Evening star., 1945-07-29
|G. U. Hospital Plans
Increased 0ut-Patien1
Care for |ndigents

Georgetown University Hospitals
out-patient department for the in
digent, largest of any private insti-
tuition in the District, will be given
expanded and modernized facilities
in the new building now under con-
struction on Reservoir road. it was
announced yesterday.
In anticipation of double the
present monthly average of about
/ 300 patients after the war, the
Vefy Rev. Lawrence C. German.
S. j., president of the university,
has allocated the department prac-
tically the entire second floor Of
the new hospital. About 81 sep
arate rooms will be provided and a
number Of new features incor-
porated.
For years Georgetown Hospital
has provided the only free medical
and social service facilities in the
western environs and most of the
patients come from that area, al
though the clinics are open to any
eligible person. In prewar years
the attendance averaged 5000
monthly and the present decrease
Is due largely to employment OPP
portunities and the fact that many
former indigents are assisted
through war agencies.
Many New Patients Expected.
Father German expects the en-
larged department to draw patients
from every section of Washington,
thus becoming distinct benefit to
the entire community which ad-
mittedly now is deficient in aid of
this kind.
Since Georgetown Is a teaching
hospital, the enlarged unit also will
become increasingly important in
the training of internes and med
ical students. The new plans rec
ognize that factor.
DR.. Frank r. Horvath, directing
head, said Georgetown's department
is the only one in the. city at which
all prewar clinics are functioning
Standards have been maintained.
despite the war. because of the
teaching staff at Georgetown and
physicians who volunteered to aid in
the emergency.
Quarters Are Inadequate.
The outpatient department by ne
cessity now Is housed in the base
ment of the 47-year -old hospital. it's
quarters inadequate and outmoded
There is frequent overcrowding.
Examination of patients is handi-
capped by the need of equipment in
other branches of the hospital.
All this will be remedied when the
new quarters are provided, it was
said.
Much new equipment will be re-
quired for all 26 clinics and addi-
tions. The university now is cam
paigning to raise $750000 towards
equipment and Construction costs of
the new hospital to supplement a
81 800 900 Federal grant.
Other Features Outlined.
DR.. HorVath said another feature
will be an electro-encephalograph,
useful in studying some brain dis
eases. Full recognition also will be
given to psychiatry in consultations
and treatment. Singled out for first
consideration in planning new facil-
ltles are the eye, ear and throat
Clinics and the tumor and neuro-
circulatory clinics. Georgetown's tu-
NOR clinic is said to be the busiest
in the city.
The department will have a
thoroughly modern podiatry clinic
for the care OF the feet. Added en-
phasis will be placed on the treat
ment of skin diseases and syphilis.
A syphilis clinic now is operating at
the hospital from 6 to 8 pm. on
weekdays and most OF its $50 pa
tients have been referred to it by
the District Health Department.
The north and middle sections of
the second floor will be devoted
mainly to administration. surgical.
medical and teaching units, all of
which will be closely co-ordinated
The work of the Social Service unit.
largest now of any private institu-
ton here, will be extended. An
adequate filing room for records viii
be provided for it. There also will
be facilities for instructing nurses
and students of the National Cath
olic School of Social Service.
All INDECENT patients of the de-
partment first must obtain certi-
ficates of eligibility for treatment
from the Health Security Admins
tration, 1923 L street NV.
Argentina is trying to exchange