Evening star., 1942-04-11
Chevy Chase
Citizens Push
Hospital Plans
Committee Formed
At Meeting to Add
New Facilities

Representatives of % organizA-
tions in the Bethe5da-C Chase
Md area today pushed plans for
construction of a hospital to serve
the two communities following their
meeting last night at the Bethesda
County Building under auspices OF
the Bethesda Chevy Chase branch
Of the Montgomery County Public
Health Lay Council.
Randolph G.. Bishop, who pre-
sided, was appointed chairman OF
a temporary committee which will
draw up articles of incorporation
for a Citizens Hospital Association
and obtain a certificate of necessity
from the United States Public
Health Service prior to applying to
the Federal Works Agency for funds
for the hospital.
Other members of the committee
are Paul Banfield, who was named
vice chairman; William N. Morell,
who was appointed secretary; Mrs.
John G. Ball and DR.. Irene Bar
rett.
Mr. Morell said mass meeting Of
residents of the area probably will
be held within the next three weeks
to discuss further steps to be taken
in order to obtain the hospital.
Letters Cite Inadequacy.
After hearing various speakers
testify to the urgent need of a hos
pital in the area, the more than
40 persons present organized them
selves into Citizens Hospital
Committee.
In letters read to the group by Mr..
Bishop, DR. J. w. Bird, chief surgeon
of the Montgomery County Gen.
eral Hospital in Sandy Spring, and
Dr. Robert A. Hare, medical director
of the Washington Sanitarium in
Takoma Park, declared that present
hospital facilities in the county are
inadequate.
Pointing out that many requests
for admission to both hospitals have
been denied because of lack of
space, DR.. Bird and DR.. Hare as
serted that if adequate hospital care
is to be provided for the many Gov
ernment workers who are estab-
fishing homes in Montgomery
County, additional beds must be
added "at the earliest possible
date"
The program adopted by the
group last night called for erection
of a l00-bed hospital to serve resi-
dents of Bethesda and Chevy Chase.
The institution, it was proposed, will
be philanthropic, non-prof1t in
stitution, operated and controlled by
the citizens and not by the county
government. Such hospital, it was
estimated, would cost about $500, 900.
Trustees to Be Provided.
Control would be accomplished
through incorporation and the ap-
pointment of a Board of Trustees,
subject to reelection periodically
and responsible to the citizens.
DR.. U. v. Hoge of the United
States Public Health Service told
the group that funds for such a
project would have to be forth
coming from the Federal Works
Agency under the Lanhan Act.
The first step to be taken by resi-
dents of the area before applying
for funds for the hospital, he ex-
planned, is the organization of a
non-profit group to operate the hos
pital.
Willard C. Smith, administrator
Of the Health Security Administra-
ton, pointed out that the Citizens
Hospital Committee must have a
certificate of necessity issued by the
Public Health Service before ap-
plying for funds from the F. w A.
Although it is preferable that you
own building site" he said, "it is
possible to request the F. w. A. to
condemn a site if the need is found
sufficient"
Could Purchase From Z. S.
The title to the site and hospital
would be vested in the Federal Gov
ernment, he explained, but the COM
mittee can enter in negotiations to
purchase the hospital at any time.
Expressing the hope that the hos
pital, if built, would be "of the very
best" DR.. v. L. Ellicott, county
health officer, cited the need of a
hospital, particularly in reference to
the care of persons suffering from
acute communicable diseases, such
as scarlet'fever and diphtheria.
At present, he said, many cases in
the county require disqualification,
but there Is no room for them in
Washington or in Montgomery
County Hospitals.
Others who spoke in favor of the
proposed hospital included DR.. Ball,
DR.. Charles r. HALEY, Mr.. Banfield
and Lee D. Butler.