Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-04-17
D. {. Heads Studying
New Pediatric Ward
At Ga||inger Hospital
Mason Says Criticisms
On Facilities Were Heore
Only Recently

COMMISSIONER NTuy mason today
replied to criticisms by DR.. George
10. Rutland, District health of1icer
OF conditions in the children's ward
at Gallinger Hospital in a statement
saying no word Of complaint on the
subject had been heard until a week
ago. He added that the Commits
sioners now are studying plans for
a new pediatric ward at the insti-
tuition.
The children's ward, Mr.. Mason
said. was moved into the top floor
of the psychiatrie ward more than
flve years ago on the advice of the
Health Department, following a fire
in the wooden building which it had
been occupying
The current issue was raised by
verbal complaints from DR.. Rub
lands department to the Commits
sioners over conditions in the chill
dren's ward, particularly the lack of
an isolation section for incoming
patients. DR.. Rutland also ex-
pressed his criticisms in letter to
Representative Stefan, Republican,
OF Nebraska, ranking minority MEM
Der OF the House District Appropria-
tions Subcommittee.
Priorities Handicap Changes.
Mr.. Mason said today he feared
there could be no permanent solu-
ton Of the housing problems at
Gallinger until after the war be-
cause of the priorities situation. He
referred also to the demands for
replacement of the present PSYCHE
atric ward facilities there which
have been termed unsuitable.
Twenty-Five per cent of the daily
population at Gallinger are chill
|dren," Mr.. Mason's statement read,
I'm 1888 the care of children
pediatrics-was provided in an old
building on the reservation. The
fire occurred in that building and
under the direction Of the health
officer complete floor In. the
psychiatric ward was converted into
a pediatric ward and has been used
ever since-nearly six years.
mot until less than q week ago
has the Health Department made
any recommendation to the Com
missioners concerning this, when the
matter was presented to Commits
'sioner Mason by DIR. Daniel =. Seek
niger, assistant health Officer and
acting superintendent of Gauinger
Hospital during the absence OF DR.
Rutland on account Of Illness.
The Commissioners are now
studying the matter and will make
provision for a pediatric ward, since
this study encompasses the recon-
mendations Of special committee
headed by DR.. Overholser with re-
spect to the psychopathic ward"
Doctors Make Report.
DR.. Winfred Overholser of st.
Elizabeth's Hospital headed a COM
mittee OF three doctors whose report
on Gallinger Hospital was made
public last week.
DR.. Rutland, discussing the un-
satisfactory facilities for child pa
tients at Gallinger, supported earlier
views expressed by DR.. Seckinger
acting Gallinger head, and Mr.
Stefan. DR.. Rutland said he had
proposed that plans be developed for
construction of an entirely new
building, to front on the Nineteenth
street side of the Gallinger grounds
Under his plans, this would be ir
the form of "U," with one of the
wings to be devoted to a pediatrie
ward, with about $50 beds for chile
patients, including cardiac cases
and the crippled. He proposed that
the center section of the proposed
new building be used to house TIT
hospitals business Offices, recorc
rooms, the library and offices of the
property officials.