Evening star., 1948-01-28
Rising Costs May Cut
Hospital Center From
1850 10 1,25O Beds
By Thomos G. Buchonon

By Thomos G. Buchonon
Two medical bombshells were
tossed by Hospital Council Presi-
dent william r. Castle today
when he revealed:
l. That the rising cost of hospital
construction probably will reduce
the size of Washington's new Hos
pital Center, authorized by Con-
gress in 1916, from the $500 beds
originally planned to about 1850.
2. That the Warwick Memorial
Clinic, Washington's first cancer
treatment center, is negotiating for
affiliation with George Washington
University in project to set up one
Of the country's foremost cancer re-
search units.
S2,0O0,000 More In Prospect.
The Public Buildings Administra-
ton, which was given 81 zoo, 900 to
plan the Hospital Center and get q
site, probably on the present Naval
Observatory tract, would receive an
additional 100000 under the
Presidents budget proposal. 1t also
would be granted authority to enter
contracts for building the hospital,
not exceeding $4,000, 900.
With prices soaring, Federal archi-
tects now think it will be impossible
to provide more than 1850 beds
with this money, Mr.. Castle re-
ported.
"If we had insisted on clinging to
the I 500 beds, 1t would have meant
giving up the nurses home and
proper quarters for residents and
interns. This was obviously impos-
sible," he declared. ---.
May Facilitate Administration.
Mr.. Castle expressed no chagrin
at the prospect Of somewhat
smaller medical center.
This may turn out to be bless
ing" he said, "as the general opinion
seems to be that a 1,250-bed hospital
Is the largest unit which can be
properly administered"
He said, however, that II the cost
Of building materials goes down by
the time the hospital is ready for
construction, return to the original
1,500-bed plan may be considered.
The Hospital Council president,
who also heads Garfield Hospitals s
board, was first to give public
recognition of negotiations now in
progress to move the Warwick Clinic
from its present location on the
Garfield Hospital grounds to affiliate
with the George Washington medical
center.
Affects Hospital Center.
The move, if carried out, will force
further revision of plans for the
Hospital Center, since it had been
expected that the cancer unit would
join Garfield, Emergency and Epis-
copal in a pooling Of medical
resources in the center.
Instead, under the proposal now
considered, the Warwick Clinic
would be transferred temporarily to
the old George Washington Uni
versity Hospital building, after the
hospital is shifted this spring to its
new location on Washington Circle.
AS soon as possible, George WASH
ington authorities have indicated, a
new building to house the cancer
unit would be erected near the new
hospital, which will become the
nucleus of a large medical center.
Extensive Grants Considered.
The American Cancer Society and
its District chapter now have under
consideration program of extensive
grants which would help finance the
cancer research project. George
Washington University recently re-
ceived United States Public Health
Service cancer research grants which
might also be devoted to the re-
organized Warwick Clinic.
1t is expected that DIR. Calvin T.
Klopp, clinic director, and other
Warwick personnel will remain with
the clinic if it shifts its affiliation to
George Washington U. The clinic is
concerned with the treatment of
cancer. The cancer detection clinic
at Garfield. it is pointed out. is a
separate unit and would remain
there.
Philosophical at the prospect of
losing immediate access to the War
wick Clinic, Garfield President Cas-
tie declared: "If present tentative
plans 60 through, we shall be sorry
to have our association with the
clinic cease, but we can only be
happy II It's new ASSOCIATION with a
medical school leads to greater pub
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