Evening star., 1938-07-19
C. H. A. TO SERVE
AS LABORATORY
Taylor Named Head to Find
Best Method for Setting
Up Other Projects.

Up Other Projects.
Group Health Association, Inc, here
will serve as laboratory for the de-
velopment by an independent founda-
ton of the most eficient methods for
putting similar projects into opera
ton throughout the country, it was
disclosed today.
The work will be directed by Perry
R. Taylor, present business manager
and budget officer of the Rural Elec-
trif1cation Administration, whose ap-
pointment as administrator of G. H. A.
was announced last week.
Mr.. Taylor actually has been en-
ployed as a research associate by the
Good viii Fund, Inc. a New York
foundation established by the late Ed
ward A. Filene, which has agreed to
lend his services to G. H. A. for an
indefinite period, according to an
nouncement today by Percy S. Brown.
executive director of the Good Will
Fund.
Objectives Held Sound.
The purpose of this arrangement" :"
Mr.. Brown said, lis to enable Mr.. Tay-
lor to formulate and put into practice
methods and procedures for the most
efficient operation of a group health
project, and to secure facts which will
be used as basis for the develop
ment of similar projects throughout
the country"
I'VE are convinced" Mr.. Brown ex-
planned, that objectives of the group
health program are sound and that
the people at large are interested.
The major problem is effective or
ganization to convert the ideals into
action. and that is what we hope to
help to do"
He said the foundation probably
would not directly finance the or
ganization Of other group health prof.
ects, but would aid in putting them
on a sound basis through making
available generally the results of its
research, and possibly in supplying
SOIlS SCI NlCcS.
Put Health on New Basis.
The Good Will Fund, Mr.. Brown
pointed out, was established by Mr.
Filene. Boston merchant and phi
lanthropist, primarily to promote group
action through co-operatives in fields
where such was needed to better the
lot Of the public generally. Its maj
fields of interest are consumer CO.
operatives. credit unions and group
medicine.
He said the group health program
as put into effect here by G. H. A.
through organization of Government
employees who pay a small monthly
fee for full medical services, was being
encouraged by the fund because it
sought to put health on basis Of
keeping well instead of being cured
when sick"
Present opposition of the American
Medical Association is not considered
an insuperable obstacle to development
of the program. Mr. Brown said, point
ing out that organized medicine al
ready is divided on the issue with
many high-rankng members of the
profession enthusiastically backing the
program.
"A Matter Of Patience"
TT Is merely a matter of patience
and education to overcome the opposi-
tion." he said. I'VE think we can
convince the medical profession that
development of group health programs
is advantageous rather than dis
advantageous to it.
1T offers better economic security
to the profession generally because it
puts their income on budget basis
and, we believe. should support higher
incomes than the past average"
Mr.. Brown was in Washington to-
day to confer with G. H. A. officials
on arrangements for Mr.. Taylor to
assume his new duties August l. He
said no limit had been set on the time
Mr.. Taylor would act as G. H. A.
administrator, but it will be long
enough for him to perfect an efficient
organization and gain the necessary
information for reports to the fund"
Seeking Hospital Funds.
g. H. A. now is engaged in a cam
paign to raise 100000 from its mem
bership to repay $4,000 advanced at
its organization last fall by the Home
Owners Loan Corp and to finance the
building of its own hospital.
Plans for building hospital were
formulated by G. H. A. after existing
hospitals here refused to let the asso-
cations staff physicians treat G. H.
A. members in the hospitals because
of opposition by the District Medical
Society.
William c. Kirkpatrick, G. H. A.
president, said its growing services
necessitated creation of the post OF
administrator in order to relieve the
medical staff of all but purely pro-
fessional duties, and expressed appre-
citation of the Good Will Funds help
fulness in making Mr. Taylor's services
available
In addition to Mr.. Taylor's work
with G. H. A., Mr.. Brown said. Mrs.
Constance Kent, Boston research ex-
pert, is engaged in specialized research
work for the fund to determine cur
rent trends in the costs OF medical
care generally. She Is attending the
National Health Conference in session
here this week.