Milford chronicle., 1934-12-14
COMPLETE LOCAL.
HOSPITAL SURVEY.
[continnfd rrom "a. Paael


certain fresh vegetables, etc, in
large quantity, necessitating an ex-
cessive use of canned goods. 1t is
believed that with sufficient space
and proper equipment and the same
efficient management, it would be
possible to maintain the present
high standard of food at the hOspi-
tai and yet effect a considerable saw
ing.
Laboratory costs are about the
same as those of larger hospitals,
but a study of the work done re-
vealed that the Milford Emergency
HOSPITALS Laboratory is doing at
present about the same volume of
work as is ordinarily done in hun
dred-bed hospital, which justifies the
expense.
Milford Emergency Hospital is
paying about $1,000 a year more for
upkeep and repairs than is the av-
erage hospital of similar size. This
it is pointed out is necessitated by
the fact that the hospital building is
an old house, not originally built for
hospital purposes, and ill-adaDted
to such use. 1t has served the COM
munity well for a quarter OF a CEN
tury but now that the work of the
hospital has increased so tremend-
ously it constitutes a liability rather
than an asset.
The fourth department with ex-
cessive costs is the laundry depart
ment. Forty-nine and one-half cents
Der day is spent for laundry Tor
each patient in the hospital. The av-
erage hospital, regardless OF size,
pays about seventeen cents per day
for laundry. It is pointed out that
the reason for this very excessive
cost lies in the fact that hospitals
usually have their own laundry
plants. No space is available in the
present plant for the installation OF
such a department.
The study reveals that because of
the very limited storage space in the
hosDital plant, it has been impos-
sible to take advantage of the lower
Drices that could be obtained
through quantity purchases. II is /
felt that the maintenance of lower
than average costs and higher than
average service. in spite of these
serious handicaps. is a great ac-
complishment and indicates extra
ordinary management.
An analysis of the professional ,
work done in the hospital indicates
an extraordinary capable staff, ac-
cording to the survey. There is avail
able in Milford the same high quail
ity of medical and surgical skill as
might be expected in any large city. !
The mortality rate averages we'll
with that of leading hospitals. 1t is ,
pointed out that this high standard .
of work has been maintained in /
spite of hospital limitations which .
seriously handicap the doctors. II /
has frequently been necessary for /
them 10 permit patients to leave the .
hosDitaI earlier than they would I
care to after sickness or operations,
because of the fact that more urs-
ent cases were clamOring for admit
lance and an sufficient number of
beds were not available for all.
The survey indicates that Milford J.
Emergency Hospital is serving a
territory which extends some 30
miles south of Milford and 10 or 10
niles north. In 1882, for instance.
1874 patient days of service were
rendered people from Georgetown;
55S days of service to people in Lau-
rel: 497 days to people in Millsboro,
md 154 days to citizens of Days
Doro. Frankiord, and Selbyville. A
.utal of S,342 patient days of SER
vice was rendered in 1888. During
he first eleven months of 1884.
!. .444 days OF service were rendered.
The crowded condition of the hos
1ital is said to have become so ser
Gus as to impair the safety of the
1t is anticipated that
steps will be taken in the near fu-
ure to relieve the situation.