Evening star., 1942-01-15
Ruh|and Asks
$712,011 Fund
For D. {. Health
Personnel, Supplies
And Services Needed
Hearing Tomorrow
By DON S. WARREN.

BY DON S. WARREN.
Determined to strengthen the Dis
trict's health service to meet prob
lens increased by the war situation
Health Oficer George c. Rutland
today asked the Commissioners to
approve a supplemental budget OF
$712,oll.
To make additional personnel,
supplies and services available at
the earliest moment, he asked a
deficiency appropriation OF s4l2,oS5
for the last four months OF the
current fiscal year. allowing the
period between now and March /
for the requests to go through the
legislative mill.
The Commissioners and District
Budget Oficer Walter L. Fowler
will hold q hearing tomorrow at
10 am. to hear his justifications.
Prompt action is expected and the
Commissioners have indicated they
expect to approve a considerable
portion of the new requests They
were framed by DR.. Rutland in
reply to injunctions from Repre-
sentative Schultz Of Indiana and
other members Of the House Dis
trict Committee that he should get
tough" in meeting health problems.
Surplus Already Assigned.
The regular District budget for
the next fiscal year now before Con-
gress, calling for an outlay of $54,-
$4,000, is calculated to leave a
surplus of more than $500 900 at the
end of the next fiscal year, which
would more than cover the supple
mental requests, but the Commis-
sioners have warned they antici-
pate they will have to meet other
problems The deficiency and sup
Elemental requests call for the en-
ployment Of $40 additional workers
and for great increases in supplies
and services but do not call for any
additional construction.
DR.. RuhlAnd's original estimates
for the next year, drafted last sum-
mer, totaled $3,530,0O0. In their reg
ular 1943 budget estimates the Com
missioners reduced this figure to
S3.196, ,427, a sum $62 ,585 greater than
this years appropriations to date.
As to personnel, the greatest re-
quest is for the Nursing Bureau,
where DR.. Rutland seeks 121 addi
tional workers, including an assist
ant director, 10 supervisors, 25 pub
lie health nurses, rs junior nurses
and 10 clerks.
DR.. Ruhland said the nursing
service 'is one of the most inade-
quately developed health services
in the community" According to
standards. Of the American Public
Health Association, the District,
after deductions for the Instructive
Visiting Nurse Society, should spend
ISL cents per capita for nursing
service, he said, whereas it now
spends only PIT cents, including
Federal grants. With the approval
Of the requested additional funds.
he added, the per capita figure would
be raised to only 576 cents.
l42 Nurses Lacking Now.
DR.. Rutland reminded the Com
missioners that the Public Health
Service in its 1928 health depart
ment survey recommended the Dis
trict follow the nursing require
ments standards of the American
Public Health Association. At that
time the Federal agency suggested
the number of nurses be increased
from rs to 193 DR.. Rutland added.
If its recommendation had been
accepted. the department now
would have 156 nurses instead of
only 95." Further provision should
be made because Of the extraordin-
ary growth of population, he con-
tinued, and under the recommended
ton standards, 237 nurses would be
required. BY this calculation he
finds the District Is 142 nurses short
OF requirements.
The health officer said that due
to the shortage of nurses the nurs-
ing Sta1 now Is able to devote but
IS per cent of its time to field work,
spending II per cent of time in
clinics and IA per cent on sick and
annual leave.
The supplemental budget calls for
II more workers for the Bureau of
Preventable Diseases, including 8
medical inspectors, 9 more workers,
including physicians for the
tuberculosis Clinic; 13 more for the
venereal disease clinic, including 7
physicians and medical attendants.
DR.. Rutland said venereal disease
problems were among the most seri-
Gus confronting the District and that
with the growth of population and
the national defense program they
had become more important than
ever.
For the tuberculosis sanatoria at
Glenn Dale, Nd, the health officer
seeks $134, ,440 both for the remainder
OF this fiscal year and for the next
fiscal year. No additional personnel
Is requested, the extra funds being
asked for materials and supplies and
for additional funds needed for SAL
aries when the staff is placed under
q new policy of eating two meals
day outside the institution
S194,000 for Gallinger.
For Gallinger Hospital, the de-
partment seeks an additional $lO3.-
460 for the next full year and $9l ,288
for the last four months of this fiscal
year, mostly for materials, supplies
and maintenance. Eight additional
employees are requested, including
three additional medical officers.
Twenty additional food inspectors
would be employed under another
section of the supplemental budget,
4 for restaurant inspection, IA for
boarding house inspection and 2 to
act as supervisors. DR.. Rutland
emphasized there has been an in
crease of about 200 in the number
OF restaurants since 1910.
The sanitary inspection staff
would be augmented by employment
of "a additional employees, including
8 inspectors for general inspection
work and 6 in connection with the
operation of emergency chlorinators.
Among other requested increases
are four dentists and six dental hy-