Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-28
Garfield 10 Limit
Charity Work TO
Funds Available
Hospital Holds Own
Financially by Cut,
Annual Report Says

Annual Report Says
Garfield Hospital has served off,
cial notice that it intends to limit
charity work strictly on the basis
Of funds available to pay for it.
This policy, which may set an i'm
portant pattern for other private
hospitals, was evident several
months ago when the hospital cut
the admission of patients whose bills
are paid partly by the Community
Chest and the District government.
It was spelled out more clearly in
in Garfelds 1913 annual report
released last night, which showed
that the cut in services has allowed
the hospital to hold its own"
financially.
William r. Castle. Garfield presi-
dent, said it seemed almost mi
raculous" that Administrator A. B.
Cook has pulled the day-by-day
operation of the hospital out Of the
red so that we can actually show,
month after month, slight balance
in our favor"
Charity Loss 100000.
While Garfield claimed a loss of
SLOT 900 as a result of inadequate
payments for treating charity pa
tients. this figure was about $84 900
less than the charity loss for 1947.
The hospital claimed net losses of
s116,201 for the year, as compared
with $206, 900 for 1s47.
Mr.. Cox said inadequate Chest
funds last year resulted in payments,
during several months, far below the
$3.50 day the Chest had agreed to
pay hospitals for treating such char
ity patients.
"1nasmuch as 1t is necessary for
the hospital to find other funds to
subsidize the Chest payments. it
must be left with the hospital to
determine the extent to which it can
do this" he added. This must no
longer be determined by outside
agencies"
In 1947, Garfield had an average
OF ST Chest-aided patients a day
under care. The average fell to 43
last year and to Is for the last six
months.
Major Repairs Postponed.
In addition to the reduction in
charity cases. Mr.. Cook said that,
to break even last year, Garfield
had to reduce its inventory of sup
plies and postpone major repair
projects, some of which will have
to be faced this year.
The Community Chest Federation
has not yet said how close its hos
pitalization fund for 1949 will ap-
proach the s85o,ooo proposed at the
beginning of the drive last fall. Mr..
Castle predicted in the report that
the campaign failure will mean
Chest plans to pay hospitals Sill a.
day this year will probably not
long Icontiaue.
ME. Castle said cutting the num-
Der Of charity patients harms the
training Of hospital interns and res
idenf doctors, and this troubles us
deeply" He said he hopes the char
ity quota can be raised, but other
ofncials said they see little likelihood
of that immediately.
MI. Castle said hospital leaders
may have to turn to Government
aid as the only answer to deficits.
But. he added, obviously referring to
long range Federal health proposals,
that I've can perhaps bring about
that support along saner lines, if
we ourselves initiate the movement,
rather than have something forced
on u.s."
To Enforce Limitation.
Regarding treatment of INDECENT
patients for whom the District has
agreed to reimburse hospitals at the
rate Of SO day, Mr.. Cook made it
clear that an agreement limiting
the payment to emergency cases
will be enforced strictly and that all
other District indigents will be re-
ferred to unsupported Gallinger
Hospital.
He said it now costs Garfield about
SIS to treat one patient for one day.
Since July l, he said, the hos
pltal has given 408 days of care to
these District indigents.
Garfield announced an operating
budget for 1949 of 1884, 262, slightly
under 1913 expenses The budget,
Mr.. Cook said, represents continu-
ance of current programs, with no
provision for expanded activities.
Mr.. Cook said Garfield payments
from Group disqualification, Inc,
have increased from $10.28 on Janu-
airy /. 1913, to $14.83 currently.
Mr.. Castle was reelected presi-
dent of the hospital Board of Di-
lectors at meeting Tuesday. Other
officers named were David B. Kar-
rick, first vice president; G. Thomas
Dunlop, second vice president; Y. E.
Booker, treasurer, and Mr.. Cook,
secretary.
At the same meeting new mem
bers elected to the board of incorpo-
rators-from which the directors
are choser-were B. M. McKelway,
editor of The Star: James A. Coun-
cilor, jr., head of public account
ancy firm; Robert C. Baker, vice
president Of the American Security
g. Trust Co.; Mark Winkler, real
estate man. and j. Harry Coving-
ton III, attorney.
Police Back Up
$40 Bill With
Truman BnIconv