The Wilmington morning star., 1945-07-30
RITTER MEDICAL
SERVICE OFFERED
nv DIR. SELF C. MAYO,
N. C. State College

|
Ina have been carefully stuoying
their medical care problems dur
ing the past several months. 1t
has been pointed out that there is
and was before the war an acute
shortage of doctors especially to
serve farm people in rural areas.
There are not enough hospital IA
cilities, The same applies for den
fists. nurses and public health per-
sonnet.
It cannot be said too often that
the medical care problem in North
Carolina is to- a great extent
rural problem. This is true not
on1v because about three-fourths OF
our people live in rural areas, but
also for three other specific rea-
sons Cd lack of medical care ia
ci1ities and personnel; 90 lack OF
appreciation for the need Of good
medical care; and 90 the inability
of rural people to pay for modern
medical care under the present
system.
| AS a consequence OF THIS Stuoy'
individuals and groups over the
whole state are asking: What can
T or what can we do? How can we
pet more adequate facilities and
services. Yes, these and many otn-
err questions are being asked.
Such questions were anticipated
and so during the latter half of
1912 the U. S. D. A.. sponsored SIX
governmental rural health service
associations among farm people.
The purpose of these associations
was to help farm people meet their
health roblems. An analysis by
Jesse B. Yaukey of these organl-
cations during their first year.
points up many valuable lessc4--s
but only one can be covered here.
Members of the association IN
sured each other by taxing them
selves a given percentage OF their
incomes and contracting for medl-
cal services of all types. Conse-
ouently, the economic barrier to
ADEQUATE medical care was ellml-
mated for each family.
AS a result of eliminating the
economic barrier, the amount OF
medical care services received by
members of the association was
greater than that received by the
general rural population and much
more than these same families re-
ceived before becoming members.
And, this was accomplished with
the same facilities and personnel
as existed prior to the organization
of the association.
About three times as many as
ISOLATION members received the
care of physicians as in the gen
eral rural population. 1t is impor-
tant to note that office calls &C.
counted for practically all of the
increase. The members did not III
doctors to their homes as often as
the total rural population. This is
another significant indication OF
what happens when the economic
barrier between doctor and patient
is eliminated: Patients receive
care in the early stages Of illness
and doctors can care for more pa
tents by not being called out OF
their offices so often.
The ratio of hospital admissions
is higher for association members
than for the general rural popu-
lation; however, the total number
of days hospitalized is actually
less. This indicates very clearly
that patients receive early medi-
ca diagnosis of their illnesses and
: therefore, patients need shorter
, period of care in hospitals. This
: shows also that farm people gne-
orally need much more hospital
ization than they are now re,eiv-
E ing.
: North Carolina farm people can
; learn many valuable lessons from
these experiences. In he consider
= alton of a complete medical care
system, the first basic principle is
: the elimination of economic bar
! riers between the patient and the
doctor or hospital. This can be
0 done most adequately through self
: group-insurance on broad popula-
l ton base.
-V
The use of asbestos can be trac-