The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-12-06
A1afsH0UsE COMMITTEE TELLS
GOV. o'CoNoR OF STATES
NEEDS

Two New Institutions Urged, For
Chronic and Infirm Patients--State
Would Bear Cost OF Buildings
The Almshouse Commission, APP
pointed several months ago by Gov
ernor Herbert r. O'Conor to study
the feasibility of carrying out the
Governors plan for eliminating the
almshouses of State" recommend
ed, in comprehensive report fled
at Annapolis, replacement of pres
emit almshouses by institutions able
to furnish adequate medical care
to the chronically sick and infirm.
There should be two such insti-
tutions, Governor O'Conor was told,
one ON the Eastern Shore, and one
on the Western Shore. Choice OF
exact sites was not attempted by the
Commission, which did recommend,
however, that the important prin-
ciple to be observed in the selection
of sites is that each chronic hospit-
al and infirmary shall be located
near a general hospital which has the
equipment and medical staff sufi-
Gent to take care of the problems of
acute illness for those patients who
will come to be in need of general
hospital care
With regard to financing the new
institutions, the Commission recon-
mended to Governor O'Conor that
the State assume the total cost OF
the buildings and physical plants,
and the cost of repair, upkeep, etc.
1t was recommended that the coun-
ties be required to pay the sum Of
rs cents per day for-the care of each
patient, and that the State make up
the difference between this amount
and the. actual cost of care where
such difference occurs.
Requirements For Admission
On the matter of admission to
these institutions, the Commission
recommended that this be made on
the basis of a statement by physi-
clan to the effect that the patient is
in need of chronic hospital or in
| Urinary care; and of further state
ment by the local County Welfare
Board that the patient is unable to
pay. AS the County Commissioners
will be responsible for payments
for the care of each patient, final
arrangements for admission will be
made only after the County Commits
sioners have given their approval.
The Commission recommended
that each institution be set up with
two sections, one of which shall be
a Chronic Hospital, and the other
an Infirmary: Furthermore, that
they be SO constructed as to make
proper provisions for both colored
and white races.
While admitting the difficulty OF
forecasting the number of beds
likely to be needed for chronic hos
pital and infirmary care throughout
the State, the Commission felt that
the break down would be somewhat
as follows:
| Western Maryland Garrett, Allie
gany and Washington Counties) $50
Chronic Hospital cases and so In
Urinary cases. Total, $40 beds.
Central Maryland (Frederick. Bal
timore, Montgomery, Hartford, How
ard and Carroll counties) ESQ Chron-
ic Hospital cases, and 410 Infirmary
cases. Total $50 beds.
Southern Maryland (Anne Arun-
del, Charles, Calvert, Prince Georges
and st. Mary's Counties), LAO
Chronic Hospital Cases, and 210 In
Urinary cases. Total, $50 beds.
Eastern Shore (All nine counties)
14O Chronic Hospital Cases, and 210
Infirmary cases. Total, $50 beds.
The total expected need for the
State was put at LILO beds.
With regard to Baltimore City,
the Commission reported that it was
apparent that an addition would be
needed shortly to the present Balti-
more City Chronic Hospital, and rec
commended tina THE necessary expan-
sion of physical plant in Baltimore
| ritv ho aidad hv the State