Evening star., 1943-01-19
Medical Society
SetsUp6 6-Point
ProgramforD.C.
PIons Designed to
Meet Needs of
Wartime CopitoI
BY HAROLD B. ROGERS.

A Six-point program to provide
adequate medical care for the
civilian population in wartime
Washington" has been adopted
by a newly formed Committee
on Medical Service for the Dis
trict of Columbia" it was learned
today.
Organized at the instigation OF
the medical society, the new COM
mittee comprises representatives OF
the Medical Society. the United
States Public Health Service, the
District Health Department, the
Health Security Administration, the
Emergency Medical Service for Ci-
william Defense and the Medico-
Chirurgical Society.
The program was set up in it's
broad form at a meeting of the new
organization last night at the head
quarters of the medical society, l7l8
M street NV.
Six-Point Program.
The six-point program, briefly, Is
as follows:
/. Canvass of all physicians to
learn the patient load
2. Establishment of panels of
physicians for sections of the city
to serve in emergencies and epi-
denies.
3. Inquiry into the system of ra-
tioning gasoline and tires. Doctors
say the system takes too much time
from attention to the sick.
4. Educational program.
5. Preventive medicine, to meet
dangers of overcrowding.
6. Postwar planning.
The new committee acted under
Craftsmanship of DR.. A. Magruder
Macdonald, who is president of the
DMS and District coroner. The
plan was presented to the group by
Theodore Wiprud, secretary of the
DMS.
Practical phases of the program
will be worked out geographically
on the basis of the selective service
map of the District. with key physi-
clans TO be assigned to responsibility
for certain areas
Approved by Board.
Explaining the program, Mr..
Wiprud pointed out that the plan in
| general has been approved by the
/ Executive Board and will come be-
fore the entire society for final ap-
proval at an early meeting Mean
while, however, the program will be
put into immediate action by can
vass of all physicians.
The canvass will be made Ito de-
termine the patient load each medi-
cal practitioner is carrying and the
demands being made on him for
medical service which he is unable
to meet" Specialists will be asked
to do general practice in the emer-
gency.
The panels of physicians who will
accept calls from patients who do
not have their own doctors will be
prepared for different sections of
the city and be made available
through the society's medical bu-
reau
This bureau maintains 24-hour
medical society headquarters. Ply
sicians on the panel. it was pointed
out, would respond to calls in emer-
gencieS and in the event of epi-
denies.
OPA Red Tape" Assailed.
Regarding rationing of gasoline
and tires. sharp protests already
have been made to District OPA
officials on behalf of doctors, it was
learned. Red tape has delayed fuel
oil for the sick, it was charged.
The mobilization of doctors for
wartime service on the home front
by the newly committee
Mr.. Wiprud declared, should allay
any fears which may exist in the
public mind"
The committee, in addition to DR..
Macdonald, includes Dr. william j.
Stanton, DR.. Mary Holmes, DR.. F. x.
Courtney, DR.. Rush w. Conklin, DR..
George I. Eppard and Mr.. Wiprud,
from the DMS; Senior Surgeon C.
E. Rice, Surgeon o. F. Hedley and
George ST. John Perrott, of the
USPHS: DR.. John A Reed, chief
medical officer of emergency service
for civilian defense: Willard c.
Smith of Health Security Admins
tration, DR.. George C. Rutland.
District health officer, and DR.. Will
liam c. Goines of the Medico-
Chirurgical Society.