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

Districts TotuI
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, ad-
mlnistrator Of the Federal Works
Agency, which supervised the hos
pitfalls construction, officially pre-
sented it to University President
Cloyd Heck Marvin yesterday.
With its official opening today,
Washington gets the second INSTALL
ment in a program of Federal aid
to replace its old-fashioned, ILL
equipped institutions 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 affll-
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 315 much-needed
hospital beds.
Medical Dean Walter A. Bloedorn
said the hospital staff was spending
much of its time today testing its
new equipment to get it in readiness
for use on the first patients to be
admitted. Their admission, which
had originally been expected to
begin this morning, will take place
within few days.
Instructions Issued.
From the Office 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
3 to pm. and 7 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 a time will
be permitted, and their stay will
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 a
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 gift
shop operated by the universitys
wcmen's board, for the convenience
OF patients and visitors. Proceeds
will go toward a 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 were unable to set 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-
mony, 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:
Phillip Bracken Fleming-soldier.
engineer, administrator, upholder Of
the best tradition of this Nation,
gifted to develop high service in
Government. For him no labor Is
too heavy that is in the interest OF
public welfare
Walter Andrew Bloedorn-gifted
physician, great-hearted and sin
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, ac-
knowledged 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 it 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 a number of units
which will ultimately constitute the
George Washington medical center.
He pointed out that the university
already has bought large apart
ment house nearby to serve as a
nurses home. 1t will add a new
parking ramp for more than 500
cars in a few months, he said, and
some day will build "a great spe-
cialized research and treatment
unit" on the university's present
parking lot.