Evening star., 1939-02-15
BY RICHARD MACKENZIE

BY RICHARD MACKENZIE.
The current widespread interest
In hospital conditions here may be
useful If it results in development
of a reasonable plan in which all
can cooperate toward making
Washington's public health facili-
ties model for the country.
But there are many compicating
factors to be considered in attempt
ing to work out such a plan. There
Is possibility of getting too many
hospital beds-monuments to neg
lect OF health education, early treat
ment of the sick and unhealthy liv-
ing conditions. Cooperative effort
to utilize fully our present facilities
might make further expensive
building unnecessary for many years
to come.
1t is not my intention to propose
any definite plan here, but simply to
point out a few general facts and
suggest some of the matters that
must be considered in making such
plan if it is to provide the best
results for the community.
One of the complications is di-
vided control of hospital facilities.
Some of the hospitals, such as WAL
ter Reed, Mount Alto. Naval and
Freedmen's, are operated by the
Federal Government. Gallinger is
operated by the District. Then
there are hospitals like Emergency,
Providence and Garfield operated
by voluntary charitable organiza-
tions, which are closely connected
with the work of the Community
Chest and the Health Security Ad-
ministration.
Need for Statistics.
Cooperative effort is needed in
collecting information and compil-
Ing statistics regarding the commu-
nity's needs and the hospitals
problems
A problem of major importance is
the number of hospital beds avail
able for the general population. II
there are not enough, some one will
suffer. If there are too many, some
OF the hospitals will have a lot of
empty beds, and that will help build
up a deficit for the people to pay.
Regardless of whether there NAV
be more beds than needed, the peo-
pie are entitled to expect the hos
pitals to operate as economically as
possible. There are definite oppor-
tunities for economies that could be
made through cooperation by the
voluntary hospitals in purchasing
supplies and equipment, repairing
instruments, making orthopedic ap-
pliances, etc.
Would any one seriously suggest
that the United States veterans
hospitals operate as separate, inde-
pendent units? I doubt it, because
advantages and economies are OBJ
tanned by central control. Many of
the same economies could be made
by Washington's voluntary hospitals
through cooperative effort without
destroying their independence-and
the people would save money.
In considering any suggestions for
additional hospital construction, we
must remember that an addition to
Children's Hospital and two large
buildings for tuberculosis patients
at Glenn Dale have been built dur
ing the past five years, that 250-
bed addition at Gallinger and the
new Doctors Hospital of 300 beds
are under construction, and plans
are complete for a new building for
tuberculosis patients at F'reedmen's
and new Naval Medical Center.
Number Of Beds Unknown.
Washington now has more hos
pital beds per thousand of popula-
ton than most cities of the United
States. Just how many beds are
available for the general population
in Federal, District, voluntary and
proprietary hospitals is not known.
Not counting the beds occupied by
local residents in Federal hospitals
and the additional beds that could
be set up in the voluntary hospitals,
there are 4.S beds per thousand of
population already available, ac-
cording to 4 United States Public
Health Service report. Five per thou