The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-01-19
HOSPITALS OF
CITY FAIL TO
meet NEEDS
One Bed for 1870 Persons Is
Accommodation Found
in Times Survey.
DEMANDS ON INCREASE
Patients Are Kept in Hotels,
Awaiting Turns, Say
Local Doctors.

With one hospital bed to every
100 persons, Indianapolis hospital
facilities still are inadequate to meet
the city's needs, survey made by
The Times showed today.
The city's twelve hospitals have
2065 beds, the survey revealed, and
this number is insufficient for the
prompt care and treatment Of the
sick and injured of the city's 375,OOO
inhabitants.
Increased demands upon the
hospitals" said DR.. Herman G. Nor
gan, health board secretary, coca
stoned by a growing population, are
augmented by the fact that folks no
longer regard these institutions as
a place in which to die Too often,
this was the old attitude. Today
they are regarded as the place in
which to recover.
"This changed public sentiment
has sent thousands to the hospitals
for recovery and prolonged life, who.
not so far back, would have died
rather than submit to hospital
treatment"
Hospitals Are Overtaxed
Heads of institutions, almost with
out exception, report local hospitals
overtaXed. Some said patients were
in hotels, waiting their turn to get
in.
A recent survey, said DR.. Morgan.
showed that Indianapolis ranked
fifteenth among the principal cities
Of the United States in the number
Of hospital beds to the thousand of
population.
Another survey, according to DR..
George Smith, Methodist Hospital
superintendent, showed that the city
has provided well for the care of
needy patients and for the well-to-
do classes, but that there is a short
age of hospital facilities here for the
large class between those two ex-
tremeS. !
To meet this need, the Methodist
Hospital will start erection soon of
an eigh !-Story addition, to supply
200 added rooms. When this is filled,
the structure will be extented to six
teen stories, to provide another adj
ditional 200 rooms.
How Hospitals Rank
Indianapolis hospitals and the
number of beds they provide at
present are: st. Francis, 80; City,
585; Methodist, 1856; Indiana Chris
tan, 100; William II. Coleman, 100;
Clark-Blakeslee OSteopathic, 20; In
dianapolis Cancer, So; Robert w.
Long, 1902; Sunnyside tuberculosis
sanatorium, Oaklandon, $50; Provi-
dent, 20; James Whitcomb Riley
Hospital for Children, $50; and st.
Vincent's, 200.
An addition to ST. Vincent's He's
pital will be completed within two
months. Conditions there are crowd
ed, as at practically all the other
institutions.
Hospital attendance" is subject to
seasonal differences, said DR..
Charles H. Young, superintendent at
Indiana Christian Hospital.
November and December are
rather quiet months here" he said.
But beginning in January, the
institution Is crowded and this con-
d1tion lasts usually until July. After
a few weeks, the number of patients
increases in August and continues
heavy until November's slump"
Robert Neff, administrator of the
Indiana University group of hospi-
tails, which includes the Robert W.
Long, William H. Coleman and
James Whitcomb Riley institutions.
said there we're waiting lists for ali
these hospitals.