Evening star., 1941-11-10
By PAT JONES.

west Health Center. Washington S
first wholesale disease e-prevention
clinic, with the all-out national de-
fense effort was disclosed today in
a survey of the centers work dur
ing the last year.
AS officials spurred plans for a
proposed center in the Northwest
central area of the city, figures
showed that the Southwest center
has worked overtime with selective
service registrants referred there
after Draft Board physicians found
them suffering from diseases.
While its primary purpose is to
keep INDECENT families well and
out Of hospitals. some authorities are
of the opinion that, but for the
aid OF this center, the District would
he far behind In certain phases of
medical care brought upon it by the
national emergency.
Referred for Treatment.
Draft registrants with positive
Wasserman tests and those whose
lungs are found to be defective are
referred to the center for possible
treatment and advice.
In the study of records, it was
discovered that the center had eX-
amired 2,494 positive cases of We
nereal diseases among men of the
District called to the Army between
the time it was opened, not quite
a year ago and September 49, 1t
also has turned up during this
period IT'S cases of tuberculosis
among selectees, each of which
would have meant a cost to the
Government of approximately s40.-
900 for treatment and disability had
the victims been taken into the
armed forces.
Plans for Northwest.
| Work on the center in the north
west central area is expected to
begin before the first of the year
The site on the northeast corner OF
Seventh and o streets NV. was
approved by the National City Park
and Planning Commission last
month and, with S134,750 Of the
estimated s250,0OO cost already ap-
propriated. architectural drawings
for the building now are under way
The Southwest Center. completed
at a cost of $4,000 as the first
step in District Health Officer Ruh-
lands plan for health centers as out
posts to prevent costlier treatment
at Gallinger and ST Elizabeths Hos.
| v1jfa1e Of oc
benefits to the community in the
thousands for whom it makes hos.
pitalization unnecessary.
For example, it is pointed out tha
the District now is paying for 80(
syphilis patients at St. Elizabeth:
Hospital, victims of a preventablt
disease that went into serious stage!
because the victims were not giver
information and treated at the righ'
time. The cost for each is $3.50 6
day, totaling annually s525,0 6
sum health authorities recall is two
thirds that of the present Health
Department budget, exclusive Of hos
pitals.
Co-operates With Hospitals.
Officials are quick to explain thai
the health center was not erected
in competition with hospitals. Il
is subdivision of the central health
department, established to bring
health service closer to the people
It co-operates with official and non
official agencies. In the case of Sc.
lectees, a program for treatment o.
men rejected because Of venerea
disease was worked out between tht
medical societies, District Health
Department and selective service Of
flcials.
Located in a section of the city ir
which it could be of greatest service
the center has started several new
services never before offered by
the Health Department.. 1t has Sc
up dental service for INDECENT adults
and a branch pharmacy. X-ray IA
cilities have been made available
to ascertain abnormal chest condi
tions among drafteeS and certain
maternal cases. It has pooled nurs
ing activities in the area, achievin,
more active consultant and super
visory services. and it has provided
a demonstration center for medica
and nursing students.
Its bureaus include those of ma
ternal and child health, tubercu
losis. venereal disease, dental serv
ice, hospital permit, health depart
ment pharmacy, health department
laboratories, public health nursing
public health instruction, Sanitar,
inspection service and medical so
cial service workers.
Checks Ability to Pay.
One of its major activities IS tn
social service clearance on the finan
etal status Of patients, under whiel