Greenbelt cooperator., 1939-11-23
Our Hospital: Part l

This Is the first of series Of three arti-
c1es about Greenbelt's municipal hospital. This
will deal with organization and development;
second Will treat the personnel, equipment and
services of the hospital; and a third Will dis
the ways in which the community serves the
hospital and plans for its future.
Contrary to popular ief the community hospital
is orgsi entirely seperate from the Green
belt Health Association. The hospital is muaicd-
Manager and the Council; the Health ASSOCIATE on is
run by and for its own members, an independent gop
Of citizens.
The hospital project was first officially brought
up by Mayor Maurer at meeting Of the town council
year ago. There at the time a total 6 g., 900
in mexpended funds from the 1898 town budget, and
fifteen diff ferent groups and organ1 Sattons were
anxious for their share. After much discussi pro
and con, the Council voted to allot the In toto
to the hospital. The community need was obvious;
high birth rate and a large number of children in
the population subject to disease and injuries re-
quirdng emergency attention.
The Health Association Lent helping hand to the
project by offering to release for the hospitals
the block of houses at 80 Ridge Road with the pro-
vision that they might suitcase from the town suf
fictent space for their offices. o. Kline Ra1ner
and Harvey Vincent given the task of converting
two one-fami1y units into conveniently Laid out
hospital; they completed the plans by January. Re
modelling started February 20, and the change most
joyfu11y commented upon by the community at large
the repaint Job on the exterior walls. The
tginal crushed raspberry tone painted over With
cleaning white, while the trim Left Its original
dark red; residents could mot longer direct their
friends to nthe awful pink bui1ding-you can't miss
it," An open house party for the citizens the
rainy Sunday of April 30, 1889 celebrated the hospt
tails opening.
The hospital charter is patterned after the model
municipal hospital charters Of the Duke Foundation
and the eric can College of Surgeons. It stipulates
that the Town Council act the Board of Trustees
and the policy forming body Of the hospital. The
superintendent and the medical staff directly
accountable to the Town Manager and the Board Of
Trustees, and monthly meetings held to consider
problems relative to the hospital.
The medical staff comprises active staff con-
sisttng of the reg1ar physicians and five consul
tant specialists, and a courtesy staff. All the
pysi in Prince Georges county have been invit
ed to apply for the courtesy staff for
their convenience in treating local patients. The
physicians must possess the quail cations recommend
ed by the American College of Surgeons In order to
have free to all the equipment and services
the Greenbelt hospital offers.
In of emergency any physician licensed in
Maryland the District of Columbia may utilize the
hospital, subject to the rules and regn ations laid
down by the Board of Trustees and the medical staff.
The town is justly proud of the progressive, CO.
operative spirit in which its municipal hospital
founded and is being administered.