Evening star., 1943-11-08
Hospital Expert Files
Fiye-Point Plan 10
Improve Ga|Iinger

n IVe-pOllL program Tor improve
ment of the operation of Gallinger
Municipal Hospital-generally in
line with corrective steps proposed
recently by the District Commits
sioners-has been filed with the
Senate District Committee by Ever
EFT w. Jones, former chief hospital
consultant of the War Production
Board and now vice president of
the Modern Hospital Publishing Co.
In letter to Chairman McCarran,
Mr.. Jones protested the lack of in
terest he said was displayed by the
Holman investigating subcommittee
in his findings on Gallinger when
Mr.. Jones was called to testify, and
he added personal tribute for the
services of DR. Edgar A. Bocock,
Gallinger superintendent.
Assistants Proposed.
His written recommendation in
cluded:
Appointment of two, or preferably
three. full time, capable assistants
to the hospital superintendent: pro-
vision of a new laundry building;
enlargement of kitchens and staff
dining rooms and provision of con-
siderable equipment to make pos
sible service of hot meals to all pa
tient locations; and provision of
proper living quarters for staff
physicians.
He recommended also the ap-
n0if0t Nf q
mittee of six to eight outstanding
citizens'-at least three of whom
would be members of the governing
boards OF voluntary hospitals-to
work with DR.. Bocock in preparing
budget estimates and considering all
phases of administration and pa
tient care.
AS to budgets, he said they should
be large enough to provide mini
mum of SIS a patient a day in the
medical. surgical and contag gious de-
partments; $3.50 a day in the OBJ
stetrical department, $3.50 a day in
the mental department, and 1925 a
day in the tuberculosis department.
Other Experts Listed.
He also submitted list of hospital
administrators and consultants with
the Army, Navy, the United States
Public Health Service and other
agencies who might furnish helpful
advice.
Commenting on hearings con-
Quoted by the Holman Subcom-
mittee, Mr.. Jones said:
Despite the fact the committee
had invited me to testify, the presid-
ing officer seemed to have no in
| terest in the facts, findings and rec
concentrations which I had pre-
pared. Most Of the four or five min
utes I was on the stand were spent
by the chairman in questioning me
as to why I was there He described
this procedure as somewhat puzzl-
ing, to say the least
He continued: Frankly, the sort
Of question I heard being asked and
answered had little or no bearing on
| the fundamental problems at Ga
| linger. Whether the superintendent
did or Gid not have the right, back
in 1929 or 1880, to spend Is cents
| for a soup bone out of his monthly
allowance of S25 for supplemental
maintenance would appear to exper-
fenced hospital administrators and
consultants to have little or no
bearing on the problem being
investigated.
Hits Type of Queries.
"a great deal of time was spent in
questioning DR.. Bocock about the
practice of feeding garbage from
tuberculosis patients to hogs, and l
pointed cut that many excellent in
stitutions in this country have
! found by experience that this prac-
tice is perfectly all right.
Most of the adverse testimony
was presented by disgruntled and ir-
responsible former employees and pa
tients whose judgment could have
little value. 1t is difficult to con-
ceive of five conscientious, able men
being discharged on the strength of
| the evidence presented"
Action on the recommendations
of the Holman subcommittee is being
held up pending the return to Wash
ington of Senator McCarren
Meanwhile, United States Attorney
Edward NJ Curran is placing before
the grand jury complaints which
have been made by various persons
against Gallinger officials.