Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-15

FOLLOWING is a partial teIt of
the report of the Commission
erS' Advisory Committee on
Municipal Hospitals, outlining
its 13-point program to inn
proUe health and hospital fa-
cilitieS here:
l. Gallinger, 3OO-Bed Addition
For Semi-Ambulatory Tubercu-
lOSis Patients-It is recommended
that this activity be located on
the grounds of Gallinger Hospi-
tai where a suitable site exists
in a building of economical
design. This building would be
converted to other uses when
the transfer of the patients to
Glenn Dale could be effected as
result of proposed expansion
at the sanatorium. Gallinger Of
flcialS. feel that the perma-
nent domicile of 800 tubercular
patients at that institution would
result in specialization and dupli-
cation of professional and physi-
cal resources.
The principal reason for ap-
proving this project ;. is that
the isolation of infected citizens,
now at large because of lack of
facilities, is a compelling public
health measure. The present rate
of admissions at Gallinger is now
sufficient to maintain an ade-
quate training program in pull
monary diseases.
The provision of a new 300-bed
unit would materially reduce the
demand for space in the medical
wards where the critically i'll
cannot be isolated for treatment
because the side rooms intended
for that purpose are now oc-
cupied by more than so TB cases.
Estimated cost of building,
equipment and appurtenances:
$3,OOO,OO
2. Temporary Central Clinic.
The present Central tuberculosis
Clinic is housed in a condemned
loft building at 469 c street NV.
in which all types of patients mix
indiScriminately with those who
are simply being screened or in
terviewed. Under existing condi-
tons the crowding is such that
medical, nursing and X-ray
laboratory procedures are greatly
hampered. Moreover. the psyche
logical impact upon already UNI
stable and anxious patients of
such a sub-standard facility is
generally admitted by medical
and social authorities to be an
adverse one.
It is therefore recommended
that an aggressive effort be made
to acquire good, clean clinic
space, centrally located so that
inaccessibility may not be an
added hardship to those of ILL
health, and that these quarters
be suitable and large enough for
the clinical treatment of VD and
other social diseases in addition
to tuberculosis. Occupancy Of
such space will be on a temporary
basis only pending construction
of a permanent, well-designed
Central Clinic. (See priority
item No. 49,.
Estimated Costs: Unknown as
location is undetermined.
3. Gallinger, 25O-bed PSYCHE
atric Unit. The existing PSYCHE
atric Unit was built in 1922 and
is now obsolete for that purposes.
The Wortis Report in 1914 and
the Overholser Report in 1916
pointed out the many inadequa-
cieS of this unit for modern
pSychiatric care. A recent in
spection conducted jointly by the
Fire Marshall and the Health De-
partment has revealed the urgent
need for extensive repairs and
alterations. The committee felt
that this facility could be re-
conditioned for use by patients
now housed at the 18th and
Upshur streets property, which
could either be disposed of and
returned to the tax rolls, or con-
verted to other than medical use
by the D. C. Government, and
recommended that new PSYCHE
atric unit be built in the first part
Of the program.
Estimated Cost: So, 800. 600
(Note: # present building must
be kept in this service, $3.50. 000
will be needed to repair IT'D
4. GalIinger-ExpansiOn Of OPP
Grating room suite This project
is recommended for immediate
construction In order to provide
critically needed surgical capac-
ity, and to furnish the necessary
adjunct facilities for proposed
operating rooms to meet the de-
mands of q large hospital.
Under present conditions, pa
tients ready for surgery must
be frequently postponed because
OF emergency operations result
ing in complications in the pa
tents condition. increases In
length Of stay in expensive beds
and 8 proportionate rise In the
cost Of disqualification paid BY
the taxpayers. The COMMITTEES