Evening star., 1946-06-05
ChangesUrged
In 0ut.Patient
Care in Area
New Health Survey
Chapter Cites Poor
Housing Equipment
By Harold B. Roaers


in a general situation which cries
aloud for correction"
This comment was made in Chap.
ter XIV of the Metropolitan Health
and Hospital Survey.
Ten recommendations were pre-.
sented to improve out-patient care
provided by hospitals and detached
polyclinics in the Metropolitan Area
In strong-worded conclusion, the
survey declared:
Throughout the hospital picture
In this area there is glaring evidence
of great need of better correlation
of activities between the hospital.
and related organizations which
serve the community. The out-pa-
tient situation is no exception"
Would Coordinate Facilities.
The recommendations:
A new adequate hospital licensing
law for the District.
More complete coverage of the
various specialties by each facility
Coordination of out-patient IA
cilities to provide even clinical COW
erage for the area with elimination
of unnecessary duplication and omis-
sions.
"Districting' of out-patient facili-
ties with geographical boundaries
but with "flexibility."
Improvement in housing and
equipment.
Admission procedures, both medi-
cal and financial, should be
strengthened, and appointment
systems should be established for
clinic care.
Unit record systems should be
established to include both out
patient and impatient records.
More active health education pro-
grams.
Out-patient facilities should cor
relate programs with and assist in
activities of health departments
especially in tuberculosis diagnosis
and treatment, and venereal dis
ease"
Posthospital follow-up clinics
should be established in hospital
out-patient departments; psychia-
trio clinics for adults should be in
stituted.
Care Generally Good.
There are out-patient depart
ments in II hospitals and three de-
tached polyclinics in the National
Capital area, the report pointed out,
but the survey today does not in
clude the clinics operated by the
health departments of the Metro
politan Area. They will be con-
Sidered in later chapter.
In general, declared the report,
medical care in the out-patient
departments of the hospitals and
health centers in the survey area
appears to be good"
In discussing out-patient care for
the poor, the survey said, a new
licensing law in the District of
Columbia, as suggested in the re-
cent hospital report, was a prime
necessity"
when a new law has been en-
acted" said the survey, "it will
devolve upon the District Commits
sioners to establish minimum
standards of equipment, buildings
and medical and nursing stats for
the conduct of hospitals, clinics and
nursing homes"
Physical facilities of most of the
clinics were sharply criticized
Waiting rooms are generally drab
poorly lighted, badly ventilated and
usually overcrowded," declared the
report.
Grim and Depressing.
"In several, uncomfortable back.
less benches were the only seats
for waiting. The general aspect ot
the waiting rooms was grim and de.
pressing. Large signs reminded the
patient that he was an object Of
charity"
With the exception of Providence
and Freedmen's Hospitals, the report
declared, physical facilities of tn.
District hospital out-patient de-
partments are in crying need o1
attention"
Freedman's Hospital was more
generally praised than any others
The hospital out-patient depart.
ment, which most nearly encompasse.
in its clinics the full gamut Of
medical practice" was said to be
the one at Freedman's. A few others
cover considerable number of the
clinical branches, it was reported
but, generally speaking, the report
asserted, there are few facilities
where all of the possible ailments
Of the INDECENT person can receive
specialized attention" Freeman's
has the greatest number of clinics
"a, while few of the others have
more than 10 to IS clinics.
Favoring facilities which are
general in scope and prepared te
do a complete job," the survey
critically declared: "An ear, nose
and throat clinic here, a menta,
hygiene clinic somewhere acros.
town and pediatric clinic at another
place are not conducive to maximum
effectiveness in meeting the medica,
needs of the poor or, for that mat.
ter, of any other group"
"Appalling" UncleanlinesS.
Eight of the clinics visited hae
small, poorly planned antiquel,
equipped treatment rooms" declared
the report. Five varied from fail
to good, but in a number of the
treatment rooms it was noted thai
equipment was in generally pool
condition, and the lack of cleanli-
ness ''was often appalling!"
Finding fault with administration
and organization, the report sale
that generally in the Metropolitan
Area, "co-ordination is lacking be.
tween individual clinics within the
departments. There is a marked
lack of concerted action between
out-patient and impatient services
In the same hospital. There is little
If any, coordination or co-opera-
tion between the different out
patient facilities in the area as q
whole, or between the independent
clinics and the out-patient depart
ments in the hospitals.
"Out-patient departments, and tn,
private and public community health
and special resources" charged tn.
report, "have not been co-ordinatee
tn work as a team for the welfare