Evening star., 1948-10-28

RuhIond's Proposal
To Cut Bureaus to 6
Put Aside Temporarily
The Commissioners have tabled
for the time being recommends
ton by Health Off1cer George G..
Rutland for reorganization OF the
Health Department reducing the
number of bureaus from II to 6.
The Commissioners action, dis
closed today, was taken on recon-
mendation of Budget Oficer Walter
L. Fowler, who said that while he
agrees that reorganization of the
Health Department would be ad-
vantageous, it should not be at
tempted on a partial basis.
DR.. Ruhland's tentative reorgan-
ization plan was presented to the
Commissioners September %, when
the health officer submitted his
budget estimates for fiscal 1850.
Inclusion in Budget Opposed.
Shortly after receiving the budget
estimate, Commissioner Guy Mason
announced he did not approve of
including the proposed reorganiza-
ton in the budget document.
Mr.. Fowler told the Commission
ers the present charts on file in the
Budget Office have not had the. ap-
proval of his Office because many
of the details of positions and func-
tions do not agree with Budget Of
fee records.
He noted that in the Rutland re-
organization plan new functions
are anticipated and that parts of
the hospitals (Gallinger Hospital
and Glenn Dale Sanatorium) are
placed under the bureaus of the
Health Department.
Mr.. Fowler declared there have
been many changes in the functions
and organization of several Health
Department bureaus that do not ap-
pear on the Rutland chart, partic-
ularly in the Hospital Permit
olQ Sd1l(Cl NO11GAO4y PACNSA4lelo4S
disease and mental hygiene.
The cancer control program as
submitted to Congress and for
which an appropriation of $4,000
was secured in 1948 has not been
established as planned the budget
officer said, "and a revised program
is included in the 1850 budget esti-
mates with many distinct changes.
The grants received from the
Federal Government for matching
purposes have not been clearly es-
tablished as part of a permanent
organization, and many key posi-
tions are paid from these grants.
This Office is of the opinion that
If eventually the District has to
assume the expense of these func-
tions these grants should be used
as a part of the expense of the
permanent organization of the
Health Department"
DR.. Ruhland's self-styled tenta-
tive reorganization plan reduces the
number of bureaus in the depart
ment from II to six and leaves the
two hospitals in their present posi-
tions in the organization, thus
making 8 total of eight divisions.
Several Steps in Plan.
He told Commissioner Mason last
month he expected the plan would
be put into effect in several steps:
The Inspection Service, approx
mately January /, 1949; maternal
and child health, July l, and gen.
eral medical care, July 1. 1949. The
remaining changes would be worked
out at some future time.
He also requested that approval
be given to carry out the plan when
the opportune time for each step
arrives.
The functional chart outlining the
proposed reorganization would set
up the following six bureaus, plus
Gallinger Hospital and Glenn Dale
Sanatorium:
Maternal and Child Welfare. to
include Crippled Children, Medical
Inspection of Schools and Dental.
General Medical Service, to in
clude tuberculosis, Venereal Disease,
Preventable Disease, Laboratory,
Nursing, Cancer, Alcoholic Treat
ment and Mental Hygiene.
Inspectional Service, to include
Dairy Farms, Food Establishments,
Sanitation, Rodent Control, Indus
trial Hygiene and Engineering.
Health Centers, to include those
IN Southwest, Northwest and George
town.
Administration, to include Vital
Statistics, Health Education, Central
Statistics and Central Admlnlstra-
ton.
Social Service, to include only hos
pital and clinic investigations, Health
Department Social Service, Social
Service at Gallinger and Glenn Dale,
Housekeeping Assistance and Ambu:.
lance Service