Evening star., 1943-01-07
Hospitals Asked
To Fix Figure
On Bed Space
Conferees Soy CAB
Gould Be Provided
Without Construction

W - AsSbs
A committee appointed in con-
nection with the local hospital pro-
gram shake-up began today on
drive to obtain definite commit
ments from hospital authorities as
to the number of beds they can add
in existing spaces as disclosed by
recent War Production Board survey.
Delay in approval Of further prof.
ects until this information could
be obtained was recommended yes
terday by one of the special groups
assigned at Tuesdays conference
on the hospital situation to work
out particular phases of the differ
ences which already have delayed
the construction program several
weeks.
The group, called together at the
District Building by Commissioner
Guy Mason, was one of the most
important named at the Tuesday
meeting After remaining in ses-
sion five hours, it reached the con-
clusion that 643 additional hospital
beds could be supplied in Washing
ton without further construction.
This figure represented reduction
from the estimate given in a WPR
survey report to the Senate District
Committee last week, which said
745 beds could be placed in general
hospitals without construction ana
l72 beds could be added with slight
construction.
Suburban Hospitals Backed.
Another outcome Of the meeting
was a recommendation that the
WPB approve construction Of new
100-bed hospitals at Cheverly and
Bethesda, Md.
It also was agreed that the vene-
real disease phase of the program
should be tabled until next week for
further study.
Present at the meeting. In addi-
ton to Commissioner Mason. were
DR.. Daniel M. Seckinger, deputy
District health officer, DR.. v. M.
Hoge of the United States Public
Health Service, Everett w. Jones
and Neil F. Macdonald hospital
consultants. who made the survey
for the War Production Board:
Henry Sullivan. assistant regional
director of FWA Edward Linders.
chief examining engineer for FWA,
and DR.. A. Magruder Macdonald.
District coroner and president of the
District Medical Society So
AS another move to further the
progranis agreed on at Tuesdays
conference, Mr. Jones. Mr.. MacDon-
aid. Mr. "Linders and Mn. sullivan
were appointed as a committee to
'sstudy ths bpssibility of setting up a
20 to 80 bees bbstetrical unit in the
Convent Building. owned by Alex
andria Hospital ,.E s"
Might Use Upshur Street Building.
The group further agreed that. II
the steps it recommended did not
take care of the obstetrical problem
in the District. the old hospital at
Fourteenth and Upshur streets NV,
now being converted into hospital
for convalescent tubercular patients.
should be used as an obstetrical
unit.
Commissioner Mason told the press
following the meeting that recon-
ditioning Of the Upshur property
should be finished by January Is.
He added, however. that If no deci-
sion in the matter had been reached
by the time the building was ready
for occupancy it would be used for
tubercular cases, the purposes for
which Congress recently approved
funds for its reopening.
The WPBs two consultants. Mr..
Jones and Mr.. Macdonald, informed
the press that the program which
now is being considered will give
the Metropolitan Area. on a basis Of
an estimated population of 100000
persons. Al beds per each 1000
residents.
Would Provide 5,136 Beds.
They cited that the proposed 643
beds possible without construction.
as we'll as projects already approved
| for Gallinger and Georgetown Hos
pltals and the new hospitals recon-
mended for Cheverly and Bethesda,
Md, will increase the Ais beds now
in the Metropolitan Area to 5,136.
They also called attention 60 a
Public Health Service survey of last
October calling for 5,049 beds in
the District and pointed out that
the proposed program will exceed
this total by nearly 100.
The consultants admitted that
| 5,l36-bed capacity for the Metro
| politan Area will not necessarily
take care of needs during an epi-
demic, but they explained that no
city, regardless of it's size or facili-
| ties. follows a planning program
to take care of an epidemic.
They also recalled that a recent
American Medical Association sur
vey had shown that the average
stay of patients in hospitals had
been reduced from IA days in 1885
to IL days in l94l. and said the re-
duction was being carried even
further today.
Fairfax Board Acts on !