Evening star., 1943-10-22
Hospitals Seek
Cured Patients
|As Workers
New Association
Head Tells of
Monpower Needs

MonPoWer NEEDS
Patients about to be released from
hospitals are being eyed covetously
by administrators as possibilities for
filling manpower gaps. Mrs. Helen
Harding Brown, president-elect of
the District Dietetic Association told
the Maryland District of Columbia
Hospital Association today at its
convention at the Hotel Washington
Mrs. Brown described many dras-
tic methods being used to obtain
employees for vitality needed hospital
services, especially in the commits
sary departments. She told of sew
eral instances in which department
heads visited the out-patient wards
and persuaded some of those about
to leave the hospital to remain as
dishwashers
She said administrators also are
obtaining help from vocational
schools, probation officers. jails, vol
unteer groups and churches. In sew
eral instances, she said, merchant
sailors agreed to work in hospitals
between voyages. Hospital patients
requiring special diets, difficult to
get outside, have also been persuaded
to remain in jobs at the institutions
in return for the assurance they
would receive the proper food.
Others on Program.
Other speakers at today's session
included William A. Gately. execu-
tive director of the Hospital Bureau
of Standards and Supplies in New
York; Miss Janet Engbretson, dieti-
clan at Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore; Neal Johnson, purchasing
agent at Johns Hopkins, who pre-
sided over the session, and William
S. Brines. chief of the hospital sec
ton of the War Production Board
who conducted a round-table dis.
cussion.
Participating in the two-dav con-
vention are the Maryland and Dis
trict Dietetic Associations and the
Maryland and District Associations
of Medical Record Librarians.
What the wartime nurse needs Is
more personality, J. Dewey Lutes
superintendent of the Suburban
Hospital in Bethesda, Md, told the
convention yesterday.
"A nurse whose demeanor keeps
the patient cheerful" Mr.. Lutes
said, lessons the demands on nurs-
ing service"
Mr.. Lutes described many nurses
as mere robots" with a cold and
attitude toward those un-
der their care. He said this is the
hour when we need desperately to
cultivate courage and self-sacrifcing
qualities in our nurses
Mason Addresses Group.
The two-day convention opened
with welcoming address by Com
missioner Guy Mason, who told the
group of the steps being taken by
the Commissioner to bring about
change in the administration of Gal
lnger Hospital. recently under fire
by Senate subcommittee
Other speakers yesterday included
DR.. Paul C. Barton, assistant execu-
tive officer of the War Manpower
Commissions Procurement and AS
signment Service; Mrs. Catherine
w. Meier, director of education at
Doctors Hospital. and O. K. Fike,
of the Miami Hos
pital, Dayton, Ohio, and immediate
past president of the Maryland
District of Columbia group. Mai.
Gen. Albert w. Kenner, Medical
Corps, U. S. Army. was the principal
speaker at last nights banquet.
Sister Rosa, administrator of
Providence Hospital and president
Of the association, presided at the
afternoon session and Mr.. Fike at
the evening meeting.
Elect New Officers.
New officers elected by the asso-
citation late yesterday are:
Harvey Weiss. superintendent of
Sinai Hospital Baltimore, president:
P. j. McMillin, superintendent of
City Hospital, Baltimore, president
elect; Sister Rosa, first vice -presi-
dent: Sister Pierre, superintendent
of st. Josephs Hospital, Baltimore,
second vice president: Davena A.
Somerville, superintendent of Fred
erick City Hospital, Frederick, Md,
third vice president; J. G. Capossela,
Emergency Hospital,
Washington, secretary, and DR.. Mer-
rill L. Stout, superintendent, Hos
pital for Women, Baltimore, treas
urer.
Elected to the board of trustees
for terms expiring in 1945 were;
Stewart B. Crawford, superinten-
dent. Maryland General Hospital,
Baltimore; j. H. Mess, business
Washington Sanitarium
and Hospital. Takoma Park, Md:
DR.. John Orem, president of Sibley
Memorial Hospital, Washington,
and Mr.. Lutes.
Miss Nash Chosen.
Elected to the board for terms
expiring next year were Miss Jane
Nash, superintendent, Church Home
and Infirmary, Baltimore, and
Eleanor L. Slacum, superintendent,
Cambridge Maryland Hospital, Cam
bridge, Md.
Also elected were DR. Willard L.
Guennel, Union Memorial Hospital,
Baltimore, delegate from Maryland
to the national association con-
vention: William DeWson of the
South Baltimore General Hospital,
alternate; Mr.. Caposella, delegate
from the District. and Miss Mat
tie Gibson, Children's Hospital,
The association was to hear an
address at noon today by DR..
Thomas w. Parran, Surgeon Cen
eral of the Public Health Service.
Man Hurt nrivnr krroefod