Evening star., 1937-12-05
Hospital
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to result in definite recommendations
for improvement 1t was brought
about primarily by current criticism
OF conditions at Gallinger Municipal
Hospital, where officials admit it is
impossible to provide proper treat
ment for all INDECENT patients because
OF shortage Of personnel, space and
equipment.
Described as Disgrace.
The Gallinger shortcomings were
described as disgrace to a modern
city in q resolution adopted by the
Federation of Citizens Associations
last night. The federation called on
Congress to grant more adequate
FUNDS for the hospital operation,
without increasing total appropria-
tionS for the District.
Pointing out that the "full review
OF District health problems would in
clude the tuberculosis control pro-
gram, DR.. Rutland indicated tnat he
believed it would be advisable to
await the Public Health Service rec
concentrations before fixing a per-
manent policy for operation of the
Glenn Dale Sanatorium.
Il am perfectly willing to be euid-
ed by the advice Of Others" he said
I'VE hope to be guided also oy COM
mon sense and experience. There
would be no point in doing ANYTHING
now that would not stand I'D in the
light OF experience in dealing with
questions OF this kind"
Seal Studies Charges.
At the request of Commissioner
George E. Allen, who has supervision
over the Health Department, Corpo-
ration Counsel Seal is STUDYING
charges by some critics of DR.. Ruh-
lands original policy at Glenn Dale
that it was illegal for adult patients
TO be treated in the children's build
ing because of restrictions in the
act appropriating funds for the chill
dren's unit. Mr. Seal has not vet
ruled on this question.
The Glenn Dale controversy arose
shortly after opening of the adult
building in mid-September, when Dr.
Ruhland announced that the two units
would be operated as one institution
with beds in either building beina
utilized for either adults or children
as the need arose.
A temporary shortage of nurses for
the adult building caused a score or
more OF adult patients to be hospital
ICED in the children's building almost
Immediately In the resulting storm
OF criticism, it was charged that there
was no provision for effective sepre-
CATION of the communicable adult
cases from those suffering from the
non-infectious childhood type of tu-
berculoeis.
Findings in Conflict.
Authorities on tuberculosis. includ-
ing DR.. j. A. Myers, president of the
National tuberculosis Association.
said 1T was the national policy in
hghting the disease to segregate child
and adult patients in separate build
lngs whenever possible.
The local tuberculosis Advisory
Committee announced last night. how
ever, that its investigation showed
that adult cases of tuberculosis were
housed in the cfildrens pavilion after
due consideration and provision for
practical segregation of adult from
juvenile cases of tuberculosis had been
made"
Asserting that the adult building
was inadequate to care for all the
cases needing disqualification and that
the provision for children lis in ex-
cess of reasonable needs" the COM
mittee added:
1T is our opinion that the most
rational and economic way of utiliz-
ing the present facilities would : be
to keep the hospital for adults full
to capacity and to set aside a por-
tion of the hospital provided for chill
dren as part Of the adult hospital.
This, naturally, should be done
only after proper provision for segre-
gatlon OF cases was provided and
when both portions of the hospital
facilities utilized by adult cases could
be run as one unit This combined
unit should be entirely separated from
the portion used by patients suffering
from the childhood type of infection" J"
Back DIR. Ruhlands Policy.
Reporting that in its opinion DR..
Rutland had properly carried out the
principle of protecting children from
contact with communicable tuberculo-
sis cases, the committee concluded that
his actions had been "in the best in
terests of the community for the con-
troll of tuberculosis"
The committee is headed by DR.. Will
liam Charles White, chairman of the
Medical Research Committee of the