Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-07
Survey.(:a||sf for
Conva|e!N,ents'
Facilities! Here
'G|oringIy Bore Spot
Seen Cous ing Grave
Situation in Area
By HoroldLB.Rooers

~ ''oios0k0fNo
Serious lack of sMita.,,e facilities
for convalescent cssse of the s..ck in
the National Capt. al Area was said
today to oonstituts q grave situa-
ton"
Although the W hole picture of
hospital and medic al care is far
from complete in t. be District and
surrounding areas" declared the
Metropolitan Healthl and Hospital
Survey, "convafescense is indeed a
glaringly bare .spot in this picture y
Chapter XIV ,of the survey, made
for the Metropo1 itan .ealtli Council,
a division of the Cotmcil of Social
Agencies, pSnts to sveral possible
solutions of The problem.
Conditions herG, tine report said,
"argue eloquently lSor the develop
ment in the whole s)slsayey area of a
plan which can te tn e framework
upon which CO.. mpre hensive con-
valescent program can gradually be
built"
Gallinger Hospi tai has no proper
outlet through WHICH convalescence
can be provided, con tended the re-
port. 1t added:
"So-called nursing homes of the
area .. are indeed a weak reed for
the community to leal Z. upon for its
convalescent care"
Based on experience elsewhere a
total of at least $50 BEDS would be
required in the Dist riot alone to
met the need.
A hint that there lns " be hope for
the project was VOTED. The only
advantage, if it may b, 2 called that"
declared the report, Sc Is the oppor-
tunity which is offered for the build
ing up of complete program. So
little is being done tn at few vested
interests will need t. be humored
In setting up a truly comprehensive
plan"
Declaring it rather ~6ut of the
question" to expect MANI individual
hospitals would be able! to establish
convalescent homes, the report said
1T is not too ambitious to hope that
some of them eventuaE, 7 will be able
to do So"
Looks to Teaching Hospitals.
The two teaching hospitals, for
fnstance-George Wasl ltngton Uni
versity and Georgetown University
whose new buildings INC ~ are under
construction by Feden,,t aid, it was
I'll
sibility suggested the survey.
If the medical cen ter proposed
by the Tydings bin .eventuates, "
continued the report, "a q onvalescent
home which can accept all con-
valescent groups except The PSYCHE
atric would be an app rqpriate unit
of this center. A general ct)nvalescent
home of 100 beds with accommoda-
lions for adults and CHI lllren, white
and nonwhite, would b esa valuable
beginning toward the solution of
this problem"
The Senate-passed aTydfngs bill
Tor Federal aid, hoTevt n. has been
delayed further by the House Dis
trict Committee. Fear ; are being
expressed by its hacker 81 it may be
lost in the log-jam OF. legislation
piling up before adjourn n tent or re-
cess of Congress in, July &or August.
Other Recommends III ons.
Other recommendations: in the
report: 4
A permanent conmi ftee of the
new National Capital A rea Hospital
Council should be set luls to prepare
a '.long-range plan"
Both white and N egrp elements
should have full cons Iteration.
A new children's &C invaAescent IA
cility, affiliated with 'Chi,dren's Hos
pital should be Cd 1fsioered, with
adequate provision or whites and
Negroes up to the ag Of IA.
Interest and aid'' O the medical
profession should be so, 1ght.
Full consideration sho, I'd be given
to underprivileged groups for home
convalescent care. Sollrs- Is of sup
port should be explored Tor adequate
financing of care for p Etients I'M
able to finance Themselves.
Strong affiliations; shou Id be es-
tablished between cOnvall scent in
stitutions and staff" of referring
Possibilities of fostef 1lomes for
convalescence should, bea explored
especially for infants /
Medical social V,orkel S should
take an active part in n elping in
tegrate convalescem 4.sSvice with
hospital physician, famil y and con-
valescent:: facility.
Points to Resour ees.
Pointing to financial ! resources
available for GONZALES Ger It care, the
report said that this a. ga has the
usual resources of a metropolitan
community, but added: Because Of
lack of coordination of health an6
welfare efforts, these .pnds seem
not always to have beer used to the
patients best advantage"
Seven sources were ma med as pro-
viding some funds: tt re physica.
restoration sections of tn E Rehabili.
tation Divisions of the Mo nearby
States and the District, for those
over 16; local units of tt e Nationa
Foundation for Infantile Paralysis
District Society for CRY pled Chill.
dren the Public Welfai H Depart.
ments; official crippled children's
programs for those under q l, welfare
funds of governmental a gti lcies, ane
Health Security Agency.f Xn loar
basis"
"The Blue Cross and dhe Group
Health Association for ospital in.
surance," explained the export, "de
not yet assume respons Utility fol
payment for convalescen care, al
though the Blue Cross recognizes
that it actually does pay for conva-
lescent care when people stay un-
necessarily long in the a cute hos
pitals." 10y