Evening star., 1946-07-10
A0fficiiaIsH Hi
Half Truths in
Hospital Survey
No Adequate Study
OfAgeney Was Made,
Trustees Charge
By HoroId B. Rooers

Health Security Administra
ton officials today struck bacl
sharply against criticism of tn,
agency in the recent Metropoli
tan Health and Hospital Surve,
but pledged cooperation with
agencies here in the new effor
to coordinate and improve facil
tiles for the welfare of the entir,
community.
In 27-page reply, the health
administration board of trustee
made the Categorical charge" tina
SO far as the agency was concerned
no adequate survey was made anc
that it tthe agency stands con
demned before the public by the pre-
mature publication of the surveyor
report, which is full of half truth!
and outright errors"
Characterized as "Misfit."
The hospital survey. by DR.. Claude
w. Munger of New York City, hac
asserted the health agency was 6
'misfit" in the hospital picture of tht
community. The survey scored lack
of cooperation among hospitals. Il
devoted more than 80 pages te
criticism of the agency.
The statement in reply was pre-
pared by DR.. Henry C. Macatee
president of the health agency. II
has been placed before the Survey
Committee of the Metropolitan
Health Council, which sponsored the
survey with funds allocated by the
Community War Fund.
In strong language, the health
administrations statement on the
Munger report stated:
In my judgment his report has
done more to incite us as agencies
to an indignant and rebellious dis
satisfaction with each other, when
he might have utilized most
auspicious occasion for bringing us
to a chastened realization of the
extent to which our own bicker-
ings and Illustrations have kept lie
from following the leadership
which our community already has
within it-a leadership which is
already coming to the fore since
the survey"
Sees Drawbacks.
Looking to the future with note
OF warnings, however. DR.. Macatee
further declared: "A leadership
which arises to its responsibilities
under smarting indictment is likely
to establish its vantage point on
a pedestal of group selfishness, in
stead of building on pillar of
community wide. all-agency inter
cooperation.
mo agency should fear change, If
such change promises improve
ment. No group of Identical agen-
cies can hold themselves aloof from
cooperation with similar though
unidentical groups or agencies.
mo agency should be discarded
as a misflt which has demon
strated over period of years that
pooled dimes and quarters of poor
people can help maintain services
the same as pooled dollars from
those who can afford to give to
the united campaign for funds"
An intensive study of the place
the health agency is to occupy is
now being made by the Survey Com
mittee of the health council, headed
by Vice Admiral Ross T. McIntire
surgeon general of the Navy. This
committee will report its conclusions
to the health council itself. Recon-
mendations of the future of the
health administration also are being
received by the Survey Committee
from all interested persons ano
agencies in the entire Metropolitan
Area. What its future role will be
remains to be decided.
DR.. Macatee strongly defended the
agency on many points: It's medica,
social work, central admitting bu.
reau for hospitals, financial system
for arranging collection of fund!
from poor patients who could pay
hospital bills in part at least, and it.
effects to coordinate hospitals int
a more unified system here, ever
prior to the health and hospita
survey.
DR.. Macatee said he hoped tn,
Metropolitan Health Council, which
sponsored the survey, and its Sur
vey Committee will see for them
selves the accomplishments which
the surveyors did not take time II
observe, and weave it the health
agency into the communicated
picture which the entire health anc
hospital survey so well and frankly
exposed"
Pointing to the statement by DR.
c. E. A. Winslow of New Haven, ont
Of the surveyors, that the survey re.
port was not blueprint, but 9
challenge and opportunity" DR.
Macatee declared:
"HSA, community agency
pledges its cooperation to each
hospital, to the newly formed Hos
pital Council, to each Community
Chest, to the Federation of Com
munity Chests, and to the Metro
politan Health Council in meeting
the challenge and seizing the
opportunity"
This declaration of principle was
seen by observers as a definite in
dication Of the feeling known to be
gaining strength throughout the
city, that the agency probably will
not be considered an entire "misfit,'
by those who are to decide its fate
DR.. Macatees answer to DR.. Num-
ger went elaborately into the history
and development of the health
agency. 1t took exception to inter-
probation of many of the figures
cited in the Munger report.
While strongly defending most OF
the agencys operations as a benefit
not only to the Community Chest
but to the hospitals and to patients
DR.. Macatee held out prospects that
its management was agreeable to
some reorganization to help for
ward the new movement for i'm
provement.
Replying to the Munger charges
that the health administration does
not adequately represent the hos
pitalS, DR.. Macatee said: I'VE main
tain, however, that the membership
OF our board of trustees does give
abundant reDreSentatior tn Tho boe