Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-15
AND PART-PAY
PATIENTS INCREASE
Hospitals and Nursing Units.
Ask Chest for Larger
Sums This Year.

Decided increases In the number Of
persons requiring free and part-pay
care from hospitals and public health
nursing organizations were largely re-
sponsible for the increased amount
asked by these organizations from the
Community Chest of 1881, according
to the report of the Budget Commit
tees subcommittee on health agencies.
There are II organizations in the
Chest which deal directly with health
problems, the report shows, and their
estimated expenses for 1881, due to UNI
employment and depression, are $2,577,-
O20.8l, of which the Chest will con-
tribute 10 per cent or $470, 242.76. This
is more than $4,000 over the amount
contributed in 1880.
Georgetown Hospital Reports.
The report from Georgetown Uni
versity Hospital, a typical organization,
| shows that during 1880 6,977 days of
| free care were given. In addition to
this, 14,075 days of part-pay care were
provided In the dispensary 5000 new
patients applied for treatment during
1880. A total of 1856 visits were made
by the staff Of the dispensary in con-
tacting those persons in need of medi-
| cal supervision and medical social
service in their homes. They have had
close contacts with 604 families, hos
| pital care being arranged for 252 Of
these persons in Georgetown Hospital
and hospital care for SO persons ar
ranged in other hospitals. Georgetown
University Hospital has had active CO.
| operation with % other social agen-
cies during the year 1880.
The annual report for 1880 from
Children's Hospital, which carried a
| large percentage of free and part-pay
care, shows that 1898 hospital DAYS
care were provided for STAT patients
during the year. A total Of 2o,625 Wis
| its were made TO the dispensary of
Children's Hospital, and 4,640 emer-
gency cases were treated. The yearly
report Of the Child Welfare Society
shows a total clinic attendance for
1880 of 12,462, of which 5,546 were
| white and 6,916 colored persons OF
the 1892 cases mentioned, SPAS of
these cases had reference to children
under l year of age. In connection
fare Society, large part of the work
Is that Of home visiting by the nurses
on the staff. During 1880, home visits
totaled 5,637. These included 1,948
visits, involving cases Of children under
year of age. In order to provide the
proper diet for the care Of children,
the Child Welfare Society holds food
1 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. OuIllB TIE year lei
such demonstrations were given, with
q total attendance Of 2,335 persons.
Visiting Nurses Aid 1915.
The report Of the Instructive Visiting
Nurse Society, another Chest health
organization, shows that the nurses
rendered service to 1908 patients last
year, paying a total of 120580 visits,
an increase Of LTD patients and SOTO
visits over the previous year. The stan
gave 200 days overtime, or the equiva-
lent of one years work, 1885 days be-
ing considered working year.
Each nurse on the staff visited an
average Of nine patients daily and each
patient dismissed had an average Of
nine visits. Thirty-five per cent Of
the work was With children under 5
years Of age, including 1902 infants
under year. Fifty per cent were adults
between the ages Of II and IS, and z
per cent were old people Of IS years or
more.
Seven per cent of the patients were
full pay, 80 per cent corporation pay
Industrial insurance companies. etc
per cent part-pay and So per cent
free. The number Of free patients in
creased from 90 per cent in 1929. 20
SO per cent in 1880, and q decrease In
full-pay patients from 9 te ? per cent,
This IS believed due to unemployment
which has made 1t necessary for many
people who would otherwise have paid
TO accept free or part-pay service.