The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-10-06

SectiOn).
Offer to take all patient overflow
at the same per capita cost of city
hospital, thus averting the necessity
for a contemplated 100000 indeb-
tedness to increase city hospitals
capacity. was extended to the city
of indianapolis today by the board
of directors of Methodist hospital.
The proposal to Mayor Reginald
H. Sullivan, city health board city
council and the citizens of Indian
apolis is contained in a Letter from
DR.. John G.. Benson and Clarence
Hess, respectively Methodist hospital
superintendent and business man
ager.
The letter points out that because
of crowded conditions at city hos
pitsl, steps have been taken to bor-
row at least 100000 to increase its
capacity.
The privately-owned Methodist
hospital proposal asserts that it and
other private hospitals could as
sumo a share in the INDECENT emer-
gency cases in the downtown or
near downtown district.
we appeal to you, Mr.. Mayor,
in this time of municipal finance
emergency. that no steps toward
the mourning of g half-million dol
lar indebtedness be taken for the
reason that it is unnecessary.
"A part of our institution can be
set aside to take care of city hos
pital overflow and patients can be
assured of just as good care as they
would receive at city
unfair Competition"
Dwelling on the inadvisability of
mourning additional Indebtedness at
city hospital, the Methodist offer
points out that many emergency
case patients are able to pay for
medical attention and that these
cases we'll might be distributed at
private hospitals instead of being
taken to city hospital and their
costs charged to the latters over
worked budget
1T is beyond our comprehension
the Methodist offer continues, why
ambulances should go screaming
past private hospitals, when the pa
tients could pay all or part of their
medical expense, and be taken to
the crowded city hospital"
Unfair competition" is laid to
city hospital in the Methodist offer
to the mayor and council.
The city hospital. as we under
stand it." the Methodist proposal
continues, was built to take care
of INDECENT cases only and to be
supported by taxes from the city.
Point to Competition
This is not the prevailing policy.
We witness the strange spectacle Of
he city hospital entering into
competition with privately-support-
eo hospitals and caring for cases
at less than cost. This is manifest
~ unfair.
Privately operated hospitals of
the city already are doing a large
amount of charity work and should
have some protection. In this insti-
tuition last year. the cost of free work
was in excess of 100000"
Suggesting that the city policy Of
allowing our citizens who can pay
TO obtain medical services free or at
Glow cost at citv hospital adds I'M
necessarily aX-overburdened
citizenry. the = lodist proposal
also asserts the practice contributes
to the delinquency of people who
should pay all or part of their
medical costs whenever possible.
Ready to Take Overflow
so far as we are concerned" the
offer continues, Methodist hospital
is ready to take over the entire
overflow at exactly the same per
capita costs as the city hospital.
This. your honor. will save you
sending the city into further debt
by building an addition to city hos
pital, which will not be needed when
the depression is at an end.
1t will not cost any more to care
for your sick that must be supported
by the city and will help your
privately supported hospitals to fill
their beds which lay empty in these
times of economic stress
Cops Seek Child Annoyer