Evening star., 1937-04-03
BY DON S. WARREN.

BY DON S. WARREN.
"Since the health officer carries re-
sponsibility over public health con-
ditions, and must meet criticisms
against prevailing mortality rates and
the incidence of disease, he should
be given direct control over municipal
hospital services"
This is one of the arguments most
frequently offered in support of the
plan to transfer to the Health De-
partment the jurisdiction over Gal
linger Hospital, the tuberculosis Sana-
toria and the medical charities.
Advocates of the change predict
there would be greater continuity Of
medical services, fewer delays and
more efficiency in public health and
disqualification programs II Health
Of1cer George c. Rutland were given
command over the whole situation,
acting under the Commissioners, in
stead of but part Of it.
Those holding this view argue that
the change would eliminate oppor-
tunities for buck passing" which
they say exist under system which
leaves the health officer as the 'po-
licing" power in public health but
places the control of operation Of
the hospitals in the hands of super
intendents who report to the Board
Of Public Welfare.
Collins Upheld Charge.
Chairman Collins of the House
subcommittee in charge Of the 1888
District supply bill, subscribed to this
view during the appropriation hear
ings when he stated: "All OF the Army
hospitals are under the medical de-
partment OF the Army, and all of the
naval hospitals are under the medical
department of the Navy, and the Vet
erans' Administration medical facili-
ties are under the Medical Corps. All
the other Government agencies have
their hospitals under the medical di-
visions of those agencies, except the
District of Columbia. In the District
they are under civilian heads. and
1t seems to me the medical associa-
ton could more properly run the hos
pitfalls"
Ross Garrett, director of the Central
Admitting Bureau for Hospitals, an
agency set up by the Community
Chest, several years ago to facilitate
handling Of applicants for free care
or part-payment care at the hospitals,
is one of the active sponsors of the
change. While discussing the merits
of the proposal itself, he interjected:
Or Rutland probably will find him.
self in an embarrassing situation next
year or later if the situation as to in
FAINT mortality, the death rate for tu-
berculosis and the prevalence of COM
municable disease is not improved,
for he is being given larger funds for
the public nursing service, for labora-
tory work and for the first of the pro-
posed medical centers.
Hospitals Added.
Garrett adds:
when the municipal hospital set-up
was placed under the jurisdiction Of
the Board of Public Welfare, the now
existing, augmented facilities of GAL
linger Hospital, the Communicable
Disease Hospital as an extension of
Gallinger, the Children's tuberculosis
Sanatorium at Glenn Dale, and the
SOON to- be opened Adult tuberculosis
Hospital at Glenn Dale, were not in
existence.
Likewise, the population Of Wash
ington was not at its present level;
likewise a progressive and modern
Health Department did not exist. The
Health Department. now equipped to
do an active job, might better handle
the specific problems of health and
disqualification than the Department
of Public Welfare, with its added re-
sponsibility over relief, old-age as
sistance, foundlings, penal institutions.
home for feeble minded and so forth"
Advocates of the change point to
the 1928 report of the late DR.. Paul
Preble, surgeon in the United States
Public Health Service, for support.
This study proposed creation of
Department of Health and Hospitals,
with a director of health in charge.
There would be a Bureau of Health,
which would have an advisory board,
but the current proposal does not pro-
vide for this advisory agency. The
Preble plan also proposed designation
of Bureau of Hospitals to operate
under the director of health, and this
bureau likewise would have an ad-
visory board.
Many Of the proposals in the Preble
plan, such as development of public
health nursing bureau and construc-
ton of a contagious disease unit at
Gallinger Hospital, have come into
existence
Communicable Disease Care Vital.
Responsibility for the control of
communicable diseases is logically the
function of the Health Department"
the Preble report stated. THE care
and treatment of those who have
contracted communicable diseases be-
comes equally as important as meas
ures intended to prevent the spread
of infection. If additional IA
ClllUlSS lOl tllC VlCdlulClU VI Gull.
municable disease are provided at
the municipal hospital under the ad-
ministrative control of the director of
public welfare, this divided RESPONSE
bility over patients afflicted with COM
municable diseases-under the health
officer if treated at their homes and
under the director Of welfare If given
hospital treatment-should not be
permitted to jeopardize municipal ef-
forts to control these diseases"
Advocates of the change also point
TO the suggestion of DR.. Preble that
some economies might be achieved
in the consolidated operation of the
ambulance services Of the welfare
agencies and the Health Department.
The Preble report also stated: This
hospital division would assume re-
sponsibility for all medical relief pro-
vided under municipal auspices. It
would provide hospital care to all per-