The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-02-19
HERE'S MORE ABOUT
DR.. BROWNS ANSWER

ST R1S ON PA g II u N u
individual basis, and the doctors
judgment prevails;
o-charges patients are admitted
= through pressure upon social
service Investigator Ia absolutely
untrue; economic status of every
applicant y carefully weighed;
Amy hospital to b filled 100
= per cent must have every bed
in all departments fun, and when
that occurs so me departments
must be turning away patients.
Bed occupancy fluctuates daily.
cit is public record the state
= has refused grant-in-aid to the
county for improvements at the
hospital, largely because the state
general fund Ia overdrawn; COM
missioners could do nothing but
submit three-mill levy as last re-
sort because financial outlook in
federal, state and county govern
ments not promising for next two
or three years; the true picture
has been distorted by even those
in position to know some facts.
DR.. Brown declared he had been
offered the posts of full time ad-
ministrator or medical director
and had declined both.
at Is my earnest wish to resign
as soon as the commissioners will
appoint my successor" he said.
THE Job Of administrator forbids
practice of medicine. have spent
too many years of study and have
worked and loved 1t too much TO
give 1t up for any executive posi-
ton. The job of medical director
would not appeal to me under the
new arrangement for many rea-
sons.
"A majority Of the commits
sioners refused my resigna-
ton, insisted / stay until after
March IL and II voters APP
prove the three-mill levy they
want me to stay long enough
TO see the enlargement Of the
hospital and consequent re-
Organization contaminated. l
am willing to accede to the
request.
IF the levy is not approved !
want to go. I cannot longer stand
working against disheartening OBJ
stacles and unfair criticism"
Referring to the proposal of
Schlarb that private hospitals
care for the county overload. DR..
Brown said formal negotiations
have not been attained because the
private hospitals will not care for
county patients at the price the
county will pay.
The superintendent said
proposed reorganization could
be carried out before physical
changes are made In the plant.
but the work would be done
incompletely; q last reorgani-
nation requiring q great out
lay. Added Brown:
The advisory committee and
medical committee recommended
reorganization be accomplished,
but did not direct 1t be attained
before enlargement of building and
staff and acquisition Of new equip
ment. They know full well
necessity for these prior TO and
as a basis for any successful re-
organization.
Referring TO Schlarb's charge.
patients remain for long time
after they could be discharged. the
doctor said: THAT is his own per-
sonal opinion to which he is en-
titled. but knowing little about
hospitals and less about the prac-
tice of medicine, he must depend
upon secondary information to
base such opinion"
The doctor then explained why
county patients can't be put in
the same category as private hos
pitai patients who have good
homes TO go to. private physicians
and nurses to care for them In
convalescent periods. and con-
cluded that especially with chronic
aged and infirm 1t was better to
be humane than otherwise. Cold
blooded efficiency and being de-
Gently humane was the problem
g.. a.. decentralization