Evening star., 1946-06-03
Hospital Survey
Finds Staff Lack
In |nMontgonnery
Soniturium Service
At Tokomu Park Held
Excellent for Patients

The Montgomery County General
Hospital at Sandy Spring is under
stalled" to such a degree as to
"endanger sound medical and bed
side care" it was charged today in
a report made public by the Metro
politan Health and Hospital Survey.
On the other side of the picture.
the report, prepared for the entire
metropolitan area by the Council
OF Social Agencies, declared the
Washington Sanitarium at Takoma
Park "is rendering excellent service
to selected group of patients on
its own terms, in almost luxurious
facilities.
In general the report, prepared
by DR.. Claude w. Munger, of New
York, recommends that most hospi-
tails in the nearby Maryland and
Virginia area be increased in bed
capacity, and in one instance in
personnel, and that an arrangement
be effected with the District where
by serious cases could be taken to
Gallinger.
Taking up Montgomery County,
the report finds that the hospital
bed ratio there is approximately
per 1000 persons.
viii Seek d. C. Republication.
"It is our opinion" the report
continues, that many persons from
this comparatively prosperous area
will continue to seek disqualification
in Washington. We hesitate, &C
cordingly, to recommend any major
increase in bed capacity until local
demands develop to the point where
it becomes clearly necessary"
Singing out the county General
Hospital, however, the report as
serts:
tits active staff consists of two
physicians who engage in the gen.
eral practice of medicine. Wash.
ington specialists are infrequently
called for consultation purposes.
Physicians service is not readily
available during evening hours and
nursing care was quantatively in
adequate at the time of our visits.
The hospital has been greatly over
crowded and require significant al
teration and expansion of facilities,
particularly for the care of obstetric
patients
OF Suburban Hospital, Bethesda,
the report finds its administration
progressive and resourceful;; while
it adds that the Seventh-Day Ad-
ventist-managed Washington Sani-
tarium is rendering excellent serv-
ice" 1t adds that contagious ward
could be established to advantage
at the former hospital.
It was recommended that more
beds be provided in the Alexandria
Hospital. 1t suggests that beds per
1000 population should be the ratio
at Alexandria to take care of the
overflow from Fairfax County with
its continuing lack OF hospital de-
velopment"
| Alexandra Staff Sufficient.
I The staff at the Alexandria Hos
pital, the report adds, is sufficient
to staff ''an increased bed capacity"
Suggesting increased beds at the
Arlington Hospital for very much
the same reasons as at Alexandria,
the reports recommends an out-pa-
tient department and facilities in
the county for tubercular. mental
and communicable disease patients.
At the same time it lauds the
hospitals "able administrator who
recognizes the institutions obliga-
tion in providing medical care to
this rapidly growing community"
Karl N. York is the administrator.
The reports find a low ratio of
beds to population" in Prince
Georges County, which it says is
IA per 1000 persons. To increase
the ratio rs or 100 more beds are
recommended for the Prince
Georges General Hospital, now hav-
ing 102 beds.
The needs of the Leland Memo
rial Hospital, the report finds
parallel" to those of the county
general hospital.
For serious and communicable
cases the survey suggests:
"' the health officer of the
District Of Columbia work out a
plan with officials of the surround
ing areas whereby they can effect
disqualification of serious cases in
Gallinger Hospital at such times as
the latter Is more than equal to
the demands of the District itself"
In suggesting such a plan the
report also criticizes the District
for its narrow policy" in admis-
sion to Gallinger from Maryland
and Virginia.
A Alumni fo AoId Oonea