The Wilmington morning star., 1947-01-06
Origin, Purposes, And Objectiues
Of Good Health Program Outlined

800. FoNSo Ao1 SIdLe dS-
slstance in the care of the INDECENT
SICK and appropriated $500, 900 per
year for the biennium to pay 100
per day for each INDECENT patient
hospltalized in n hos s.
pltal approved by the Commissions;
80 Directed the Commission to
determine the need for building
or charging local hospitals, the
economic ability of the county or
area to support adequate hospital
service, and what assistance, if
any should be given by the State;
~ Provided a Medical Education
Loan Fund and appropriated $780,
ooo; t5) Authorized expansion of
the States two-year Medical School
into a standard four-year school
and directed the Commission to
survey all of the factors involved
IN determining the location of the
expanded Medical School; 06)
Authorized a special study of medi-
cal education for Negroes; and Cd
Urged the promotion of group in
surance plans.
Thus we see that the Legislature
OF l945 adopted the Good Health
Plan as submitted by the Poe
Commission and all parts of the
plan are in operation except the
Hospital and Health Center Con.
struction Program, and the ex-
banded Medical School for training
more doctors, nurses, technicians,
and other necessary medical per-
sonnet.
Medical Care Commission Named
Governor Cherry did much to
insure the success of the whole pro-
gram by the able Commission he
named to carry it out as follows:
James H.. Clark, Chairman, C1ar-
ence Poe, Vice-Chairman, j.. w
Bean, Paul B. Bissette, Franklin
j. Blythe, William M. Coppridge,
M. D. Don S. Elias. Sample B.
Forbus, Fred c. Hubbard M. D.,
B. Everett Jordan, G. Fred Hale,
M. D., W. S. Rankin, M. D., Carl
v. Reynolds, M. D., Elizabeth D.
Reynolds, William M. Rich, Will
liam B. Rodman, c. E. Rozzelle,
Miss Flora Wakefield. R. NJ, Paul
F. Whitaker, M. D., Ellen B. Wins
ton.
The State Medical Care Commits
sion has re-examined the facts, a
committee of health experts were
brought in to study the situation,
the five past Presidents Of the
Medical Society Of the State of
North Carolina have reviewed con-
ditions and every agency or com
mittee has said that we must COM
plete the program inaugurated by
the Legislature of 1915 by building
the hospitals and health centers SO
that every county will have either
a hospital or a health center, and
by expanding the States two-year
Medical School into a standard
four-year school.
Medical Care Commission
Program
The Medical Care Commission
has very wisely recommended that
the Legislature provide ID one
third of the estimated cost Of con
structing 1900 hospital beds in ap-
proved hospitals and health centers
so that every county may have
either a hospital or health center
and ca an appropriation to o n
struct the 400 bed teaching hos
pital and medical center as a part
Of the expanded University Medi-
cal School. Their program recog-
nizes the need for both facilities
and personnel. It's adoption will
round out the Good Health Plan
inaugurated by the Legislature of
1915.
The Commission estimates that
the contribution by the State for
this program will amount to $l4,.
40, 900 to be spent as follows:
For constructing 1900 beds in
general hospitals = 50, 800, 900
For constructing 400 hospital beds
in 80 health centers - $3.50, 600.
For constructing the 400 bed
teaching hospital and medical cent
er - So, 500, 600.
1947 Request
Thew recommend that the 1947
session of the General Assembly
appropriate SO, 900, 900 so that the
program can get under way as
follows:
For general hospitals - $780,
900. y
For health centers = $3.50, 900.
For the teaching hospitals and
medical center - So, 750, 600.
It is interesting to note that they
requested the full state contribu-
ton for the construction of health
centers, the facility that is design
ed Cor the thinly populated counties
where population and income will
probably not warrant the construc'
ton of a general hospital. That is
the only feature Of the plan for
which a full contribution is re-
quested from the next Legislature.
They also recommended that hos
pital construction be helped by the
state in variable amounts ranging
from 10 per cent of the cost OF ap-
proved hospital building in the
richest counties to so per cent OF
the cost in the poorest counties.
Such a contribution by the state
with federal funds available from
the Hill-Burton Bill will enable our
noorer rural counties to get needed