deaths result. The Ameri-
can College of Surgeons Is taking the
lead in providing ethical and scientific
hospital and surgical service for those
meeting with accidents Of any nature.
and so far as is possible regardless OF
locality.
Best Approved Methods.
''Tne better minds In surgery are be-
ing brought to bear upon this subject
and the best approved modern methods
Of treatment are being introduced into
the hospitals, and knowledge of them
disseminated throughout the surgical
profession. Medical schools are being
Induced to place more emphasis in the
education Of their students upon the
treatment Of the injured.
1.-THE American Railway Association
has instructed It's surgeons to utilize
the hospitals approved by the An1eri-
can College OF Surgeons where practi-
cable For the same reasons might II
not be advantageous II you should
utilize the approved list Of hospitals In
the United States and Canada for the
information OF your tourists"