Evening star., 1946-05-12
Health
Continued From First Page :

Jacksonville. Memphis, Sacramento
and San Antonio. Its rate for the
white population, however, was only
80 at this period, and in this respect
1t stood 34th in list of 90 cities.
Regarding the Negro population
the figures showed for the same
period the District rate was 1874 per
100000 population. ranking this city
25th among 80 cities surveyed, or
about one-third of the way from the
bottom.
Thus five years or so ago" sale
the report, "the problem was OBJ
Vlously a serious one in Washing
ton, particularly with regard to the
Negro population" Since then how.
ever, the report pointed out there
has been much activity here to i'm.
prove the situation.
Summarizing its findings, the re-
port declared
The District has a tuberculosi,
program but it is a program which
should be materially STRENGTHENED
Its sanatorium services and its nurs.
ing services are good, though in.
adequate in amount With more
constructive leadership by the Blu.
reau of tuberculosis, the Distric
could have a program which woule
be model"
Fault was found with the directo,
OF the tuberculosis Bureau on sew.
eral scores. The director was men
toned in several parts of the 81
page report.
In July, 1943," explains the re-
port, "he made certain specific rec
concentrations, most of which dealt
with details and one of which was q
demand for complete administrative
autonomy. He has never, so far as
we are aware, developed construc-
tive cooperative policies. such as
the present administrative set-ur
contemplates, and the unfortunate
friction which has developed be-
tween himself and his associates
and administrative superiors fric-
ton which is seriously prejudicia.
to the morale of the Department.
appears to be rooted in a funda-
mental incapacity for team work.
Cooperation Needed.
With director who understood
the principles of administration who
made a serious effort to secure co.
operation, and who deserved and re.
ceived full administrative AUTHORITY
and support, the present system
could be made to work with effic.
tency."
In another section of nursing serv.
ice, the report charges that lack O
harmony exists between the Director
of the Bureau of tuberculosis, anc
the Director of the Bureau of Pub.
lie Health Nursing"
The present administrative set.
up" the report said" which contem
plates program planning by the Bu
reau of tuberculosis, generallzec
nursing service, and centralized hos
pitalization is sound; what is chiefly
needed is a bureau director who ha.
the full confidence of the health
officer, who is able to establish co,
operative relationships with col
leagues and superiors. Such leader
could and should be given freedom O.
action in the administration of hi,
bureau under general policies estab
lished by the health officer"
Other Proposals.
Other proposals advanced in.
cluded: appointment of an advisory
committee representing various com
munity agencies such as already
temporarily set up; continuance O.
the tuberculosis register on tn,
basis of much more complet,
records than are now available
greater emphasis on the discovery O.
early cases of tuberculosis, concen
tration of the mass-raying of ad
missions to hospitals, and of loV
income groups.
Vacant beds in the four tubercu
losis hospitals should be made avail
able as promptly as possible, ant
provision sholld be made for furthe.
increase in bed capacity, the repor
said. A ward for "recalcitrant
patients was suggested. In admitting
cases to hospitals, preference shoult
be given, the surveyors recommended
first, to ambulant sputum- positive
cases, and second, to late sputun
positive cases.
Home cases of the disease shoulc
be referred more frequently to tht
Instructive Visiting Nurse Society
the surveyors said. reporting there
were 500 active cases in Distric
homes.
Unqualified praise was accorded
the District of Columbia Tubercu.
losis Association, with recommen.
dations for support and increase Of
its efforts. Cooperation OF tht
focal tuberculosis associations in the
adjacent areas deserves high com.
mendation," said the report, "as dt
the excellent overall health depart.
ment programs now in force II
Alexandria,, in Arlington and par.
ticularly in Montgomery County"
The report recommended. how.