Evening star., 1950-05-10
Council Studies
Two Proposals
For Hospitals
Bond Issue Urged
For 150- Bed Center
In Silver Spring

issue to finance a hospital of the
same size in Silver Spring-were
being studied today by the Mont
gomery County Council.
Their presentation by the County
Hospital Facilities Advisory Com
mittee and the Silver Spring Hos
pital Association respectively,
highlighted Yesterdays council
meeting in the Rockville Court
house.
The council also authorized is
suance of $1,549,0 900 in bonds and
certificates of Indebtedness fol-
schools. roads and public parking
lots in Silver Spring and to finance
street improvement projects and
held q hearing on proposal to
impose uniform 10-cent fire tax
in the Gaitherspurg fire area.
The Hospital Facilities Advisory
Committees recomme ndations
were contained in a siX-page pre-
liminary report covering a one
year study on present and future
county hospital facilities and
needs. The final report is expected
to be ready next month.
Sponsorship Is Urged.
The group. headed by DR.. Mark
v. Ziegler of the United States
Public Health Service, urged the
county to sponsor construction of
a medical center to be consolidated
with Suburban Hospital, Bethesda.
Cost was estimated at approx
mately $18 million.
At the same time, the commit
tee opposed erection of hospital
in Silver Spring on the grounds
It would further reduce occupancy
at Suburban Hospital and would
be subject to financial and pro-
fessional handicaps.
Having one successful medical
center" the committee said
would be more advantageous to
the population of the county than
retaining Suburban Hospital for
Bethesda Chevy Chase and build
ing another independent hospital
for Silver Spring
Possibilities Told.
The committee contended the
150-bed capacity of the proposed
center would permit the achieve
ment of satisfactory professional
standing and would con-
stitute a manageable economic
unit with good prospects Of a
high occupancy rate for efficient
operation. To provide more beds
at this time would result in deficit
operation"
Other committee recommended
tions included:
I. Integration of the medical
center with services provided by
other county hospitals as we'll
as those in the District in order
to avoid unnecessary competi-
ton"
2. Establishment Of County
Board of Medical Care to co-ordi-
nate medical facilities and serv-
ices and to recommend additional
ones where necessary.
3. Appointment Of a medical
care director to aid the board in
carrying out its policies.
Says Suffering Caused.
While the committee found nc
shortage of hospital beds, it said
the lack of provision for mental
cases, including alcoholic and psy-
choneurotic patients, causes un-
necessary suffering to patients ano
relatives and embarrassment tc
physicians"
There also is a lack of facilities
for the isolation of contagious
diseases. and there are no bed:
for tuberculosis patients awaiting
placement in institutions. the
committee asserted.
At present. according to the
committee, about one-half of the
county's patients are hoSpitalizec
in outside areaS-principally ir
Washington.
Amount Estimated.
Under the Silver Spring associa-
tion's proposal, the 81 million
bond issue would be paid off from
Liquor Board receipts. The amount
required to amortize the bonds
was estimated at about $97 .00C
annually.
During the 1948-49 fiscal yeal
the board showed a net profit OF
approximately $380,000.
The association said that in ad-
dition to the 81 million in bonds
it could get a 1923 900 grant from
the Government.
additional funds can ther
be secured from private sources
the association said, ito augment
the cash and pledges now on hanc
to bring the total to between Sit
to 81 million.
Says Tax Required.
At this point, Mrs. Dorothy
Himstead. a member of the coun.
Gil, pointed out that earmarkins
Of $97 900 in Liquor Board fund!
for such a purpose would mean {
Scent countrywide tax to max,
up that amount.
In reply, Association Presiden
Ralph D. Boyd said the boarc
lent itself to an ALLEGATION O
funds that would cause the leas
objection"
After ALL" he told the council
1.-The boards receipts originate il
the suburban area and most o
its money comes from Silve
Spring"
He said the proposed hospita
could be built on 81 acres owne
by the association at Forest Gle
road and Sligo Greek parkway.