Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-07-02
Mutual Health
Service Held
Forward Step
Medical Soeiety's
Limited Program
Offered Public

Mutual Health Service, which
opened yesterday, was characterized
last night by DR.. Arch L. Riddick,
president of the service, as AN
other forward step in medical prog
ress."
DR.. Riddick explained briefly the
organizations scope and expressed
confidence, in a statement, it would
draw Cooperation and enthusiastic
support" from the public.
Meanwhile inquiries poured into
headquarters of the service at l713
M street NV. yesterday, as plans
were completed to arrange for ap-
pllcations from subscribers, who
may join only in groups of 10 or
more.
Hugh Buhrman, administrator,
answered flood of inquiries BY
mailing documents explaining the
terms of the limited medical serv-
Ice offered to a selected group of
Washingtonians whose incomes fall
within prescribed range.
Inquiries also came from citizens
associations which had expressed
interest in the movement, with in
dications that Mr.. Buhrman will
be invited to address these associa-
lions and other civic groups to ex-
plain how the service operates.
Aware Of Unmet Needs.
In his statement, DR.. Riddick de-
clared that Physicians are well
aware that there are unmet medical
needs. particularly among persons of
limited income 1t would seem a
simple matter to remedy this situa-
ton. However. as those who are
informed on medical matters know
many factors are involved in sup
plying medical care.
Committees of the Medical Soci-
ETY. of the District of Columbia have
for two and one-half years studied
methods of spreading medical costs
In such a manner as not to place
a financial burden on, the individual.
and yet afford him medical services
when he needs them. AS a result
Mutual Health Service has come
into existence. The service makes
available medical and surgical care
to its subscribers. whether it be in
the hospital or in the home. Some
restrictions and exclusions have
been found necessary to safeguard
the service for the subscriber. How
ever. as the service is a non profit
undertaking, these will be eliminat-
ed where found possible.
900 Doctors Participating.
Some 600 doctors of medicine in
the District of Columbia have
agreed to participate by rendering
medical services to subscribers.
This assures subscribers wide
choice of physicians.
= Aside from its primary purpose
Of makhig medical care more readily
available to the limited income
group. the service has for its objec-
tive the maintenance of the physi-
cian-patient relationship. 1t has
been demonstrated that this rela-
tionship is exceedingly important
to the welfare of the patient. Each
subscriber will make a selection of
a family physician who will render
to him or his dependents the service
he needs, and where necessary, OBJ
tain for him. in accordance with
the rules of the service, the services
of specialist.
I'VE are confident that the serv-
ice will prove as successful as an
ticipated, If the public, and par
ticularly those who are eligible to
subscribe, will lend their co-opera-
ton and enthusiastic support. If
this spirit is manifested the serv-
Ice will, without doubt, prove an
other forward step in medical prog
reSs."