Evening star., 1946-05-01
Council TO Push
P|ans 10 Better
D. {. Hospitals
Conditions Disgrace,
Says Report Offering
154 Recommendations
BY Harold B. Rogers

A critical analysis of health
and hospital facilities in the
Washington Metropolitan area,
which described District of Co.
lumbia hospital conditions as
disgrace to the Nation" was be-
fore the community today for
action to improve the welfare of
the area population of more
than 1,25O,0O0.
Sharply criticizing certain fea-
lures of public and private agencies
throughout the areas six political
Jurisdictions but praising others,
the analysis was prepared by a board
of three outside surveyors" for the
Washington Metropolitan Health
Council
High lights of their findings and
recommendations were presented
last night to distinguished audi
ence of officials and social welfare
leaders at the Interior Department
auditorium. The group was invited
to accept the report as a Challenge
and an opportunity"
Asks Cooperation.
Some toes are going to be stepped
on" DR.. Herbert P. Ramsey, chair
man of the Health Council. told the
group in anticipating objections,
especially from some of those
criticized. But he called for CO.
operation from leaders in the entire
area to help implement the proposals
for the benefit of all.
A so-called Survey Committee,
OF the council, to take the lead in
studying the proposals with a view
to effectuating them, is headed by
Vice Admiral Ross T. McIntire,
surgeon general of the Navy. who
participated in the program. After
ward, he declared, I'VE intend to
follow it right through"
High lights of the 154 separate
recommendations include:
Self-government and national
representation for Washington.
More hospital beds for Washing
ton and approval of the Tydings
bill for hospital construction, now
pending in Congress.
Would Provide New Council.
Establishment of a new Met
ropolitan hospital council.
Elimination of Health Security
Agency, private organizat ton
operating on Community Chest
funds for hospital help to the
INDECENT, and transfer Of most of
its work to the hospitals them
selves.
establishment of three new
bureaus in the District of columbia
Health Department, on cancer, med
ical social service and nutrition.
Establishment of a new Public
Health Council as an advisory
body to the District Health Depart
ment.
Better cooperation among officials
and private health agencies, and
expansion of some private agencies
to operate over the entire metro
politan community instead of in the
District of Columbia only.
Report Not Completed.
The entire survey report said to
consist of 400 pages was not dis
closed, as it has not yet been COM
pleted. But the three members of
the board of Surveyors outlined most
of the principal features in papers
presented to the audience last night.
The official report may be made
public sometime soon, it was indi-
Gated.
The political jurisdictions covered
by the survey included the District
of Columbia, Montgomery and
Prince Georges Counties in Mary
land, Fairfax, and Arlington Coun-
ties and Alexandria, Va.
DR.. c. E. A. Winslow, of New
Haven, Conn.,, professor emeritus of
the Public Health Department, Yale
University, discussed the official
health agencies of the Metropolitan
Area; DR.. Ira v. Hiscock of New
Haven. chairman of the Public
Health Department at Yale, re-
viewed the findings on voluntary
health agencies, and DR.. Claude w.
Munger, administrator of St. Luke's
Hospital, New York. who is presi-
dent of the American College of
Hospital Administrators, reported on
the survey of 25 hospitals in the
area, 18 of which are in the District
of Columbia.
DR.. Munger sharply criticized the
hospital situation. 1T is our belief"
he declared, that the hospital con-
ditions which now exist In the Dis
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