Evening star., 1942-02-10
Hospitals Study
Apportioniing Of
700 New Beds
Part Of ] 1,700-Unit
Expansion Urged
By Toft in City Area

The new beds would be part OF a
1,700-bed expansion for the metro
politan area suggested yesterday by
Charles P. Taft of the Once of
Defense Health and Welfare at a
meeting Of hospital representatives
called by Commissioner Mason to
consider necessary expansion of IA
cilities due to increased population.
After being told by Mr.. Taft that
funds expected to become available
for possible use for hospitals prob
ably would not provide more than
TOO for the District private institu-
tions at a maximum, the group was
asked by Mr.. Mason to decide among
themselves by special committee
just where the new beds should go.
Temporary Structures
Under the plan outlined by Mr..
Taft, the new facilities, II made
available. would be in the form Of
two-story concrete temporary struc-
lures, requiring very little steel, to
be built on land donated to the
Federal Government by the hos
pitals.
The Federal funds looked to for
the facilities are contained in the
new Lanham bill now in Congress
which would allow $4,000 600 for
emergency housing in the District.
OF this, Mr.. Taft said, some $4,000, =
900 would probably go for commu-
nifty facilities Of which hospitals
are just one.
Representatives Of the hospitals
will meet at 4:30 pm. today at the
Health Security Administration to
appoint the special committee.
Outlines Needs.
Telling the group that 700 was the
most the private hospitals could
hope for in additional beds. Mr.
Taft outlined his recommendation
of needs as follows:
For Gallinger Hospital. 225 addi-
tional beds for obstetrical cases, 100
bassinets and 200 additional beds for
convalescents and chronic cases;
also internes' quarters, administra-
tive building and laboratory.
For Glenn Dale tuberculosis San
atorium, 400 beds, provision for rs
to 100 nurses.
For nearby counties:
Fifty beds, and 100 If possible, at
The so would be by
addition to the present hospital
The other so would be possible If
there is space available for a new
building.
One hundred and fifty beds for
both Arlington and Prince Georges
County, with the latter already
planning a 50-bed private hospital.
One hundred beds for Mont
gomery County to be located in
Bethesda, If possible, rather than in
Rockville.
Five Beds Per 1000.
These municipal and nearby prof.
ects, together with 700 among the
private hospitals, make the 1,700
estimated by Mr.. Taft and, added
to the 3,l00 beds now available in
the Metropolitan Area, would give a
ratio of five beds per 1000. according
to the 1910 District population, Mr..
Taft said.
1--WE feel that this estimate is
very conservative, however" Mr..
Taft said, "in view of the large
number of single individuals en-
ployed in Government service who
cannot count upon any measure of
care in the home as well as in view
of the large number of members OF
group disqualification plans and the
very real danger in case Of an epe-
demic."
Priorities can be obtained on the
type of building described, Mr.. Taft
said. The 1,700 beds should be con-
structed at once.
Commissioner Mason promised to
fight for the money for additional
beds but insisted the hospitals them
selves must decide how best to ap-
portion the maximum OF TOO to free
the Government from charges Of
favoritism.
Doctors Ask q Voice.
Spokesman for the medical pro-
fession asked that the doctors be
given a voice In determining the
location of the additions, since the
military service is taking many doc
tors, thus leaving fewer and older
physicians to bear the brunt OF the
work in the expanding city.
A hospital spokesman suggested
that it would be easier to build ad-
ditions to existing facilities, most OF
which would have available land,
than to builG new institutions far
ther out.
Commissioner Mason asked the
group for information on how the
number of patients from outside the
District are being handled. Health
Officer George c. Rutland said the
situation was difficult at Gallinger
with many patients cared for from
for whom no compensation
can 6e obtained from the counties.
Expansion Of Clinics.
"They should be made to furnish
their own facilities" DR.. Rutland
declared.
It was suggested that perhaps
expansion of the clinics at several
institutions might reduce the hos
pital load.
Asked what would become Of the
emergency facilities after the war,
Mr.. Taft said some arrangements
would probably be worked out with
the hospitals concerned.
Hospital spokesmen indicated that
they would be unable to accept
loans and that any such facilities
would have to be grants.
Mr.. Mason said he hoped to get
Secretary Of Interior Ickes to add
to the facilities for colored persons
at Freedman's Hospital.