Evening star., 1952-07-16
Seeks
So Million for
New Buildings
Budget Fund Provides
For Dormitory and
Psychiotric Quarters
By Wallace (. CIoyton

By Wallace E. Clayton
Gallinger Municipal Hospital
officials want a new 81 million
psychiatric building and a $l.2
million dormitory for resident
doctors and interns.
This $3.2 million request for
new construction is the major
capital outlay provision in $12.9
million budget estimate for opera
tion of District hospitals during
the fiscal year 1854.
The fiscal 1854 estimate is $3.2
million higher than the 1853 esti-
mate, when no major construction
was requested.
Need Cited Many Times.
The need for new psychiatric
care facilities at Gallinger has
been cited many times before. Two
reports, one in 1914 and another
in 1947. pointed to inadequacies
in the present setup. Present
buildings were built in 1922 and
have been the target of much
criticism because of their obsolete
condition.
Commissioner Renah F. CANA
lier, in charge of District health
and welfare divisions, has Endorsed
the proposed new construction.
In asking for new dormitory.
hospital officials pointed out that
residents and interns now are
housed in six different buildings
on the grounds.
The majority of them are
housed in two old and dilapidated
buildings abandoned by other
hospital units.
Protest Last Year Recalled.
Living conditions here were the
principal cause of a secret "pro-
test" meeting by the doctors last
winter.
At that time the doctors
warned District officials that the
poor housing conditions would
make it increasingly difficult to
recruit the interns and residents
needed to maintain the hospitals
teaching program and standards
of care.
Hospital officials, in asking the
new building, admitted difficulty
in obtaining a full quota of resi-
dent doctors. They cited the de-
plorable housing conditions as a
definite factor" in this difficulty.
Because of a budget Office order
that increases in operating ex-
penses be no higher than last
years budget. plus per cent. hos
pital officials were unable to ask
for sufficient new positions to
fully staff the new pediatrics
building opened last year.
Half Of Building in Use.
Only half of the new building Is
now in operation. DR.. Joseph F.
Fazekas, hospital chief of staff,
told reporter I'VE could fill the
building with patients tomorrow" /"
if the building had the staff to
handle them.
las it is now, we are faced with
having a half-vacant building for
another year." he said.
i Officials are asking 26 addition
al positions for the hospitals re-
habilitation service, however.
Total cost for the year would be
$91.315.
The rehabilitation service
stressed by officials as vitality
needed to rehabilitate patients
who might otherwise spend their
lives as District wards-is current
: ly operated by the United States
Public Health Service.
The USPHS has warned, how
ever. that Federal support will end
next June 80.
Outlay at Glenn Dale.
| Capital construction outlay at
!, Glenn Dale tuberculosis Sanato-
rum was estimated at 5$49O, 900
This figure includes $125, 900 fol
. drawing up plans for q new 800
bed hospital building there.
The new building, Health De-
partment officials say. is badly
!, needed to provide additional beds
for the many indigents here with
tuberculosis who cannot now be
lhospitalized because Of the severe
bed shortage.
The new building was one OF
the requirements listed in a re-
cent f1ve-year program submitted
by the Health Department in its
lstepped-up campaign against tu-
Iberculosis. Health Officer Daniel
L. Seckinger has termed the tuber-
: culosis incidence here "the Dis
trict's worst health problem"
J, Technicians Overworked.
E Glenn Dale officials, in a request
for $2.6 million for operating ex-
! penses, asked that an additional
: laboratory technician be provided
= Officials said they are currently
j unable to perform routine sensi-
tivity and resistance tests on pa
tients undergoing wonder drug
S therapy. The fund request pointed
out there is probably no other
hospital laboratory in the country
where sensitivity studies are not
carried out as a routine procedure
v DIR. Daniel l.. Finucane, Glenr
Dale superintendent, said patient.
4 who have developed q resistance
= to streptomycin and other drug.
: still are given the drugs because
the determination Of their resiS.
:, Itance cannot be obtained from the
= overworked laboratory staff. This
' he pointed out, Is wasteful, al.
!, though not dangerous.
u u Drowned Soldiers Body
Recovered in Hurbor