The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1948-02-19
FEDERAL AID FOR
HOSPITAL ADDITION
HERE IS REMOTE
Priority Rating for Building
Funds Has Bluffton Near
Bottom of List
Money from Federal Govern
ment Expected to Go to
Higher Rated Areas

Because present hospital faclIltles
in this area are deemed more ade-
quate than those in the majority of
other districts in the state, there is
little prospect of obtaining govern
ment aid in the proposed construc-
ton of an additional wing to the
Bluffton Community hospital.
This became apparent on the basis
of a letter from the State Depart
ment of Health addressed to D. w.
Bixler, chairman of the hospital
board of trustees in reply to a
survey prese ated last December seek
ing to qualify for federai-state finan-
cial assistance
The letter gave little encourage
ment for government aid here. since
it stated that "funds will hardly
suffice for construction in the high
est priority groups" However the
letter continued that "the present
state plan is subject to constant
revision and change as indicated by
further study"
Bluffton 61st on List
On the basis of the report of
existing hospital facilities in the
Lima area which includes Bluffton,
the district stands 61st down the
list OF priority.
Six priority groups are listed in
the federal-state plan as forwarded
to Washington for final approval and
Bluffton falls in Group E with go
other area localities receiving high
er priority on the basis of greater
need.
Top priority was given to the
Group A including areas with no
part of hospital needs met by ac-
ceptable facilities. Twelve areas in
this group include st. Marys, Bowl
ing Green and Van Vert.
Bluffton in Fifth Group
How far down the list the Bluffton
project ranks is indicated by other
higher priority ratings: Group B, 9
areas; Group C, % areas including
Findlay and Kenton; Group D, IA
areas Group E, including Bluffton
as fourth in this subdivision of II
areas; Group F, areas.
Top priority was given to areas
shown to be the most. sparsely
populated, with the least purchasing
power and farthest away from a
50-bed general hospital, it was ex-
planned by DR.. John D. Porterfeld
of the Ohio Hospital Advisory coun-
ell.
Federal funds consisting of grants
of 81 for every 81 provided by the
local community will be available
only for part of total number of
applications and with Bluffton in an
area where about 759S of hospital
needs are provided, there is little
prospect that assistance will be
forthcoming from federal-state
sources.
Still a Possibility for Aid
If enough high-priority areas,
however, do not have plans prepared
when final grants are made, lower
priority rated areas will be approved
and Bluffton's only prospect to
share in the distribution of funds
would come in that manner.
The project for which Bluffton
applied for financial aid was the
proposed addition to the hospital by
building a new wing at the north
end of the present structure which
was authorized four years ago by
the local hospital board. Architects
plans completed at that time
estimated the cost at 100000.
Later, building plans were shelvec
because of scarcity of materials anc
labor and there was no move tt
revive the project until last fal
when. it was learned there might be
a possibility of obtaining federal
assistance through the Hospita
Advisory program.