Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-11-28
PLAN IS STUDIED
TO AID GALL|NGER
Trade Board Group Weighs
Possible Benefits From
ConVaIescent Homes.
BY JOHN H. Cassidy, Jr.


homes for patients who no longer
need the complete care available in
fully equipped hospital is being studied
by a subcommittee Of the Public
Health Committee of the Board OF
Trade as possible method of alleviat-
ing overcrowded conditions at Gal
finger Municipal Hospital.
Particularly significant at this time
since attention is now being focused
on the needs of Gallinger Hospital,
the proposed plan has been under
scrutiny by the Subcommittee on Hos
pitfalls since the first fall meeting Of
the committee last month.
Used Old Sanatorium.
At that time Dr. Arthur c. Christie,
chairman of the committee, said it
had been suggested it might be pos
slble to utilize the old tuberculosis
Sanatorium, with little or no expense
FOR changes in building or equipment,
as a convalescent home.
"Gallinger could thus be relieved
and beds made available for other
purposes, so that it might not be
necessary to embark upon further
building in the near future" DR.
Christie said.
In suggesting that the Subcommittee
on Hospitals, headed by Charles E.
krey, investigate the feasibility of
such a plan, DR.. Christie said that
IN New York such facilities have been
set up for convalescing patients, and
that it has been found that great
savings can be made by having
convalescent homes to which patients
may be transferred as soon as they
no longer need the complete care
which must be made available in q
fully equipped hospital.
Group Quietly Active.
Probably one of the least known of
the Board of Trade committees since
1t usually remains in the background,
the public health unit nevertheless is
considered one OF the most active of
the committee roster When called
upon Tor opinions or advice, the COM
mlttee has always conducted thorough
Investigations before making any rec
concentrations.
A glance at the 100 names on the
personnel list of the committee would
seem to indicate the UNIT is we'll
quallhed to advise on problems in
the field of public health. Exactly
one-third of its members-4o-are
members of the medical profession.
CHAIRMAN Christie, who is widely
known in the x-ray field, is president
OF the Board Of Trustees of American
University, president of the Ameri-
can Board of Radiology, professor of
clinical radiology at Georgetown Uni
verslty and president of the Fifth In
trnational Congress of Radiology.
Serving with him are F. H. Ken
worthy. vice chairman, and Charles S.
Iurhorst, secretary. Mr.. KenWorthy
also Is chairman of the Health De-
partment Budget Subcommittee. and
Mr.. zurhorst heads the Subcommittee
on Communicable Diseases. One other
Observation-Disclosures and Nursing
Care Of the INDECENT and Semi
1ndigent--is under the leadership Of
e. M. Pussy.
Larger Appropriation Asked.
The committee has long been active
In efforts to secure larger appropri-
atoms for the Health Department,
Another OF Its chief detectives is to
OBTAIN better inspection of sanitary
conditions in restaurants and other
food establishments.
The first duty of the committee
Or. Christie believes, is to continue it's
work in cooperation with Health
Ofncer George c. Rutland and to aid
IN securing adequate financial support
IN administering the municipal hos
pital.
DR., Christie believes another public
health field in which the committee
can give assistance is in the reduction
OF the incidence of tuberculosis and
venereal diseases and other commune
icable diseases. The subcommittee
handling this phase, he said. should
cooperate with the Health Depart
ment in its project to establish health
centers to provide for the discovery,
reporting and treatment of patients
with tuberculosis, venereal diseases.
d1phtheria and other diseases whose
incidence and death rate can be
greatly reduced.
Work Is Outlined.
DR.. Christie outlined the work of
che Subcommittee on Medical and
Nursing Care Of the INDECENT and
eemi-1ndigent as follows % Co.
operation with the medical and dental
societies because the members of these
societies furnish the majority of free
medical care to these classes of people:
90 cooperation with the Health De-
partment, which furnishes various
types Of medical care, has charge of
inspection of school children and
maintains home nursing service for the
INDECENT; go cooperation with the
Central Admitting Bureau, which Sc
lects and distributes the INDECENT and
semi-indigent sick. and "a co-opera-
ton with the Instructive Visiting
Nurses Association, which, along with
Health Department nurses, furnishes
care in the homes of the INDECENT.
The committee has been particularly
interested in treatment of tuberculosis
patients, and has constantly urged
that more doctors be appointed 70
this phase to permit more early exam
NATIONS OF persons being affected,