The Ypsilanti daily press., 1946-03-19
Baby Clinic
to be Open
Entire Day


Under pressure Of increased re-
quirements for its services, the
Well-Baby Clinic conducted by the
county health department at viii
low Village today began operating
all day instead Of during the morn
ing only, 1t was announced by Miss
Marie Presley, nurse in charge OF
the project branch office.
Need for extension of the clinics
hours became apparent last week,
Miss Presley stated, when she and
her staff examined 30 children dur
ing the morning. A large increase
in the number Of new residents has
resulted In a noticeable rise in re-
quests for clinic appointments, she
said
First step in bringing n child to
the Well-Baby Clinic, Miss Presley
explained, is to secure an appoint
ment by stopping at the office or
telephoning 1892. "By the appoint
ment method" she declared, I'VE
can give each child individual at
tention rather than depending on
the mass production techniques
sometimes associated with clinics of
this type"
The clinic will examine children
from the ages Of one month to five
years, providing they do not have
a private physician. When a par
ent brings her child to the clinic
Miss Presley, or her assistant, Miss
Lois Meyers, secure complete
health history of the child IN pri
vate conference. Then the child Is
weighed, measured, his temperature
Is taken, and he is given a physi-
cal examination.
IF we find the child requires
medical care" says Miss Presley,
I'VE refer the parent to a private
physician. Our functions are edu-
cational and preventive, not medi-
cal"
Monthly Examination
From the time child Is one
month old till he Is six months old,
the clinic gives him a monthly ply
steal examination. At six months,
the clinic begins free immunization.
starting with four doses of whoop-
ing cough vaccine a week apart.
After a 'two.week waiting period,
the clinic administers two doses Of
diphtheria toXoid a month apart.
Following another wait Of two
weeks, the clinic vaccinates the
child for smallpox. The parent is
instructed to return the child every
six months thereafter for a physi-
cal check-up.
ANY child up to five years old
may receive this free immuni-
zation," Miss Presley stated. "All
that's necessary is an appointment
for one Of our Tuesday clinics"
The Well.Baby Clinic Is only one
of numerous services performed by
the Willow Village office. Not only
do Miss Presley and Miss Meyers
handle cases on the project, but
their duties extend into the east
ern part Of Ypsilanti township and
all Of Superior township
Among the routine services they
perform are school and pre-school
care, infant and maternal care, be-
side prenatal cars, venereal dis
ease nursing, tuberculosis care, and
care for crippled children and the
aged. In emergency cases, the
nurses have even delivered babies
when a doctor could not arrive in
time.
Sponsor Glasses
The office Is cooperating with
FPHA officials in sponsoring the
Monday Child Care classes Mt West
Lodge, and plans to start addi-
tional courses II enough interest is
shown from mothers on the prof.
ect.
The additional courses would con-
slider both prenatal and child prob
lens, Miss Presley stated. In the
absence Of such courses, the office
can provide government publica-
tions which are helpful to mothers
or prospective mothers.
In addition TO Miss Presley and
Miss Meyers, the office utilizes the
services Of DIR. Lyle Frost, Ypsilanti
physician. every Tuesday morning.
A pediatrieian from the University
Hospital in Ann Arbor is scheduled
to consult with parents at the clin-
ic. The services Of an expert nu-
tritionist, who conducts demonstra-
tions on proper cooking and feeding,
are also available.
office secretary is Mrs. Eileen
BadalucO, wife Of veteran attend
ing the University of Michigan. Do
rector OF the county health depart
ment and responsible for the nu-
merous services available at the
Willow Village office is DIR. Otto
X. Engelke Of Ann Arbor.