Evening star., 1937-08-15
HOSPITAL CONTROL
CHANGE IS PRAISED
Seckinger Says Economies
and Improved Service
Now Possible.

Without any radical change in poll
cise and no shake-up in personnel,
better coordination OF health serv-
ices is being achieved as a result Of
transfer of control over the District S
hospitals to the Health Department,
Acting Health Officer Daniel L. Seek
niger said yesterday
He said he believed both econ
omiee and improved service would be
possible.
Jurisdiction over Gallinger Hospital
and the tuberculosis sanatoria. from
the Board Of Public Welfare to the
Health Department, became effective
July /. Provision for the change was
inserted in the 1898 appropriation act
by Congress after several months de-
bate.
As an illustration of what is planned,
DR.. Seckinger announced the estab-
lishment OF reporting system for an
exchange Of case records between the
Health Department services and the
hospitals in maternal cases.
Records Of Cases.
He said this should serve to fore
stall unexpected developments in
treatment Of expectant mothers, since
the ohstetricians would be furnished
in advance Of the disqualification Of
TIE patient with her medical case
history, as part of the new routine
procedure
In the past, due to division OF au-
thorities over health services and
hospitals, he said, the furnishing of
case histories has been a rather hap
hazard proceeding.
Also, by operation of the co-oroi-
mated services, Dr.. Seckinger be-
lleves, it will be possible for many
others to bear children at their homes
instead of going to Gallinger Hos
pital. where conditions are crowded.
Where investigat ton of the home con-
ditions shows this desirable and when
the condition Of the expectant mother
permits, he said this would become q
more general practice
Increase in Budget.
The transfer of the hospital services
greatly increases the importance of
the Health Department. For this year
1t added s1,458,s60 to the health
budget. Included In the transfer were
the hospital permit off1ce, the ambu-
lance service and the contract medical
charities, as well as Gallinger and
the sanitoria. For medical charities
the District this year has appropria-
tons totaling sl55.000 for care of
INDECENT cases at Childrens; Emer-
gency and Casualty Hospitals and the
Washington Home for Incurables.
Previously DR.. George c. Rutland,
health officer, had won approval for
reorganizati ton and expansion of his
own health services.
One Of the first steps was develop
ment OF a generalized nursing service.
Each District nurse now is charged
with handling of all types Of cases,
whereas formerly the nurses cared for
specialized cases. DR.. Ruhland found
this caused waste OF TIME in travel.
STAFF Now Totals IS.
In 1885 there were 36 nurses. The
stan of the Nursing Bureau was stead
lily raised, and now totals IS, includ-
ing "a nurses, i've supervisors and
one director and five clerks.
DR.. Rutland also has been granted
provision Of several additional pre-
natal clinics and an appropriation Of
$l65,000 was granted for this year
for the construction Of the first Of sew
eral proposed health centers. or poly
clinics. This Is to be built on the
site Of the Jones Elementary School,
At First and L streets.
To this new center will be moved
the Districts old tuberculosis clinic
and the veqereal disease clinic.