Evening star., 1950-05-07
Seckinger Urge!
Upshur Hospital
Remain Open
Problem Of Repairs
To Be Dicussed at
Conference May 16

ger said he feels the Upshur Street
tuberculosis Hospital should re-
main open despite District engi-
neers' insistence last night that
necessary replacement of the boil
er system will cost about $40, 900.
DR.. Seckinger admitted he did
not know where the money is
coming from.
1t is expected the matter will
be thraShed out at a conference
called by the Commissioners for
10:30 am. May 16 on the Dis
trict's tuberculosis care facilities.
The Health Officer earlier had
gone along with suggestion by
DR.. P. A. E. Stebing, Gallinger
Hospital superintendent, that the
Upshur street institution be closed
June 30.
Called IlI-Advised.
This was in the face of re-
port that more than $4,000 would
have to be spent for repairs at
the institution, and that the de-
partment either had to close it
soon or plan for the repairs.
Principal item was a $41, 900 esti-
mate for replacement of the
boiler system.
After further consideration,
however, DR.. Seckinger said he
felt it would be ill-advised to close
the center at present, and asked
Archie Hutson, District construc-
ton director, to re-examine the
heating system to see if 1t could
be remodeled at less cost on a
"semipermanent basis"
Mr.. Hutson said he had now
done this, but that there was
nothing he could do to change his
original report.
DR.. Seckinger believes the hos
pital should be retained as a re-
mobilization center for tubercu-
iosis patients who have been
treated at either Glenn Dale Sani-
toriun or at Gallinger, he said.
Distance From ID. C. Cited.
He said he felt Glenn Dale was
too inaccessible for rehabilita-
ton program because Of its dis
tance from Washington, and that
Q rehabilitation center should be
in the city, where patients could
engage in a few hours work day
and return to the hospital without
too much effort.
The 18-mile trip from Glenn
Dale to Washington would tend to
exhaust the patients. he pointed
out.
Another matter expected to be
taken up at the conference with
the Commissioners is Budget Of
f1cer Walter L. Fowler's sugges-
tion that the city heads find out
why medical officers are living in
buildings at Glenn Dale which
could house so tuberculosis pa
tientS.
He indicated that that number
OF Upshur street patients could
be cared for at Glenn Dale. Mr..
Fowler said that there was no
thought. when the Upshur street
center was opened in 1943, that
1t would be kept as permanent
hospital.
Besides DR.. Seckinger and Mr..
Fowler, the Commissioners have
asked Mr.. Hutson. DR.. Stebbing
and DR.. Daniel L. Finucane, super
intendent OF Glen Dale, to attend
their conference.
Meanwhile, the Health Officer
has called meeting for 2:30 pm.
Thursday to discuss overall prob
lens and needs for tuberculosis
care IN the District.
Many Asked to Attend.
Those asked to attend that
meet, In the Municipal Center
Building, include:
DR.. Finucane. DR.. Stebbing. DR..
Leroy Dunn. acting director of the
Bureau Of tuberculosis; DR.. David
Leibovici, medical director of the
Upshur Street Hospital; DR.. Sol
Katz, chief of the tuberculosis
service at Gallinger; DR.. Joseph
Fazekas, chief of staff at Gal
linger; DR.. John Stanley, assistant
superintendent of Glenn Dale;
William e. Leahy, president OF
the District tuberculosis Associa-
ton.
Also, Edward X. Funkhouser
executive secretary Of the Tuber'
culosis Association; Miss Ger
trude Bowling of the Instructive
Visiting Nurse Society; Miss Edit
Beattie, Of the Graduate Nurse!
Association; DR.. James j. Pfeffer
chairman, DR.. Henry Ecker @vict
chairman and DR.. Richard E. De-
Butts of the tuberculosis commit
tee of the District Medical Society
Also DR.. Paul Cornely, medica
director, DR.. Howard Payne, DR.
Albert K. Harden. Dr. w. P. Mont
gomery, DR.. T. A. Williston, ant
DR.. Aubrey Lindo of Freedmen
Hospital; DR.. Joseph C. johnson
dean of the Medical School a
Howard University: DR.. j. w
Peabody, 1746 K street NV; DR.
U. v. Wilcox, II, 915 Nineteenth
street NV, and DR.. Roy S. Klep'
ser, 1885 I street NV.
eaIfnne{aII WiII hddvoee