Evening star., 1946-05-26
tuberculosis Program
Already Started in
Veterans Hospitals

recommendations released last
night as the result of study two
years ago by the National Tuber-
culosis Association for improving
facilities in Veterans Administra-
tion tuberculosis hospitals have al
ready been undertaken in nearly
all cases. according to DR.. John B.
BarnWell, director of the agency's
tuberculosis service
The recommendations came in
the report of a committee of Is
specialists who visited II tubercu-
losis hospitals. Completed last fall,
the report was not submitted to
Veterans Administrator Bradley un-
til last week.
Recognizing that large numbers
of veterans have refused care by
the agency hospitals or have left
for their homes before receiving
maximum benefit of disqualification,
the committee made sweeping sug-
gestions concerning medical staff
reorganization, professional per-
sonnel, location of hospitals, vet
Grams pensions and cooperation be-
tween the Veterans Administration
and other agencies.
Higher Salaries Proposed
Among suggestions alrea ady
adopted, DR.. Barnweu said, are;
l. Acquisition and training Of
qualified resident doctors. with
higher salaries and assignment and
promotions commensurate with their
ability
2. Appointment of specialists to
aid in training and act as con-
sultants.
3. Location of hospitals near large
medical centers where facilities are
Immediately available.
A. Elimination of excessive pa
per work in reports from hospitals
and development of programs to fit
local conditions.
5. Organization of rehabilitation
programs to provide educational op-
portunities and train patients for
jobs they will be fit for when they
return to civilian life.
o. NCO1Sdl SOSldl VIC lll iiOo~
pitals to aid veterans with personal
problems, being organized on the
basis of one worker for every 125
patients.
Gradual Changes Started.
The suggestion that all doctors
who do not meet a certain training
and ability qualifications be dis
charged is still a little high to
aim at, with the shortage of doctors,
particularly specialists of this field
DR.. Ba1nover said He added, how
ever, that some of those who do not
meet standards are being "Weeded
out"
To provide more space for the
more than 5000 tuberculosis pa
tients and in anticipation of thou
sands of others still in Army and
Navy hospitals. the director an
nounced that seven new hospitals
are proposed for construction, to
provide 2,400 more beds.
/ DR.. Barnwell said, however, that
there was no immediate promise
that the agency will be able to
absorb the numbers of tuberculosis
patients still in armed forces hos
pltals With capacity loads now,
some veteran patients are in Army
and Navy hospital beds under a
loan arrangement with the Vet
erans' Administration.
! Under a new ruling, the director
SAID, space is being made available
/ for strictly isolation" tuberculosis
patients in general hospitals of the
agency. AS their conditions i'm
prove, DR.. BarnWell declared, they
will be moved to tuberculosis ia
ciIities.
Only Few stopped.
Commenting on the number OF
veterans found with the disease at
separation centers, DR.. Roy A. VOL
ford, assistant director of the serv-
ice, said only about 6 per thousand
coming out of the Army have been
! stopped for that purpose.
The low rate is due, he said, to
routine X-ray examinations which
kept an estimated 10000 men out
of the armed forces
Dr.. BarnWell said that some vet
erans quartered for long periods IN
closely congested areas where the
rate of tuberculosis is much higher
than in this country may show up
with the disease later. We hope it
doesn't happen. but it will be sew
eral years before we know for sure"
he said
II A.