Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-12
New Proposal of Survey
Would Almost Double Amount
Now Appropriated.
INCREASED PERSONNEL
LISTED AS LOCAL WANT
Many More Clinics Also Declared
Necessary for Welfare of Dis
trict Residents.


Department"
Such is the conclusion of a report Of
the United States Bureau OF Efficiency
to the House District committee on
survey of public health administration
here made in 1927. which found several
of the health services inadequate for the
needs of the growing population ana
not in keeping with the most approved
scientific methods.
The survey was conducted by Surg.
Paul Preble of the United States Pub
lie Health Service. Three plans are
submitted for the reorganization of the
District Health Department. The an
nual cost of the first of these, which
alone is worked out in detail, is estl-
mated at 1858 $50, compared to an
expenditure of s344,034.o9 in 1926, the
year for which the figures were availa-
bic when the survey was made.
Service Now Inadequate.
when the present resources and
activities of the District Health Depart
ment are compared with the generally
accepted requirements of modern public
health practice" the report states, III
is believed that SUFFICIENT evidence has
been offered to justify the conclusion
that the health service now PROVIDED
for the most important municipality OF
the Nation is decidedly inadequate ano
u1SII6CI1NC al t1IoA1y Va @NS
Among the more important recon-
mendationS are:
More adequate Office space.
A division of popular health educa-
ton under the direction of a trained
publicity agent to issue pamphlets ana
bulletins, and conduct special news
paper campaigns, lectures and exhloltS.
Employment OF supervisory nurses 10
direct the nursing staff.
A bureau of medical services in charge
of a full-time medical director to CO.
ordinate the statistical, nursing and
medical services provided for the con-
: troll of preventable and communicable
diseases, maternal and infant hygiene
and school care.
Would Add ESQ Beds.
A reorganized division of statistics
and records in charge of a physician.
with an experienced statistical assistant.
Provisions of one supervising nurse
and eight staff nurses for communicable
disease control addition of unit of
approximately $50 beds to the present
Municipal Hospital for communicable
disease cases, provision of emergency
personnel for epidemics. and reorgan-
ization of the present disinfection serv-
ice. The extra hospital space is declar-
ed Of paramount Importance"
A separate division of tuberculosis
under a full-time director with suffi-
cient trained personnel Ito make pos
sible the field service necessary to an
active campaign against this disease
systematic investigation of all reported
tuberculosis cases, increased nursing
service under a special supervisor to
give necessary instructions and super
vision in isolation and disinfection, to
follow UP known sources of infection,
and to locate unrecognized cases OF
tuberculosis larger central clinic ad-
ditional clinics in different sections OF
the city, more examining specialists.
and more clinic nurses; doubling the
present number of beds available for
tuberculosis patients, providing special
facilities for patients expected to live
but short time, and more provision for
the care of pay patients in private
rooms; employment of four social
workers for tuberculosis cases.
Need More Clinics.
A separate division of venereal disease
control with a full-time medical di-
rector and assistant, one additional
physician, two nurses, four social
workers and two attendants better fol-
low-up of sources of infection, broad
educational program, larger clinical
facilities. and special clinics for children
and for maternal and Congenital cases.
Three additional prenatal clinics,
more free beds for maternity cases,
training and supervision of midwives,
five additional infant welfare stations;
provision of mental hygiene service for
pre-school children; additional hospital
facilities for children; adequate super
vision of day nurseries and boarding
homes; increase of physicians at child
welfare clinics from TO Is, nurses
from to 49, nutrition workers and
maids from z TO II.
An increase of school medical in
spectors from 2 to 20, school nurses
from 10 to 80 and dental inspectors
and hygienists from is to 18: addition
of a school psychiatric staff of 4.
More adequate apparatus for the pub
lie health laboratories and addition OF
four Office assistants.
Appointment of two trained sanitary
inspectors as director and assistant Of
the Bureau Of Sanitation.
Would Create Bureau.
The creation of the Bureau OF Hos.
pitfalls in charge Of medical director
under the Department Of Health anc
the transfer Of all municipal hospitals
ambulance service, medical service u
the poor and appropriations for con-
tracts with private hospitals from thu
Board of Public Welfare TO this newly
created bureau.
Building of a new communicable dis
ease hospital providing approximately
$50 beds, additional facilities at Tuber'
culosis Hospital and additional hospita
facilities for women and children.
Transfer of the pound service to thu
police or some other department; trans
fer of the District crematOr1um to TIT
Board of Public Welfare.
The report proposes gradual IN
crease In appropriations until, the full
sum of approximately s65o,oOo
reached, In five years. The chief in
creases In the annual appropriation
would be $4,000 for popular healtl
education, approximately $4,000 TO
venereal disease control, $4,000 10
tuberculosis control, $4,000 for schoo
health activities. $4,000 for materna
and infant hygiene
THE District of Columbia Is barrel
mediocre in health service" says Her
bert d. Brown, chief of the Bureau Q
Efaciency, in transmitting the repor'
THE time has come to make 1t firs
class, In keeping with the standards ex
pected of the Nations Capital"
City Below Average.
The survey was made by DR.. Prebl
during 1927, but has just been issue
as q public document.
with an allotment Of barely so cent