Evening star., 1946-08-13
Medical 1rainee
EquiipmentNe Need
Disputed by VA
Necessity Determines
Payments on Hospital
Claims, Official Says

provide textbooks and other equip
ment to resident physician veterans
in training for specialties at Wash
ington hospitals In some cases is
based on an Interpretation that the
equipment Is not vital to the train
ing courses, 1t was learned today.
The question arose from hospital
reports that they have not been able
to obtain money authorized under
law to defray training expenses.
Under the law, hospitals may
apply for funds up to $500 year to
cover costs of tuition, books, supplies
and equipment. The legislation gave
the medical veterans the same status
as students in colleges, including the
right to receive subsistence allow
ances
Some Declared Essential"
On this basis, several local hos
pitals have submitted lists OF books
ana instruments and declared them
essential for the trainees. In some
cases, hospitals would be reimbursed
for equipment furnished the resi-
dents; in others, the trainees would
buy the supplies.
Only one hospital - Children's
has applied for tuition Other re-
quests, not approved. call only for
supplies and equipment for the resi-
dents.
DR.. Francis J. Eisenman, superin.
tendent OF Garfield Hospital, de-
ciared list submitted for nine vet
eran residents at his hospital was
sent to the agencys regional office
three months ago and has not been
approved.
L was told the regional Office
would approve any requests for
equipment up to s100," he said "and
that anything above that would have
to be approved by the central Wash
lngton office. Later, liaison officer
told me the s10o requests would not
| be approved"
| But items on the lists, according
to the Vetreans' Administration in
cluded instruments not necessary to
the specialties for which the resi-.
dents are in training.
Cites Intent of Law.
1T was not the intent of law to
provide the trainees with basic
needs OF doctor in practice" de-
clared John M. MacCammon. WASH
lngton area education chief. These
residents are not in training to be-
come doctors-they are doctors In
training to become specialists.
! Some of these basic needs" how
ever. the hospitals contend, are es-
sentlai for the speciality training.
DR.. Allen Rossiter, in charge OF
training at Gallinger Hospital, said
ne has been battling for three
months" to get authorization to pur-
chase equipment-particularly ref
erence books and journals.
! Not all the books our residents
want pertain to their specialties, he
added, "but all are necessary for
them to take the training" He
SAID the average request for his 80
residents was for about 5000.
DIR. Elsenman, however, said all
the equipment on his lists was not
essential" to the training.
We approved Whatever thew
asked for" he declared Among in
struments on the list, he said, were
stethoscopes and blood pressure ap-
paratus. both of which, he said, wers
maintained on wards for doctors
use
Margaret S. Bechtol superintend-
ent OF the Episcopal Eye, Ear and
throat Hospital said no action has
been taken on her requests.
Our trainees are as much in need
OF books as students taking college
training" she said, "and all equip
ment is furnished them"
Some Never in Practice,
! Requests from Children's Hos
pltal also cover both books and
equipment, according to Miss Mat
tie Gibson, superintendent, who
added she has heard of no action
on the claims.
The Is veterans at our hospital
have never before been in practice
she said They entered the armed
forces from medical schools and
need this equipment for their train
ing Equipment currently used by
the resident trainees has been pur-
chased by the hospital, she said.
Other hospitals, including Sibley
and George Washington University
Hospital. have submitted no re-
quests for funds.
I'VE just didn't think it was nec-
essary,' spokesman at George
Washington said. Our residents
have what they need and have
ample access to reference libraries
Meanwhile, Mr.. MacCammon left
the next step to the hospitals
I'VE will authorize all requests
that are in conformance with
policy" he said, but they will have
to be necessary and required in or
der to complete training"
A>l:>~I A. ~A,