Evening star., 1950-05-12
Group Asks Seekinger
To Prevent Closing Of
Upshur ST. Hospital

A group of medical and health
leaders has urged Health Officer
Daniel L. Seckinger to defend the
continued existence of the Upshur
Street tuberculosis Hospital and
to press for expanded rehabilita-
ton facilities here.
Further, they asked the health
officer to seek an expression from
the Commissioners about future
use of the Upshur street institu-
ton, operated as a rehabilitation
center for tuberculosis patients.
DR.. Seckinger met with the
officials yesterday, preparatory to
a meeting next Tuesday with the
Commission ers to consider the
city's tuberculosis problems.
DR.. Seckinger told the group he
certainly felt the Upshur street
hospital should remain opena
Had Recommended Closing.
Earlier, however, he had recon-
mended to the city heads that it
be closed. His recommendation
followed report to the health
officer by DR.. P. A. E. Stebbing,
Gallinger Hospital superintendent.
who suggested the institution be
closed on June 80. in view of the
need for replacement of boiler
system there, at cost of SAL 900.
DR.. Stebbing said yesterday the
suggestion was made because pre-
vious requests for repair have been
consistently stricken from the
budget" Total repairs needed at
the hospital now total about
100000, he added, asking that
there be clear-cut Statement
of policy" about its future use.
DR.. Sol Katz, Gallinger tuber-
culosis chief. said he thought it
would be criminal to close the only
hospital where there is rehabili-
tation program.
Asks Expansion.
At the same time, he charged
the Health Department has done
very little to help rehabilitation
work" and that "if the local tuber-
culosis association pulled out Of
Upshur street, there would be no
rehabilitation program at ALL" In
stead of talking about closing, he
added, you should be talking
about expanding rehabilitation
programs at Gallinger and Glenn
Dale as we'll"
After tuberculosis patients leave
active treatment at Gallinger or
Glenn Dale Sanitorium, they spend
several months at Upshur street
in training programs.
Edward F. Funkhouser. secre-
tary of the District tuberculosis
Association. said studies show
about so per cent of such patients
who do not go through rehabilita-
ton programs have relapses which
send them back. to hospitals. Of
426 patients treated at Upshur
street during the last several
years, however. he said, 321 CTS
per cent? have had no relapse.
Six per cent have died, he said
and only 10 per cent have
relapsed.
Cites Saving to ID. c.
Mr.. Funkhouser pointed out
that this prevention of relapses
saves the city thousands of dol
lars in costly hospital care and
that I'VE believe the District isn't
going to spend less on their care
until it first spends more"
DR.. Paul B. Cornely, Freedmens S
Hospital medical director, said it
was his experience that you have
to cry loud and steadily" to get
action on needs in the District.
He urged that the group find a
way to follow up its recommenda-
tionS.
DR.. Joseph Fazekas, Gallinger
medical chief. and several other
speakers urged the health officer
to try to get rehabilitation pro-
grams started for all types of
chronic disease patients. He
stressed the need for such pro-
Gram at Gallipper