Evening star., 1943-10-20
Mason Offers
|Five-Point Plan
For Ga||inger
Commissioners Call
Conference With
Health Officials
BY DON S. WARREN.

Moving promptly to carry out
his promise of corrective meas
ures at Gallinger Municipal Hos
pital, Commissioner Guy Mason
today recommended to the Com
mlssioners an administrative re-
organization of the hospital de-
signed to assure better care Of
patients and better management.
He left to the future any possible
shakeup of personnel, saying such
questions would not be taken up un-
I'll after the Commissioners received
the impending report of the United
states attorney.
His recommendations include an
immediate request for funds for en-
ployment OF two assistant superin-
tendents at Gallinger, early con-
struction of temporary new laun-
dry building to permit badly needed
expansion of the main kitchen, des-
ignation OF a board of survey Of
staff physicians to make regular
checkup on patients and a re-
quirement that the health officer
or his deputy make regular visits to
the municipal hospitals.
Meeting Called.
After he had outlined these pro-
posals today, the Commissioners
called on Health Officer George c.
Rutland, Deputy Health Officer
Daniel L. Seckinger, Gallinger Su-
perintendent Edgar A. Bocock and
District Budget Officer Walter L.
Fowler to meet with them at 10 am.
tomorrow to consider the plans.
Commissioner Mason emphasized
that his proposals would not disturb
the present medical staff setup, but
would leave it under the present
chief of staff. Admiral P S. Rossiter,
formerly chief surgeon of the Navy.
The five detailed recommendation
were:
l. That supplemental appropria-
ton Immediately be requested for
the employment Of two assist
ant superintendent at Gallinger.
One would be a personnel ofn-
Ger, whose chief duty would be to
see that the hospital personnel is
properly used and does the work
expected" Also this officer would
have the duty of procuring addi-
Itional personnel needed through the
usual channels.
Other Would BE Engineer.
The other assistant superintendent
would be preferably an engineer and
would have charge of all physical
properties, including buildings. heat
ing plants and the like. Mr.. Mason
emphasized that the value of the
various buildings on the Gallinser
reservation is placed at nearly
81 900 900.
2. That a temporary building be
erected. if possible using brick man
ufactured at the District penal in.
stltutlons so as to avoid need for
critical materials, to house the hos
pital laundry and provide space
needed for expansion Of the main
kitchen. Mr.. Mason said he had
hoped necessary priorities would be
Forthcoming. He suggested this
move as necessary since the war
has stopped permanent building
construction.
| 3. That there be created a board
OF survey consisting of three CAL
nnger staff physicians to examine
each patient staying at the hospital
as long as two months-this to be
done every two months-to deter
mine II the patients should stay in
the hospital or be transferred to
another institution or another GAL
llnger department. Mr.. Mason said
this would enable Supt. Bocock to
TO keep better check on the
condition of patients in his CAPACITY
as co-ordinator of all hospital serv-
ice.
Would Examine Transfers.
4, That no Gallinger patient be
transferred to the psychiatric ward
unless the board of survey approves.
In such cases the survey board would
include no more than one psychia-
trlst. Mr.. Mason added that in cases
OF such transfer there first must be
full physical examination of the
patient.
5. That the health officer or hi,
deputy be directed to visit the three
municipal hospitals once every three
(see GALLINGER, Page A-l85