Evening star., 1940-03-10
Allen 10 Seek
ConvaIescenf
Home Funds
PIun Would Save D. c.
$50, 900 q Year, ~.
Officials Soy 7

Commissioner Allen has been au-
thorized by the Board OF Commis.
Eioners to seek Budget, Bureau ap-
proval Of his suggestion for the con-
struction of convalescent home for
INDECENT patients as q means Of
tightening the load on various Dis
trict welfare institutions, it was an
nounced yesterday.
The idea was developed by the
Commissioner directly as result Of
findi>Ss that the Home for Aged at
Blue Plains had insufficient accom-
modations and facilities to handle
the persons housed there, although
the suggestion for a convalescent
home had been offered several years
ago in another connection.
Health Department officials de-
clared the District could save as
much as $4,000 a year by shifting
convalescent patients from CALM
ger Hospital and other District in
stitutions to the proposed GONZALES
cent home because of the much
lower cost of care in the home.
early ACtlOn PROMISED.
Early action is promised by Mr..
Allen, who is scheduled to meet to-
morrow with District medical and
welfare officials to prepare more
specific data on the proposed pro-
ject. He will submit resulting recon-
mendations to the Board Of Commits
sioners before the proposal is sent to
the Budget Bureau as an appropria-
ton request.
Health Officer George c. Ruhland,
DR.. Edgar A. Bocock, superintendent
of Gallinger Hospital; Robert e.
Bondy, director of welfare, and DR..
Daniel L. Finucane, superintendent
of the District tuberculosis Sana-
toria at Glenn Dale, Md, have been
asked to attend the conference.
Mr.. Allen said he would seek data
on the prob able cost, the size of the
staff needed, the size of building and
recommendations on the scope of its
proposed use. The most likely loca-
ton for the home also will be dis
cussed, although Mr.. Allen said he
had no preference and would depend
on his technical advisers. One sug-
gestion Is location near Gallineer
Hospital, another at Blue Plains and
another at some site beyond the con-
gested districts where more space
would be~ayailable. -. =.
Plan Blocked In 1887. -;
In 1887. Health Ohicer Ruhland
proposed that the old tuberculosis
Hospital at Thirteenth and Upshur
streets NV, be converted into a
convalescent home, rs a means Of
relieving crowding at Gallinger Hos
pital. The plan was Endorsed by the
CommisS Sonsrs and the Budget Bu-
fau. but Twas blocked in the House
District Appropriations Subcemmit-
tee when property owners and resi-
dents near the old hospital protested
that the place should be used for
other municipal purposes.
1t also was recalled that the Hill
crest Citizens Association during
the same year had suggested provi-
sion of a convalescent home.
Dr.. Daniel L. Seckinger, assistant
health officer, declared yesterday
there were possibilities of real saw
Ing In the plan, since operation of a
convalescent home is considerably
below that of operation Of a hos
pital.
50 Beds for Each 100000.
on the basis of generally accepted
national standards, DR.. Seckinger
said, there is need for so beds for
andigent convalescent patients for
each 100000 population, whereas the
District has only 116 beds per 1o0,-
oUo population, all these being in
private institutions and all for
children. 80 -
Belief that Is per cent of the.
patients under treatment at Gal
Inger Hospital should be moved
into a convalescent home, if one
were available, was voiced bv DR.
Seckinger. He said the national ex-
perience was that about 10 per cent
OF the patients ordinarily cared for
IN hospitals could be handled in
convalescent homes. New York
City, he added, is going ahead with
the convalescent home plan.
Patients in a convalescent home.
Or. Seckinger added, can be cared
Tor by one resident physician, aided
by staff Of visiting physicians.
Fewer nurses are needed in such a
home than in a hospital, where the
acutely Ill are cared for, he added.
Whe ereas the cost per patient per
day IN q hospital runs to about
$3.50, the cost for care of con-
valescents in different institution
would be. about half that, or $143
q day, DR.. Seckinger said. N