Evening star., 1942-01-18
Wartime Growth of District
Intensif;es Hospital Problem
Check Shows Acute Shortage Of Facilities
To Accommodate ObstetricuI Cuses


hospitals have reached their maxi
mum comfortable capacity when 90
per cent Of their accommodations is
filled. This figure, too, Is subject to
modification.
1t is explained that numerous fac
tors prevent 100 per cent use OF an
institution. For example, male and
female patients are separated and
persons with contagious disease
cases are not placed in the same
ward with other patients. There
fore, one part of hospital may be
overcrowded although there is spare
room In another part.
In buildings of the most modern
construction, featuring nothing
larger than a four-bed room, the
maximum for efficient occupancy
may be raised to 80 per cent or bet
ter. The same may be said for
specialized institutions requiring a
smaller number Of segregations.
A check Of hospitals in the Wash
ington area indicated an acute
shortage in obstetrical accommoda-
tions and heavy pressure on out
patient" or dispensary facilities
Beyond that, it appeared the hos
pitfalls still are able to care for the
needs of all applying for treatment
Facilities Overtaxed.
In general, where obstetrical ia
cilities were declared to be over
taxed the average daily occupancy
rate was above the 80 per cent mark
GARFIELD. with two dozen beds
placed in parts OF its plant not orig
nally intended for them, reported
more than so prospective patients
moetly obstetrical, sent elsewhere In
a recent month.
Columbia Hospital reported a fire.
quent inability to care for all OBJ
stetrical cases asking admission. and
it was pointed out that space limi-
tations Of the delivery floor would
make useless addition of more OBJ
stetrical beds in the present quar-
ters.
At Sibley several obstetrical cases
were referred elsewhere last month
because delivery rooms were in use
Providence and Georgetown. which
care for large numbers of obstet-
rical patients, also told of crowd
ing and maximum use of their prem
ises.
George Washington University
Hospital was declared to be op-
Grating at effective capacity and
unable to admit all applying on
some days.
Nearby Institutions Crowded.
Freedmen's, at which about Sc
beds are assigned to obstetrics, was
stated to be functioning at "satu-
ration point" while crowding at
Gallinger was said to be restricted
to maternity and children's wards
Health Department officials have
classed new maternity and chill
dren's building as the latter insti-
tution's most pressing need for many
months.
Montgomery County General Hos.
Pltdl lCpOl GCo SdPdIAly OPCAdlAoA
and Alexandria Hospital Offered
the same information One patien
was being cared for in hallway
at Alexandria yesterday, and i
was said many more often art
obliged to be quartered in thai
fashion.
The Medical Society of the Dis.
trict has approved a report OF it!
Obstetrical Board stating an i'm
mediate need "for at least 200 ad'
ditional obstetrical beds. In ap'
proving the study, the society
authorized a survey to determine
the practicability of using non.
hospital buildings as auxiliary OBJ
stetrical wards or convalescen
quarters for post-natal care.
With this need shown, it remain!
to be determined whether some
thing should be done promptly tt
expand other types of hospita
facilities here.