Evening star., 1948-05-16
GulIinqer
Continued From First Page.)

tients going through the psyche !
pathic division of Gallinger each
year ultimately get to st. Elizabeths
Hospital. Budget Officer Walter L.
Fowler even estimates one-third OF
the Gallinger patients 60 to st.
Elizabeths.
In many cases, physicians have
recommended that patients who
seem to be suffering from chronic
mental illness as distinguished from
a temporary one should go to st.
Elizabeths. But the law says they
must go to Gallinger first.
AS result, these st. Elizabeths-
bound patients have to go through
the whole procedure of physical and
mental examinations twice. GAL
linger psychiatrists, instead of de-
voting all their time to the acutely
Ill, have to give examinations and
60 through paper work that will be
duplicated few days later at st.
Elizabeths.
Still to Get Emergency Cases.
The measure to be discussed to-
morrow would simply provide that
patients needing care over an ex-
tended period would 60 to st. Eliza
beths directly instead of having to
20 through Gallinger first. Emer-
gency cases, including alcoholics and
Others taken into custody by the
police, would continue to 60 to Gal
linger.
Here's what the bill would mean
IN terms of better care for Wash
tngton's mentally Ill:
With agsubstantial reduction I'M
the number of patients going to
Gallinger, acutely i'll patients would
not have to sleep in such crowded
quarters.
With fewer patients to care for,
attendants could spend more time
giving soothing baths and packs to
disturbed patients instead of man
acling them.
Expense Might Be Lower.
Gallinger psychiatrists could de-
vote more time to psychiatric care
instead of busying themselves with
work that will be duplicated few
days later.
Patients sent directly to st. Eliza
beths would be spared the necessity
of having to go through two physi-
cal and mental examinations and
having to adjust twice to the be-
wilderment of strange rooms and
unfamiliar attendants.
Patients bound for st. Elizabeths
would not have to worry about their
- belongings catching up with them
as they do now. In the course Of
transferring patients, there Is fire.
quently some delay in getting their
clothes, eyeglasses and other per-
sonal possessions to them.
Washington could provide better
care for its mentally i'll at no more
and probably less expense. The cost
per patient is SO a day at Calling
er as compared with S3.65 day at
st. Elizabeths.
Would Protect Rights.
All the rights of patients would
be protected while the way is made
easier for them Patients sent di-
rectly to ST. Elizabeths would be
given their preliminary examination
there instead of at Gallinger. The
procedure of preliminary examina-
ton, Judgment by the court and a
jury trial, If requested, would be
the same.
These, at least, are the arguments
advanced by those who have studied
the problem and have advocated a
change in the law.
In advocating the proposed bill,
st. Elizabeths Hospital Superintend-
ent Winfred Overholser, who is also
president of the American Psychi-
atric Association, emphasized that
emergency cases should continue to
60 to Gallinger.
Urged by Bellevue Official.
"a large general hospital like
Gallir = ought to have psychi-
atric di.' 5ion." he said. That divi-
sion is needed as part of the hos
pital for care of emergency cases
as we'll as for patients elsewhere in
the hospital who develop acute
mental conditions. A general hos
pital is the place for treatment Of
episode conditions. A mental hos
pital is the place for treatment of
mentally i'll requiring extended
care"
DR.. Samuel B. Wortis, director of
New York's Bellevue Hospital psy-
chiatric division, has strongly rec
commended direct admission of pa
tients requiring extended care to st.
Elizabeth's Hospital.
DR.. Wortis made this recommen-
dation after a survey of Gallinger
as a Public Health Service consult
ant. He said the psychopathic di-
vision could got along until an ur-
gently needed new building is con-
structed if it had fewer patients.
That was one of his reasons for
urging direct admissions to st.
ElizabethS.
The Commissioners asked for this
opinion. If they act on it, they will
be taking a logical step toward meet
ing the criticisms of Gallingers
overcrowded, understaffed psyche
pathic division.