Evening star., 1946-05-30
Rutland Sees
Need Of 7,700
Hospital Beds
Estimate Bosed on
Requirements and
Future Population
By Don S. Warren

Factual support for expanding
and undermining Washington hospi-
tai facilities with financial aid from
the United States is contained in a
report to the House District Com
mittee from Health Officer George
c. Ruhland.
The health officer finds there now
Is a critical shortage of facilities, ac-
cording to expert standards for con-
valescent and chronic patients as
well as for general hospital beds.
Looking to the time when the Dis
trict will reach an estimated popu-
lation of 1,250,O00, DR.. Ruhland
foresees the need of doubling the
present total of hospital beds while
also replacing obsolete buildings
with facilities for about 1000 pa
tients.
Sees U. S. Aid Justified.
The Health Department believes,
{ DR.. Rutland said, that contribution
of funds from Federal sources is
justified on the basis that the Gov-
eminent is the chief employer here.
He gave a somewhat oblique sup
port to the pending hospital center
project while suggesting number of
changes in details of the legislation
His report was requested by the
District Committee, which is con-
sidering the Tydings bill, passed by
the Senate, to authorize a Federal
advance of funds to provide for the
construction of a 1,500-bed hospital
center to be used by three and pos
sibly more nonprofit private hospi-
tails. Garfield, Emergency and Epis-
copal Hospitals have agreed to enter
into the center plan and to pledge
their properties toward partial re-
payment of costs.
DR.. Daniel l.. Seckinger, assistant
health officer and District hospital
co-ordinator, joined with DR.. Ruh-
land in the report.
Obsolescence of District hospitals
is apparent, said DR.. Rutland, point
ing out number of Washington
hospital buildings are 40 or so
years old.
Cites Munger Report.
In a summary of his findings, DR..
Rutland took as basis the Munger
report, declaring there should be
an average of 54 beds per 1000 of
population, plus 10 per cent. He
concluded the District needed $50
additional general hospital beds, an
additional 1875 beds for chronic pa
tients and an additional 500 beds
for convalescent patients. These
would be additional to the need for
replacing 1000 beds in obsolete
buildings.
This would call for construction
OF facilities for total of 4,015 beds.
On a more long-range prospect con-
sidering the Districts ultimate"
population the health officer finds
facilities are needed for about $500
new beds-more than the total now
available in his listing-in addition
to requirements for 1000.
On this future basis he describes
the need fer 3,082 additional general
hospital beds, for 1,845 beds for
chronic patients and 300 added beds
Tor convaleScentS.
Also, DR.. Ruhland said there is
need at this time for 1903 additional
general shospital beds in nearby
Maryland and Virginia and 40 for
requirements.
Asks Clarification of Bill.
The Health Department, he said,
is not opposed to the merging of
two "or even three" of the present
hospitals into a single center. He
stressed that such a center should
have central administration" and
suggested Qualification" of the
Tydings bill on this point.
DR.. Ruhland protested that since
the Federal Government was to
make a grant toward the center,
1t should be given more than
minority representation on the
board managing the center. Under
the Tydings bill, representatives of
the participating non-profit private
hospitals would name a majority of
the management board.
"Manifestly, if the Federal Gov
ernment is to give financial support,
it would seem reasonable that more
substantial Federal control should
be effected" said DR.. Rutland.
The health officer contended some
of the additional beds proposed for
chronic patients should be placed at
Gallinger Municipal Hospital In
suggesting 800 additional chronic"
beds, he proposed that 300 be placed
at the Home for Aged and Infirm at
Blue Plains; 200 at Gallinger; 1875
at Freedman's Hospital, the remain