Evening star., 1941-03-28
Ruh|and Offers
Medical Plan
In Event Of War
Health Officer Says
Present Hospitals
Are insufficient
BY DON S. WARREN.

Plans for rapid and wholesale ex-
pansion of District medical facilities
to meet any war or similar emer-
gencies that might eventuate-in-
cluding emergency hospital facili-
ties, and first-aid stations scattered
at points throughout the District,
development of mobile treatment
services and enlistment of volunteer
physicians and medical aides-have
been outlined by Health Officer
George c. Rutland in his first re-
port as chairman of the Health
committee of the District Defense
Council.
DR.. Rutland said present private
ana District government hospital
facilities here would prove made
quate and he had been surveying
possibilities of emergency stations
and services.
Estimating the extent to which
the existing facilities might be ex-
panded to care for sick persons or
casualties, he said:
1T is appreciated that under the
circumstances Of severe epidemics
or under conditions of total war
the existing facilities would proys
inadequate.
Increase in Problems.
1T is quite clear that with the
influx Of additional Government
workers to Washington the problems
for the sanitary and health and
control will be greatly increased.
This increased burden and RESPONSE
/ blllty obviously can be met only
+ as the forces of the Health Depart
ment will be increased and aug
mented by competently trained
! groups"
DR. Rutland said that, exclusive
OF such Federal hospitals as Walter
Reed, Mount Alto, United States
Naval Hospital. the hospital at Sol
/ dlers' Home and the one at Fort
Belvoir, there now were 4,163 persons
in l3 private hospitals and at CALM
ger and Freedmens Hospitals.
AS an emergency measure these
I hospitals can accommodate 4,79o
! pdClellCS, lie eSJlIIldLeQ.
2,515 Additional Beds.
From his survey, he calculated
space for isis additional beds could
be found in housing in various Sec
tions of the city.
In general way" he continued,
the present planning assumes that
the existing hospital facilities be
used mainly for surgical cases re-
qulring the highest degree of equip
ment and operating room facilities
and that the viSualiZed auxiliary
beds be used for the less acutely
i'll or convalescentS and chronics.
The program also visualizes eStab-
lishment of first-aid stations and
of mobile treatment service"
AS to the emergency measures,
he plans the division of the Dis
trict into zones and detailing corps
of physicians nurses, dentists, am
balances. stretcher bearers. nurses,
aides, orderlies and other workers.
He said this plan would require
central administrative setup
through which calls for aid would
/ De cleared.
Listing Unavailable.
So far, the health officer said. 1t
has not been possible to get listing
of the panels of professional groups
to be available for the outlined
emergency services partly because
it is not yet known the number
of members of various professional
groups that may be withdrawn from
the District for the military services.
He announced the Health De-
partment and the Red Cross already
have undertaken the training of
civilian groups in personal hygiene
and first aid and that the spe-
cialized services of the Health De-
partment are planning extension Cf
their activities to meet emergency
measures.