Evening star., 1944-12-19
Health Survey
Gets Approval
OF New Council
Outside Surveyor
Urged to Determine
Metropolitan Needs

Il
Metropolitan Needs
A health and hospital survey o
the entire Washington metropolitan
area has been authorized by the
newly named Washington Metro.
politan Health Council, to be con.
Quoted by a "disinterested outside
surveyor not from the area or from
government
This action was taken yesterday al
a luncheon meeting of the WMHC
at the Mayfower Hotel, where il
perfected its main organization ano
laid plans for the future
Pick Executive Group.
Electing an Executive Committee
the WMHC. which is affiliated with
the Council of Social Agencies OF
the District and Vicinity, authorized
the committee to receive nomina
tlons for the person to conduct the
survey. Nominations are to be sub
mitted by members of WMHC, which
consists of a group of distinguished
leaders Of local and national reputa-
ton in medicine. dentistry, journal
ism. labor, social service and other
circles
A recommendation that DR.. Haven
Emerson of New York City, we'll
known doctor who has made similar
surveys of cities throughout the
country, be selected, was referred
back to the Executive Committee. 1t
is to be considered among other
names to be submitted. The Metro
politan Council is to meet in about
a month to receive recommendations
from its Executive Committee on
this.
Vice Admiral Ross T. McIntire,
Navy surgeon general. was named
chairman of the councils Committee
on the Survey.
Objective OF the council was
described by DR.. Herbert P. Ramsey,
chairman. as unity of effort in this
field" to develop far sighted all
embracing plan in which every
health interest has its appropriate
part
Hopes to End Duplication.
DR.. Ramsey expressed the hope
that the new council, preliminary
organization of which took place
several months ago. would succeed
in mobilizing public opinion on
health matters to eliminate duplica-
ton of effort and fill the gaps.
Tyr,n n, !.
Randolph C. Bishop. executive sec
retary of the National Dental Hy-
giene Association. Inc. and Howard
Strong, executive secretary of the
Health Advisory Council of the
United States Chamber of Com
merce.
The Executive Committee consists
of Chairman Ramsey, the two vice
chairmen and these nine persons:
DR.. Winfred Overholser, ST. Eliza
beth's Hospital superintendent; B.
NJ McKelWay, associate editor of
The Star; Maj. Gen U. S. Grant
III, chairman of the National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commis-
sion; Mrs William Carter Bowles.
chairman of the Public Health Lay
Council of Montgomery County: Ed
mund D Campbell attorney, of Ar
lington County; Vice Admiral Nc
Intire, Robert Watt international
representative of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor; Theodore Wiprud,
secretary of the Medical Society of
the District, and DR.. Garnet c.
Wilkinson, assistant superintendent
of District schools.
Immediate Problems.
Mrs. Eugene Meyer, wife of the
editor and publisher of the Wash
ington Post, declined membership on
the committee because of pressure
OF other activities.
The two principal immediate prob
lens facing the committee are the
consideration of a person to make
the health and hospital survey, and
a study of ways and means of
financing it. Other committee and
subcommittee are to be appointed.
DR.. Ramsey told the council that
in the field of health facilities and
agencies - as differentiated from
sickness facilities-inevitabl gaps
and overlapping tend to occur in
services covered by different agen-
cies whether public or private. Diff
ferences of opinion arise" he added,
respecting field of coverage, juris-
diction and effectiveness of cover
age. This council can go long way
toward harmonizing and integral
ing such differences. If an idea be
good this council can back it. and
if. on the contrary. it be bad this
council can oppose or modify it
through the weight of public
opinion"
All Can Benefit.
Referring to the fact the council
is composed of persons from all
counties in the Metropolitan Area
and the District, DR.. Ramsey en-
phasized that they have problems
and needs and cannot ignore their
impact on each other. Likewise, -
he added. they all have programs
of which all others should be kept
aware. We think of this council as
a meeting ground. No political sub
division surrenders anything by
Jointly participating here but
rather all gain by their mutual en-
deavors and studies
o. District Commissioner Guy Mason
commended the council for its OBJ
iectives, declaring correlation OF
health agencies in the Metropolitan
Area was needed now, but will be
more needed after the war"
The new name of the council was
adopted to supplant both the names
of the Health Division of the Coun-
Gil of Social Agencies and its Co.
ordinating Council-but this action
was subject to approval by the
Board of Directors of the Council of
Social Agencies. Dr. Ernest S. Grif-
fifth. president of the Council of
Social Agencies, a member of the
new body. sat at the head table and
participated in discussion during
the meeting.
Are Virn;n;o w Too-o,,