Evening star., 1944-08-08
|8-Point Program
For.TubercuIosis
Control Offered
D'AIesondro Group
Submitted Proposals
BY Dr.. Ethridee

0y DT. EtHTIO9e
An eight-point program designed
to strengthen the Districts control
of tuberculosis, dealing with both
Health Department organization
and public facilities, was filed with
the DAlesandro Subcommittee of
the House District Committee today
by DIR. Clayton B. Ethridge.
DR.. Ethridge is chairman of a
tuberculosis subcommittee of the
District Medical Society, but stressed
that his recommendations were
made as an individual on the basis
OF several years of study.
He suggests, among other items,
additional facilities for chest X-ray
tests Tor various population groups,
including in and out patients at
Gallinger Municipal Hospital, where
he predicted the yield Of positive
cases would be high.
Others to be given chest X-rays
should include all District govern
ment employees, including school
teachers and other school personnel,
District hospital workers and pa
tients at Health Department health
centers.
CO-Ordinator Is Proposed.
DR.. Ethridge also recommended as
IAN especial need" the immediate
creation of controller of tuber-
culoSis in the Health Department
to coordinate the activities of the
four separate units now engaging
in tuberculosis work. He listed these
as the Glenn Dale CMd.) Sanitor-
ium, the tuberculosis unit at GAL
linger, the Upshur Street Hospital
and the Health Department Bureau
Of tuberculosis. He protested that
each Of these units now operates
more or less autonomously with
no formal or generally acknowl-
edged program or policy to integrate
their activities"
This recommendation was related,
indirectly, to the dispute which
was touched on at yesterdays
hearing before the D'Alesandro
group between Health Officer George
c. Rutland and DR.. A. Barklie Coul-
ter, head of the tuberculosis unit
of the Health Department, as to
the extent of DR.. Coulters powers
and responsibilities.
Other Recommendations.
Among other recommendations by
DR.. Ethridge were: For 400 addi-
tional tuberculosis beds to raise the
total in District government hos
pitals to $500, or 2la beds per an
nual tuberculosis deaths;
For construction of a 200-bed
convalescent and rehabilitation
unit;
For provision of housing for 80
elderly and chronic tuberculosis
patients, who will remain relatively
we'll and do not need full sanitorium
care, and
A unit for isolation and care of
about 40 patients with active tuber-
culosls, who have proved incorrigible
or recalcitrant to ordinary Govern
ment disqualification, and thereby
tend to destroy the morale of other
patients N the regular sanitoria.
Following yesterdays generalized
debate on the idea of a municipal
medical center, Mr.. D'Alesandro an
nounced he would call another hear
ing soon to hear testimony by
spokesmen for Washington's private
hospitals as to their needs and post
war plans.
Likewise, he directed that formal
requests be sent to the United States
Public Health Service. the Commits
sioners and Health Officer George
c. Rutland that they make a survey
and submit recommendations as to
the expansion or rebuilding needs Of
public and private hospitals in the
District.
Mr.. D'Alesandro. though still con-
sidering the possibilities of a mu-
nicipal medical center, said he would
seek the views of spokesmen for
private hospitals listed In the 1941
survey report of Charles F. Neer-
gard of New York as needing re-
building or modernization.
Called for Requirements.
The Neergaard report called for
the replacement of the buildings of
Georgetown, George Washington,
Providence and Garfield Hospitals
and for modernization of the facili-
ties of Emergency, Children's, Co.
lumbia. Casualty, Sibley, Episcopal
and Alexandria Hospitals.
DIR. j. w. Mountain, chief of the
State Relations Division of the
United States Public Health Serv-
ice, who represented Surg. Gen.
Thomas Parran, said he presumed
the District would share with the
States in the contemplated Federal
allotments to stimulate the fight
against tuberculosis, but THAT the
funds were not yet available. He
said he had no information as to
the needs Of expanding Washing
tons hospital facilities and that the
USPHS had no responsibility for
disqualification in the District.