Evening star., 1942-01-19
Hospitals
Continued From Page BID

"tempos" has remained vague, re-
sulting in concern among majority
of those having to do with manage
ment of the voluntary hospitals.
There has been some wonder at
Gallinger, too. In general, that in
stitution is intended to serve only
those bona fide residents OF Wash
ington who are unable 20 pay for
disqualification. Specialized treat
ment, such as psychiatric, is avail
able to other than INDECENT Wash
ingtonians. Gallinger also has taken
urgent obstetrical cases from time
to time when sent by other institu-
tions which could not handle them
at once. Naturally, questions Of
residence or ability to pay have not
been raised in such instances.
Mr.. Maverick has indicated he
would like to see the temporary
buildings made available at reason
able" rates to persons Of modest
income who, nevertheless, want to
pay when they are obliged to go to
a hospital. He has said something
should be done promptly to give
such service to the average Govern
ment worker drawn to Washington
by the emergency expansion Of the
Federal establishment.
Decentralization Endorsed.
The principle Of decentralization
or regional accessibility" has the
Endorsement of Health Oficer
George c. Rutland, but a number
of voluntary hospital officials fear
the Gallinger- Glenn Dale split of
1000 new beds may be the only thing
done for long time if it is empha-
sized to the exclusion Of other new
pitfalls.
Typical Of this opinion is the view
OF Col N. L. McDiarmid, superin-
tendent Of Columbia Hospital. He
declared all new facilities should
not be concentrated at Gallinger and
Glenn Dale and was quick to explain
he would consider it equally inadvis-
able to concentrate them at Colum-
bia.
Col McDiarmid would like to see
whatever emergency facilities are
provided spotted about the city and
in adjacent communities. If the
voluntary hospitals were brought
into the picture, he would point out
that ground is available at Column
bia for q temporary building for sur
gical cases. This would permit ex-
pansion of obstetrical facilities, an
acute need there.
This proposal represents only what
might be done at his institution if it
is decided all possibilities are to be
examined, he makes clear. Colum-
bias average daily occupancy rate
last year was about 80 per cent. as
against the comfortable maximum
Of 80 per cent usually heard in hos
pital circles.
Emergency Not Troubled.
James G. Capossela. assistant su-
perintendent of Emergency Hospital,
said he had no specific ideas as to
how much is needed at once in hos
pital facilities here or where they
should be placed. Something is
needed, however, he agreed Emer-
gency, averaging about 80 per cent
occupancy last year, has not been
troubled appreciably by crowding.
Mr. Caposella reported, and should
be able to operate at 80 per cent oc-
cupancy without excessive hardship.
Miss Matte M. Gibson, superin-
tendent Of Children's Hospital, said
the out-patient department of that
institution is under severe strain
Clinic visits were up about 10000 in
1941 over the preceding year. The
occupancy rate average was above
Is per cent last year and now Is
about 81 per cent.
Mrs. Irene Roszel, superintendent |
of the Alexandria (VaD Hospital, |
hopes something can be done with
Government funds to expand that |
institution or build one in Arlington.
Quartering of patients in Railways is
almost daily occurrence in Alex
andria. The occupancy rate is 100
per cent or better at all times.
1t should be kept in mind that |
these are expressions taken at ran
dom after check of hospital super
intendents and merely illustrate that |
different things come first to the |
minds Of various voluntary hospital |
administrators.
Air Raids niScounteH
Several institution heads won-
dered aloud whether the AFRAID |
threat might be minor rather than
q major reason for immediate tenn
porary hospital construction. One
official said London experience was
that hospital cases were relatively |
small in air raids when compared |
to the two other types Of casualties
deaths and those requiring only |
first aid. Only an attack Of full |
London intensity could produce hos
pital cases running into thousands, !
he went on. and present hospitals
should be able to squeeze in those
seriously injured here by sending |
home patients not so urgently in
need of hospital care.
o. K. Fike, director Of Doctors
Hospital, recently made . survey OF
the hospitals absolute capacity in
his work as a member of the District |
civilian defense organization. He
reported finding that 1000 addi-
tional beds could be housed.