Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-12
Barter Accepts
Obstetrics Post
AT GaI|inger
Wisconsin Physician
Fills Vacancy After
Wave of Resignation

Wave Of designations
A Wisconsin physician has agreed
to take the job of chief medical
officer in obstetrics and gynecology
at Gallinger Hospital, filling one OF
several vacancies created by series
of designations at the city hospital
DR.. Alvin r. Sweeney, hospital su-
perintendent announced today.
The new chief is DR.. Robert H
Barter, a 1910 graduate of the Uni
versity of Wisconsin Medical School
who will report for duty July /.
Other Vacancies Untitled.
Gallinger still must fill the va
cancy left by the resignation OF DR.
Joseph T. Roberts, chief medical
officer in medicine, who resigned
January /.
Another vacancy will be left
March /, the effective date OF DR.
Donald Efler's resignation as CHIEF
medical officer in surgery.
And the Commissioners have IN
structed DR.. Sweeney to find chief
medical officer in psychiatry, new
Job which the Commissioners plar
to request from Congress. DR.
Joseph L. Gilbert, who now heads
the psychopathic division and is
also District alienist, will be re-
lieved as head of psychiatry as
soon as successor is appointed.
Meanwhile, Gallinger's turnover
of nurses today was termed no worse
than that of any other hospital ane
possibly a little better by Kimbal
Sanborn. Senate District Appropria'
tons Subcommittee aide.
Serve in Interim.
AS for the vacancies in top posts
Dr.. Sweeney said two residents are
acting jointly as head OF the med
ical division and DR.. Shirley Martin
Is heading the obstetrics division
until DR.. Barter reaches Washing
ton.
DR.. Barter succeeds DR.. Leslie
Dill, who left February l to engage
In private practice here. The new
chief is no stranger to Gallinger
having visited the hospital many
times while stationed at Walter
Reed Hospital during the war.
After graduating from medica
school DR.. Barter took his inferno
ship and residency at Wisconsin
General Hospital. He served fol
three years in the Army and saw
overseas service in the South Pa.
cif1c.
Nursing Staff Increased.
Mr.. Sanborn, who conferred a
length yesterday with Miss Beatrice
Ritter, D. ,)erintendent of Gallingel
nurses, said he believed the hos.
pital deserved credit for increasing
the nursing staff from 119 to 223 II
the last Is months, despite turn
over.
Miss Ritter, he explained, visited
the appropriat atoms subcommittee
office to discuss Subcommittee
Chairman Dworshak's recent letter
in which he asked Health Officer
George C. Rutland for an explana-
ton of printed reports of unsatis-
factory conditions at Gallinger.
The nursing chief, according to
Mr.. Sanborn, said $50 nurses have
resigned during the last IS months
Despite this turnover, the staff aide
pointed out, VRe hospital is within
Is nurses of its authorized strength
Miss Ritter reported that the
nurses felt overworked, because Of
staff shortages, and did not like the
rotation system which puts them or
the night shift.
Report Lists Reasons.
She gave MI. Sanborn the follow.
ing report on the reasons nurse!
gave for leaving the hospital:
= Dissatisfied, IS; health, 10: home
situation, 10; illness in family, four
leaving nursing, one; moving ava!
from Washington, 18; married ane
expecting children, 10; prolonged
vacation wanted, two; resignation
requested, three; retiring, two; Of
fered jobs in other hospitals, 81
expecting to be married, 10; private
duty, one; more schooling, 10; want
to supplement nursing course will
private patient, one; postgraduate
work, two; unable to qualify fo
District registration, one; homesick
two; work too hard in obstetrics
two.
All Hospitals Have Problems.
Mr.. Sanborn said he did not be-
lieve the hospital should be criticized
for a staff situation which exists il
other hospitals, all of which arr
having trouble getting and keeping
nurses.
He said the subcommittee does no
expect to make any further inquir!
into conditions at the city hospita
until health officials face the sub
committee to testify on their bulge