Evening star., 1946-06-23
Private Health
Agency's Status
Is Under Fire
Controversy Roges
On Munger Report
Calling HSA 'Misfit'


private agency, which was severely
criticized by the recent Metropolitan
Health and Hospital Survey, has be-
come the most controversial issue
rising out of the survey, it was
learned last night, and several
studies are under way to decide its
future.
The status of HSA was questioned
by the so-called Munger report in
the survey which branded the
agency "misfit" as constituted now
1t operates an admissions bureau
for hospitals. The Munger report,
however, was only a recommends
ton. Now Officials vitality concerned
with its future are in the process of
analyzing the survey report by DR..
Claude w. Munger, of New York, to
decide whether to follow its recon-
mendations..
Substantial support for HSA was
reported gaining in several quarters,
as criticism continued
Picture Changes Rapidly.
Meanwhile, there were several
other developments in the fast
changing health and hospital pic
ture in this area:
l. Faced with a critical shortage
of nurses : Columbia Hospitals SUI
perintendert, Col. N. L. McDiarmid,
warned that unless more nurses are
available by July /, the institution
may have to close some of its wards
2. The newly formed Hospital
Council of the National Capital
Area will take up new problems
posed by the hospital survey at a
meeting of its executive committee
at pm. tomorrow at Emergency
Hospital.
3. Harry J. Becker, president of
Group Health Association, the med
ical cooperative, congratulated the
District Medical Society for taking
a progressive step" by its new plan
for prepayment of surgical care
bills. The society last week ap-
proved Medical Service of the
District of Columbia" to set up "a
limited system of prepaid surgical
care, which later may be admins
tered by Group disqualification, Inc
4. Ray H. Everett, executive sec
retary of the Social Hygiene Society,
wrote Chairman Bilbo, of the Sen
ate District Committee, urging
prompt action" on House passed
bill to provide quarantine powers
for the District Health Officer in
dealing with communicable diseases.
This vital piece of District legisla-
tion," Mr.. Everett said, "means
better control of venereal disease,
tuberculosis and other major health
hazards"
HSA Widely Discussed.
The controversy over Health Sc
curity Administration is going on
in many conferences throughout the
city. Discussions reVolve around
what to do about its relations to
the hospitals for which it operates
an admissions bureau for INDECENT
and part-pay patients Some critics
agree with the Munger report which
recommends hospitals should handle
their own admissions.
VII IllC lldllu, OilC ICldblC
source said last night, there is "a
considerable body of opinion" which
feels that the Munger report went
entirely too far. Friends of HSA
assert it has served useful pur-
pose in helping collect some funds
from persons who can afford to pay
part of the cost of their treatment.
The problem is known to be
under consideration by the Metro
politan Health Council, a division
of the Council of Social Agencies,
whichA sponsored the health and
hospital survey with funds allo-
Gated from the Community War
Fund.
At the hospital councils executive
committee meeting tomorrow, Will
liam r. Castle, council president
who returned recently from Boston,
plans to make several recommenda-
tions for action, as result of his
study of the Boston Health Council.
Unified Accounting Proposed.
Foremost of these, he said last
night, will be proposed unified
accounting and statistical system
for all hospitals in the area. In
Boston, he said, he found an excel
lent system, which operated for
the benefit of the hospitals and the
public. The hospital survey said
systems here were lin the dark
ages"
The hospital council in Boston,
he said, lis trusted by the public, by
the hospitals, and by the public Of
f1cials. 1t is doing a very valuable
work"
More funds should be forthcom-
ing from the Community Chest to
help the hospitals defray the cost
of treatment for the INDECENT and
semi-indigent, Mr.. Castle feels.
Another subject to be laid before
the council. its president said, will
be some kind of central purchasing
for all the hospitals. Each institu-
ton, he indicated. will have to have
purchasing agency of it's own for
special needs, but there could be
substantial savings through buying
major supplies through one central
source.
Shortage of nurses at Columbia
Hospital, Col. McDiarmid said, to-
gether with further reduction in
available personnel on July /, makes
the situation critical"
"Unless assistance be obtained or
or before that date" he said, "cur-
tailment in bed capacity is newt
able. -. The shortage in the num-
ber of beds for obstetrical cases is
particularly grave.
Every Bed Needed.
every such bed is needed by the
community. In this field the facili.
ties of Columbia Hospital for Wom-
en- constitute an important proper.
ton of those available"
In his formal statement regard
ing the Medical Society, President
Becker of Group Health Associated
said, CHA is interested in having
made available to as many people
as possible all the health services
they may need without economic
barriers that exist today for mos
families. We believe the principle