Evening star., 1948-06-30
Clinical Center
Personnel May
GET Housing
Construction to Sturt
On Big Bethesda
Health Project Soon
By Harold B. ROGERS

Housing may be provided for some
Of the personnel Of the new $40,-
000,0W Clinical Center of the Ma
tional Institute of Health, near Be-
thesda.
This was disclosed by DR.. Leon
ard A. Scheele, surgeon general
of the Public Health Service, dis
cussing the future of the big project.
Construction is expected to start
on the center itself some time this
summer or fall. after bids are asked
for the first part of the job next
month.
The housing for personnel, how
ever, will come later, he predicted.
1t may provide dormitory space,
with some light housekeeping
apartments. with sitting rooms and
kitchenettes. About 1000 employees
are expected, including $500 en-
gagged in research.
Not a General Hospital.
The Clinical Center, including
laboratories, will have a hospital
of about 500 beds for patients with
diseases under scientific study. But,
DR.. Scheele pointed out, this hos
pitaf will not be general hospital
for patients from this Metropol-
itan Area. Patients will be drawn
from all over the United States on
the basis Of problems under study
at various times.
On the staff, DR.. Scheele pre-
dicted, there probably will be some
graduates from the three teaching
hospitals here who would serve as
resident physicians They would
gain valuable experience as resident
physicians and also would be OF
assistance to the great institution,
he explained.
The three teaching hospitals from
which these residents would be
drawn are George Washington Uni
versity. Georgetown University and
Howard University.
No Segregation.
There will be no segregation at
the new Clinical Center, according
to Oscar Ewing, Federal Security
administrator.
Mr.. Ewing and DR.. Scheele en-
phasized that the Clinical Center
will have special facilities for well
fare of patients because many Of
the patients will require an extern
sive period of disqualification be-
cause of the long term nature of the
illnesses under treatment"
Among such facilities will be
medical psychiatric social service.
psysical and occupational therapy
and rehabilitation services. To pro-
vide for the spiritual needs of pa
tients there will be chapel for
religious services of all faiths. The
altar will be four-part affair on a
revolving platform so that it may be
turned about for use of Protestant,
Catholic, Jewish or other religious
beliefs. i
Laboratory Services.
The center, essentially for treat
ment of cancer, heart disease and
mental disease, also will have hos
pital facilities for patients of the
new National Institute of Dental
Research and patients with infec-
tious and tropical diseases. A sepa-
rate building is to be constructed
later.
! Laboratory services will occupy
about tWo-thirds of the center. The
first contract to be let by Public
Buildings Administration will be for
the foundation. Easements and first
floor of the center. Other construc-
ton jobs for heating and power
plant will follow, The entire project
will require about three years.
The Clinical Center site, opposite
the Naval Medical Center on the
Rockville pike beyond Bethesda Is
to be enlarged eventually to about
800 acres. 1t already contains head
quarters of the National Institute of
Health, the National Cancer In
stitute and other buildings. Addi-
tional land now under negotiation
for acquisition includes the Wood
mont Country Club and the Peters
! estate