Evening star., 1942-05-10
Montgomery
To Press for
New Hospital
Proposed Additions
OF 167 Beds Won't
End Overcrowdinq

Despite the pSbposed addition of
167 beds to Montgomery County's
two hospitals, facilities in the in
stitutions will be far below normal
needs of the estimated 100000 resi-
dents In the nearby Maryland
county, officials assert.
A rapidly increasing population
coupled with the county's proximity
to congested Washington has given
added impetus to current agitation
by Bethesda Chevy Chase residents
for erection of an additional hos
pital in that area.
While war workers and their fami-
lies pour into Washington and over
flow into nearby areas, officials of
the two Montgomery hospitals ad-
NIT that even If their medical and
surgical facilities are expanded as
planned, they will be forced to turn
away prospective patients from their
doors and will remain unprepared to
handle contagious cases.
Desirable Ratios Exceeded
According to DR.. U. v. Hoge the
United States Public Health Sc, Ice,
the ratio of hospital beds to popula-
ton In the suburban area of Mont
Romery County should be about SIS
per 1000 persons. The ratio in the
upper part of the county should be
36 per 1000.
This means that with approx
mately $1,000 persons living in the
area Immediately adjacent to the
District of Columbia, Montgomery
County should have 354 beds in its
one hospital serving that area-the
Washington Sanitarium in Takoma
Park. It now has 1873 beds and is
planning construction Of a 150-bed
addition. But the total thus will be
"a short.
The Montgomery County General
Hospital in Sandy Spring, which
serves the upper part Of the county,
should have 126 beds, If DR.. Hoge's
figures are followed. 1t now has
20 and has applied to the Federal
Works Administration for funds to
build . 17-bed addition, making
total of 81. Application originally
had been made for 36-bed addition,
but this figure was cut down by
Federal Works Agency officials.
To illustrate the acute shortage
Of facilities in the Sandy Spring
Hospital, DR.. j. w. Bird. chief sur
geon, said that last year the insti-
tuition cared for a daily average
of II patients, even though there
were only 40 beds, requiring addi-
tional arrivals to use cots.
Like State at Sanitarium.
A similar condition exists at the
Washington Sanitarium, where all
of the beds. are usually occupied,
according to DR.. Robert A. Hare,
medical director.
In addition, there are no special
facilities in either of the hospitals
for persons suffering from con-
takious diseases, DR.. v. L. Ellicott,
county health oficer, stated.
Last year, there were 123 cases
Of scarlet fever and "a of diphtheria.
Thus far this year, 36 cases OF scarlet
fever and four of diphtheria have
been reported.
Heretofore, DR.. Ellicott said, such
patients have been cared for at
the Sydenham Hospital in Balti-
more, but the overcrowded condition
there now is just as acute as it Is
In Montgomery County and Wash
ington hospitals.
This forces patients suffering
from these diseases to be cared
for at home, where often there are
no proper facilities, he added.
The county hospital problem will
be relieved greatly if the newly Or
ganized Suburban Hospital Asso-
citation of Bethesda-Chevy Chase is
successful in its drive for erection
of a l00-bed hospital to cost about
$4,000 The group intends to ap-
ply to the Federal Works Agency for
funds.
Beds Would be Adequate.
With this addition, the number
of hospital beds in the county would
total 4S7, surprising the desirable
fgure of 480 set by DR.. Hoge.
Evidence that the associations
campaign for the hospital may sue
ceed is seen in the fact that Surgeon
General Parran, OF the U. s. P. H. S.
who must approve the request before
1t is submitted to the F. w. A.. and
Administrator Philip B. Fleming of
the F. w. A., will speak at Hospital
Day rally, sponsored by the associa-
ton at pm. Tuesday at the Leland
Junior High School.
The projected hospital, which
would be a philanthropic, non-profit
institution, would have special facil-
tiles for contagious cases. 1t would
be controlled by citizens and not by
the county government.