Evening star., 1937-11-26

L1eSe c0ndlt1O1lS.
Freedmen's Hospital for colored
patients, under the interior De-
pdrtment, has been suffering from
lack of funds for several years, and
a surrey authorized by Secretary
Ickes a year ago brought to light
conditions in need of correction.
By NELSON M. SHEPARD,
Secretary of the Interior Ickes re-
vealed today he has taken steps to
have made thorough survey of un-
satisfactory conditions at Freedmens
Hospital with view to correcting ad-
ministrative defects and making it pos
sible, through cooperative effort, for
the institution to serve the colored
race more efficiently.
Although the survey is to be con-
Quoted by Richard Mackenzie, who
was called in by the Budget Bureau to
investigate conditions at Gallinger
Hospital, which are just now coming
to light, Mr.. Ickes said the two
probes have no connection.
Lack of sufficient funds demanded
for Freedmens Hospital for several
years and steady increase in the
number of patients without a corre-
spending increase in the nursing staff
were said to be responsible for the
plight of this hospital. Mr.. Ickes an
nounced he had borrowed" Mr.. Mac
Kenzie from the Budget Bureau to
make survey beginning December /.
Experts Called In.
Another pertinent point indicating
these measures were not inspired by
the criticism directed at Gallinger
Hospital. with which the Interior De-
| partment has no connection, is well
known to persons familiar with the
| situation affecting the colored hos
pital.
A year ago the Interior Department
called in two experts from Johns Hop
kins Hospital, in Baltimore, to make
| diagnosis Of conditions at Freed
mems. Some of the recommendations
! made in the report wefe carried out.
Ebert K. Burlow, administrative as
sistant to Secretary Ickes and budget
officer, divulged also today that Mr..
Mackenzie had made preliminary in
| quiries at Freedmen's six months ago
and had reported verbally to the Sec
retary. His report indicated the urgent
need of doing something, and so i'm
pressed Mr.. Ickes with its fairness, it
was said. that the Secretary requested
him to make a complete survey of ad-
ministrative matters.
| Lack Of Funds Cited.
"The two big problems at Freed
mems Hospital are administrative and
the lack of sufficient operating funds" /"
Mr.. Burlew said. I'VE think we can
correct some of the administrative de-
fects even if the hospital doesn't re-
ceive the funds it has needed for q
number OF years. A little more money
has been given to increase the nursing
staff but not enough"
These and other matters at the hos
pital were stressed by DR.. T. Edward
Jones, surgeon-in-chief, in his annual
report to Secretary Ickes, which en-
phasized that service is far below par.
"The most urgent need is an increase
in the nursing personnel" the report
said. "At many periods throughout the
day one nurse is compelled to care for
"a patients, whereas it Is q require
ment Of the District Board of Nursing
that under normal circumstances one
nurse should be assigned to every four
patients, and the tours Of duty should
be only eight hours.
Because of this shortage of nurses,
the hospital admissions have been re-
duced in order to give the patients a
semblance Of care approaching eff
ciency."
DR.. George c. Rutland, District
health officer, it was said, may con-
fer with Secretary Ickes next week on
matters affecting the hospital. One
OF the things to be taken up, it was
understood, is the need for Cooper
alton in improving service and cor
recting certain administrative defects
The District Of Columbia pays for one
half of the annual maintenance of
Freedmen's and the Interior Depart
ment, which has supervision over it,
pays the other half.
"Dr. Ruhland is at liberty to come
and go whenever he chooses and to
make any inspections necessary" Mr.
Berlew explained.
| Ickes' Statement.
With respect to the situation, Secre-
tary Ickes made the following state
ment:
II have secured the temporary serv-
ices of Mr.. Richard Mackenzie, hos
pital consultant of New York City, to
make q survey OF the administration
Of Freedmen's Hospital.
Mr.. Mackenzie has had extensive
experience in hospital administrative
management problems. He was ex.
ecutive secretary Of the Delaware Stat.
Board Of Charities for three years and
has performed consultant services fol
the New York State Reconstruction
Commission, the New York Academy
Of Medicine and the Louisiana STATE
Board of Charities. -
He was also employed by the Blu.
reau Of the Budget this fall to con.
duct comparative study Of operating
standards and costs in certain hos
pitals maintained by the Federal Gov
ernment. In this connection he visited
Freedmen's Hospital about six week.
ago, and on November 8 DR.. Jones
who is surgeon In chief Of Freedmeu1
! 7Seo FREEDN1EN'9 Paee A.ll 1r