Evening star., 1948-10-06

One of the earliest was developed
in Cleveland and served as the pat
tern for unified systems recon-
mended by the American Hospital
Association. The council also has
a system Of central purchasing, tc
buy standard items of supply in large
quantities at discounts for all hos
pitfalls.
The Cleveland group also has
worked out a formula for determin-
ing labor costs in departments OF
each hospital. 1t has been found
officials said. that the working hours
reliably measure departmental
management and efficiency" With
such yardstick, administrative
efficiency can be compared in diff
ferent hospitals and steps taken for
correction.
Similar council plans are operat-
ing effectively in New York, Phila-
delphia and other cities.
Surface Scratched Here.
The Hospital Council of the Ma
tional Capital Area is just beginning
to scratch the surface of such pos
sibilities. Its chances of progress
are slight unless the administrators
and directing boards of Washington
hospitals are anxious to attack their
problems from the viewpoint of the
entire community.
An indication that they are is seer
in the appointment of a paid execu-
tive secretary and more recent
formation of working committees tc
hit at some of the hospitals key
problems.
Many hospital experts see the best
answer to shortcomings of present
charge policies in. the inclusive
rate" plan, which bases a patients
daily charge on complete hospital
service used by most patients, rather
than on room rates and extras
separately. A few services, such as
oxygen, blood transfusions and large
amounts of drugs, usually are ex.
cluded.
This plan, growing in favor in
many areas, has the advantage, its
proponents say. of giving the pa
tient close approximation of jus,
what his bill will be, with the as.
surance that all necessary service
will be provided.
Burden on Administrators.
The largest burden arising from
the growth of hospitals meanwhile
has fallen on administrators. From
the narrow bookkeepers approach
to management that sufhced SO
years ago, the modern-day admin
istrator has become a big business
executive.
The Nations hospitals, the Amer
ican Hospital Association reported
recently, represent an investment of
about $4,000, 100000. All together
they employ nearly 100000 workers
In the average large hospital, the
administrator must supervise about
80 different departments. He must
be a personnel manager with a
working knowledge Of every pro-
fessional department of his hos
pttal.
Problem Recognized.
In recognition of the prob
lem of administrators, the Amer
ican College of Hospital Administra-
tors was formed in 1888, to strength
en- the caliber of hospital officials.
Stringent written and oral tests are
necessary for membership. OF the
1000 administrators potentially ELI
gible. only about 1000 have become
members. About half Of these who
apply each year are turned down.
Ultimate aim OF the college is to
insure that to be an administrator
candidate must have a university
degree in hospital administration
plus service as an administrative
intern in a hospital-such as a doc
tor serves internship before enter
ing practice.
Only 10 such courses are given
now by universities in this country
and Canada. The college, accord
ing to Dean Conley, its executive
secretary, has launched a fund cam
paign to expand the program. In
addition the group plans to offer
intensive short-term courses for ad-
ministrators already on the job.
(TomorroW: What can the
community do to ease the sting
OF hospital bills and insure that
adequate facilities are dudilable?J