Evening star., 1939-02-15
THREE CENTS.
Randolph Urges
New Ga||inger
Control Plan
Would Put Officials
Of Medical Schools
In Charge

Control Of Gallinger Hospitals
five departments should be taken
away from five chief resident physi-
clans and returned to the unpaid
officials of George Washington and
Georgetown Medical Schools, Chair
man Randolph of the House District
Committee recommended today in a
letter to Health Officer George c.
Rutland.
The change, Representative Ran
dolph declared, would remove un-
satisfactory conditions arising from
friction between the five full-time
physicians and the 100 members Of
the visiting staff.
Il believe" he said, this would
eliminate the friction that is ham
perlng the splendid service which
the visiting physicians have given
during all these years and will con-
tlnue to give if they are allowed to
do So"
Representative Randolph told DIR.
Ruhland the five full-time physi-
clans were appointed to work with
the visiting staff and as executive
omcers to see that the orders of
the heads of the departments and
tne visiting physicians were carried
out. These resident physicians, he
explained, were to assist the heads
OF the departments and were in no
way to supplant them.
Orders Declared COuntermanded
unfortunately, once the appoint
ments were made" MIR. Randolph
said, I am advised these chief res
ldents did to all intents and pur-
poses supplant the heads of the de-
partments, men whose ability and
devotion to duty could not be uues-
TONED, with the result that since
July l there has been considerable
dissatisfaction on the part of the
visiting staff. The doctors who have
been taking care of Gallinger for
all these years now seem to have
their orders countermanded by these
new men. The result will naturally
be decrease of interest and finally
designations from the staff, so that
to I'LL these places probably 40 full
time doctors must be paid from Dis
trlct funds, thus requiring a fur
ther appropriation of money which
might be more readily used in pro-
curing needed equipment and nurs-
ing services.
1t appears strange to me that
these five physicians at salaries of
$500 were appointed in spite of
the fact that such positions were
not recommended either by the In
vestigating Committee of the United
States Public Health Service, or by q
similar committee of the Medical
Society of the District of Columbia.
The only additional professional
staff personnel suggested by the
United States Public Health Service
was clinical director who should
act as medical co-ordinator and
supervisor of the activities of the
internes and residents"
Solution" Suggested.
Mr.. Randolph suggested that a
good solution" to the problem
might be arrived at by appointing
men at salary of not more than
$4,000 year instead of using high
paid resident physicians. He said
he believed the prevailing salary for
such service under the best practice
is about $1,000
AS an alternative or even in ad-
dition to this proposal. Mr.. Ran
dolph said it might be better to carry
out the Public Health Service rec
ommendation for the appointment
of clinical director to supervise
the work of the resident staff land
to effect prompt and thorough full
f1llment of the orders of the visiting
staff"
Chairman Randolph made his let
ter to DR.. Rutland public at a meet
ing of the District Committee. There
he told the committee conditions
at the institution are not good"
and that he proposed to be very
jealous" in focusing public atten-
tion on the needs of the hospital,
as well as other District institutions.
"It seems to me Representative
Collins is taking a rather arbitrary
attitude with respect to the hospi-
tal," remarked Representative Shaf-
er, Republican, of Michigan. He re-
l. ferred to statement issued by Mr..
Collins, chairman of the House Sub
committe on District Appropriations,
suggesting top to bottom" reor-
ganization and restaffing of the hos
pital.
Mrs. Mary Wright johnson. for
mer Democratic national committee
woman for the District made a plea
for modern equipment at the hos
pital for treatment of cancer. She
told the committee she went to
Gallinger last year for treatment of
cancer and was informed by Super
intendent Edgar A. Bocock that no
modern equipment was available to
treat her. Later she said she went
to Garfield Hospital which has
modern equipment and was cured.
Urges Modern Equipment.
"Give iallinger the most modern
apparatus for treatment of cancer" /"
she declared. What Gallinger needs
is money. The administration is
not at fault for present conditions" !"
| II have lived in Washington for
more than 40 years. When I came
here the United States was paying
so per cent of the expenses of the
city. Now it is paying only IS, 900 900
year."
"It will relieve us taxpayers If the
old $3.50 ratio of fiscal relations is
restored. We people who are strug-
CLING Or existence pay for all the
water the Government uses. We are
paying too much and the Federal
Government too little"
Representative Ford, Republican,
of California said he believed the
Federal Government should pay for
!; all water it uses.
Representative Collins pointed out
: in his statement on Gallinger yester-
} day that nearly every year just prior
| IN Il viv, et in%