The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-05-11

 secretary of the Cleveland Health council, in a report just submitted to the Committee on the Costs or Medical Care, recommends that such health councils be established in other American cities.
 MT Greens report is one of the Miscellaneous Con tr buttons written by experts In various fields to supplement the studies being made by the committee itself. on November 20, the Committee on the Costs of Medical. Care will fs- sue it's final report with recommen- dations based on its exhaustive fivo years of study into all phases of inc problem of ''the delivery of adeauate, scientiec medical ser vice to all the people, rich and poor, at cost which can be req sonably met by them in their re. spective stations in life."
 "After more than 10 years trial, it now seems clear that the funda- mental procedure adopted oy health councils is productive or favorable results" the report states. "when provided with com. potent personnel, necessary funds. and able guidance, health councils have demonstrated an ability to ex- ert leadership in the public health activities of their respective com munities."
 MT Green describes the influence of health councils in coordinating activities which previously were overlapping or disjointed, their ini- tiatiye in studying local health re- uuirements, their leadership in sponsoring the development of new health activities when needed, and their success in bringing to frui- ton programs of development based upon needs rather than upon impulse or guesswork.
 No Coordination in Private
 Practice
 Meanwhile, in the fields com moniy embraced in the term "pri- yate practice" he finds that there has been no comparable coordina- ton and leadership. At best. only sporadic efforts are made to insure that the total supply of physicians dentists, nurses, midwives, pnar- macists, and other practitioners in their need. Rarely do cities survey their supply of practitioners to as.' certain if there are too many Of one kind or too few of another. Consequently, he concludes, over Tapping and duplication of effort are not discovered and remedied systematically.
 siuch problems could well be met by using the methods of study and discussion which have proved suc- cessfuI in health councils, MT Green maintains. He suggests that studies might be made by health councils at tho request of, and with the advice and cooperation or, the professional societies con, cerned or that trained personnei from tho council might be lent 10 tho societies for this purpose:
 Whatever method is employed, he concludes, .t now seems clear that sane and careful planning IS necessary if our medical and health facilities, particularly Tn: large cities, are to be accurately adjusted to the needs which they are expected to meet. ,.u.
 Eleven cities now have health councils, organized to coordinate inc work of agencies and tnstitu- tions in the field of public health, ali formed within the past fifteen years, according to Mir Greens re- port. They include Cincinnau' Ohio; Boston, Mass; Cieyeiana. ohio: Denver, Colo; Minneapolis Minn: Louisville, Ky; New Haven. Conn; San Francisco, Cal; Ane. ghcny County (Pittseurgn)' r' Philadelphia. Pa; ana st A0u's'
 They all strive to bring about the greatest possible efficiency ana ecnnomy in the development and dispatch of public health work thrnurh the coordination of the work of the public health agencies. Through group planning and ex- nert study, they attempt to prevent inc placing of undue emphasis on certain problems at the cost or nepIecting others, to discover the nann in the communitys health nrogram. and to build up services and to initiate new programs to meet existing needs. Tn this wofk the health council has the cooper ation of the local medical proies- ''o1 0neration of Health Council
 MT Green illustrates the work Of health councils generally by exam nies of some of the achievements of the Cleveland Health council.
 The elimination of duplication is Illustrated by the recent forma- lion of ono Nnew agency to assume the activities formerly carried on by three others. !.
 IIo illustrates the initiation Of new activities by the recently es- tabiished prenatal program based on the health councils research showiYSy that diarrhea and enter itis, formerly leading causes or ih. fant deaths, were no longer tne chief causes of infant mortality, while deaths from premature births were mounting.
 A joint effort on the part of the health council, tho city commits. sion of health, the school medicai service and private physicians, to nrotect the children of the com munity against diphtheria is al. ready showing results. Any one or these agencies working alone. It 's pointed out, could not have hopeu to attain q similar success.
 The publication of current aniy- ses of the vital statistics of Cleve- land keeps both health workers and laymen aware of local prob lems and progress. All health programs in Cleveland are now based on facts determined by re- search. supports the able city commits sioner of health, aids him In get- ting financial support from tho city council, advises With him ana finances comparatively certain proj-
 Tn considering Mir Greens re- rort the committee expects to ".