Evening star., 1942-01-18
BY. c. A. MATHISEN.

A survey prompted by forthcoming
Congressional consideration of local
hospital needs discloses that agree
ment is general among public and
private hospital authorities here
only on the point that a problem
exists and that it has three phases:
l. What should be done to meet
increased demands on facilities
caused by the abnormal increase
Of metropolitan area population be-
cause Of emergency activities?
2. What should be done to guaran-
tee a reserve of facilities for use
in event Of an epidemic or air raid?
g. What should be done to meet
that part of the problem caused
by normal population rise and more
widespread use of hospitals through
growing popularity OF group insur-
ance plans?
Chairman Randolph said the
House District Committee will con-
Germ itself Tuesday with hospital
facilities in a public hearing. He
has emphasized his mind is open
on the subject, but has indicated a
feeling the long-range aspect should
be kept in mind in deciding upon
anything to be done at once.
Hospital Situation Examined.
The matter OF established STAN
dards is important. although not
controlling. in any examination of
the Washington hospital picture.
Two yardsticks which bear upon &C
commodAtions are recognized by the
United States Public Health Service
as most often used One is a ratio
of general hospital beds to popula-
ton with tuberculosis. mental pa
tent and nursery wards excluded
The desired minimum for an ur-
ban area on this basis is about As
beds per 1000 of population. The
ratio was arrived on the basis Of
figures furnished by hospital group
insurance organizations indicating
their experience as to degree of use
by members. Health Service officials
point out five beds per 1000 might
be better ratio for the whole popu-
lation. inasmuch as it might be sug-
gested that group insurance partici-
pants NAV have higher health av-
erage than that of the entire popu-
lation.
They add that local conditions
must remain modifiers of the STAN
dard-age of facilities, unusual fea-
lures of the community.
Seventeen institutions In Wash
ington and vicinity provide 4,076
beds other than those for tubercu-
losis and mental patients. Not con-
sidered in this tabulation are Fed
eral institutions such as Walter
Reed Hospital. Naval Hospital, St.
Elizabeth's Hospital. Mount Alto
Hospital, and few very small
private hospitals.
Population Figures Given.
Most recent estimate Of popula-
ton was made two months ago by
the Washington Board Of Trade
and was predicated on dwelling unit
occupancy. The figures were TO-
900 for the District and 1,057 900
for the Metropolitan Area. This
provides a ratio of 3.9 beds per
thousand for the Metropolitan Area
when the previously-stated limita-
tions are recognized.
Use of Metropolitan Area popula-
ton in computing the ratio is i'm
portant here because of the gener-
ally acknowledged deficiency OF beds
in the suburbs Alexandria. Va,
has 100-bed hospital. Montgomery
County, Md, has a 48-bed unit at
Olney and the 188-bed Washington
Sanitarium in Takoma Park. There
are no general hospitals in Airing
ton County. Va, and Prince Georges
County. Md, has only the 10-bed
Greenbelt Hospital available only
to that community.
Another ratio. that Of one patient
day per capita per year, recently
has come into favor among some
analysts. This also is based on ex-
perience with group disqualification
participants. If this standard is
favored, the 4,076 beds are shown
to provide 1.15S192 patient days per
year or better than one per capita,
at rate of 80 per cent occupancy.
Occupancy Rate Significent.
The average occupancy rate must
be kept in mind, because the ratios
have worth only when applied in
conjunction with it. Most authori-