Evening star., 1948-03-24
6. ". Hospital
Begins 10 Take
Patients Today
Big, New Building
Adds BIS Beds to
Districts Total

George Washington University to.
day opened the doors Of its new hos.
pital to the Washington public.
whose contributions helped to make
it one of the country's best-equipped
medical institutions.
Rising six stories above WASHING.
ton Circle, the white limestone
building represents a $4,000, 900 Fed.
eral investment. A public appeal for
funds to buy the necessary medical
equipment netted more than $3.50, 900.
Maj. Gen. Philip B. Fleming, adj
Of the Federal Works
Agency, which. supervised the hos
pital's construction, officially pre-
sented it to University President
Cloyd Heck Marvin yesterday.
With its opening today, Washing
ton gets the second installment In
a program Of Federal aid to replace
its old-fashioned, ill-equipped In.
stitutions for the sick.
Third New Hospital Planned.
Georgetown University opened an
equally modern hospital last sum
mer. also built with Federal funds
under the Lanham Act. BY 1850.
Washington may have a third big
institution, the Hospital Center, con-
struction Of which already has been
authorized by Congress. That hos
pital is expected to have about 1900
beds.
The new George Washington Hos
pital replaces the old university hos
pital at 1885 H street NV, which
is expected to be converted tenn
porarily for use in cancer research
by the Warwick Clinic, to be anil
lated with the George, Washington
Medical School.
Since the old hospital has space
for only 80 patients and the new
building can care for 405, the Dis
trict today gained 3l5 much needed
hospital beds.
Medical Dean Walter A. Bloedorn
said the hospital staff would spend
much Of its time today testing the
new equipment before any OF It Is
used on the patients whose arrival
was scheduled to begin this morn
ing.
Instructions Issued.
From the ONCE Of Leo SCHNEIDER,
the hospitals superintendent, came
instructions on procedures to be
followed In dealing with patients
and their families.
Visiting hours have been set from
8 to 4 pm. and to pm. daily.
Callers will get visitors permits at
the information desk In the lobby.
These must be presented at the
nurses station on the floor where
the patient Is located.
!. Only two visitors at, q time will
be permitted, and their stay VIII
be limited to 10 minutes. Children
under IL will not be allowed on any
floor where sick people are quar-
tered, not only to avoid disturbing
patients but to guard the children
against illness.
Radios may be brought into q
patients room If the doctor and
hospital authorities approve, but
patients will be asked to keep the
volume down to spare their neigh
borS' nerves.
Gift Shop in Hospital.
The hospital will have a gift
shop. operated by the university's
wcmen's board, for the convenience
of patients and visitors. Proceeds
will go toward fund for needy
patients.
The job Of moving patients from
the old hospital to the new one will
be undertaken this week, but au-
thorities we're unable to set a def
mite time for the move OF each
department. They said, however. no
service will be interrupted. For q
short time the two buildings will
carry on an overlapping service.
At yesterdays presentation cere.
DR.. Marvin conferred on Gen.
Fleming the honorary degree Of
doctor of civil laws. To DR.. Bloc
dorm, in a surprise citation, he gave
the honorary degree Of doctor OF
science.
DIR. Marvin Reads Citations.
Citations to Gen. Fleming and DR..
Bloedorn, read by DR.. Marvin as he
conferred the honorary degrees,
were:
Philip Bracken Fleming-soldier.
engineer, administrator, upholder Of
the best tradition Of this Nation,
gifted to develop a high service In
Government. For him no labor Is
too heavy that Is In the interest Of
public welfare
Walter Andrew Bloedorn-gifted
great-hearted and sim
cere. alert in the defense Of medi-
cine, executive, privileged because Of
unique ability to lead in the build
ing of a great medical faculty, &C
leader In medical edu-
cation as president of the Associa-
ton Of American Colleges. To know
him is to desire his friendship"
Gen. Fleming, inresponse, said
FWA Is proud Of this job and
happy to turn 1t over to the uni
versity."
Teaching Function Stressed.
DR.. Bloedorn emphasized the i'm
portant teaching function the new
hospital will serve, in addition to
its foremost" task OF caring for
the sick. He said 1t will provide
training facilities for undergraduate
students, for a house staff of so
residents and interns, and for all
physicians practicing there.
DR.. Marvin said the hospital is
only the first Of number Of units
which will ultimately constitute the
George Washington medical center.
He pointed out that the university
has bought o large apart
ment house nearby to serve as q
nurses home. It win add q new
parking ramp for more than 500
cars In few months, he said, and
some day will build "a great ape
cialized research and treatment
unit" on the university's present
parking lot.
Col. Shoemaker Named
1n&h A.. Ea,>o Tk:>E