Evening star., 1943-01-18
Hospital Heads
Agreeto|nsta||
627 More Beds
Consultont Urges
Construction of Three
100 Bed Institutions
BY PAT JONES.

Washington hospital bed short
age advanced another step toward
settlement today with a report from
the War Production Board based on
actual commitments by hospital
superintendents that 627 beds can
be placed in existing institutions
without new construction.
Earlier estimates by the WPB
cited the possibility of adding 760
beds without construction. Later,
however, one of its special commit
tees on the subject reduced this
figure to 643
The report, submitted by Everett
W. Jones, chief WPB hospital con-
sultant. to Maury Maverick, director
of the Governmental Division of
WPB, recommends approval of new
l00-bed hospitals in Arlington
County, Va, and at Bethesda and
Cheverly, Md.
705 New Beds Available.
Mr Jones pointed out that the
new beds for which hospital super
intendents have admitted space is
available. plus a 150-bed addition at
Gallinger and a 28-bed addition at
Georgetown. already approved by
WPB, brings the number of extra
beds now available to 705. Included
in this figure are 551 for general and
254 for obstetrical patients.
These beds. coupled with the 300
proposed through new construction,
will give Washington an added total
Of 1.005.
The WPB would give no break
down at this time on the individual
commitments of Superintendents
but it is understood that in two
instances hospital heads agreed to
put in still a larger number of beds
If requirements demand.
Doctors, Hospital, for instance,
estimated originally to have space
for SO, agreed to put in % i'm
mediately and to add 80 more if the
need arises. A similar promise came
from Garfield, where 80 instead of
50 will be installed at once and 20
more will be added if needed.
5,220 Beds to Be Available.
The new 100-bed hospitals recon-
mended, with one exception, already
have been selected for approval by
a special WPB committee headed
by Commissioner Mason. The ex-
ception is Arlington,
Mr.. Jones recalled that the United
States Public Health Service. in it's
report of October 81 to the Senate
gave total bed requirements for the
Metropolitan Area as 5,049, exclusive
of mental and tuberculosis beds.
The final proposal, he said, will
provide the following:
Beds in use at time of WPB sur
Vey, Ais.
Hospital agreements for extra beds
In existing space. 627.
Already approved for construc-
tion, 178.
Recommended for immediate con-
struction, 300
Total, 5,220.
This gives an excess of I'll beds
over the Public Health Service rec
ommendation and should provide an
adequate factor of safety" reported
Mr.. Jones' The 5,220 beds give
ratio of 413 beds per 1000 popula-
ton based on a census of 1850 000."
Arlington Given Preference.
The conSultant explained that a
new hospital was recommended in
Arlington County instead of at Alex
andria because Arlington, with no
present hospital facilities must have
q hospital.
The hospital in Arlington should
relieve the Alexandria Hospital of
about 7 to 10 patients per day,
possibly more" ," Mr.. Jones said. This
will give Alexandria reasonably good
hospital service"
In connection with the bed ratio
now available, according to the re-
port, it was pointed out that the
ratio at Baltimore, a medical center,
is 70 beds per 1000 population. only
about four of which are used by
local residents At Detroit, which is
no medical center the ratio, on the
other hand, is 36, a figure author
tiles say takes care of population
needs unite SatiSfartorilV