Evening star., 1953-04-24


mittee on Medical Care to the
INDECENT in the District recon-
mended sweeping changes in the
whole picture of care to the
INDECENT.
Three recommendations were:
/. Establishment of a policy
making board of health, respon-
sive to the community.
2. Reorganization in the adj
miniStrative pattern of the
Health Department along "pyra-
midal" lines, with not more than
five department chiefs reporting
to the health commissioner.
3. Development of a co-ordi-
mated plan for medical care Of
the INDECENT by the health sec
tion Of the United Community
Services.
Other Recommendations.
These recommendations are
main points in the attack on the
INDECENT problem in general.
Specifically, there are a flock Of
other recommendations made by
subcommittee to take care of
changes in various fields. All
recommendations, according to a
committee source, hold equal
weight.
These recommendations ranged
from request for an improved
emergency ambulance service,
construction of a health CEN
ter" for INDECENT patients and
the licensing of practical nurses.
The committees general sur
vey included a study of all the
official and voluntary agencies
involved in the care of the sick
indigent-a ward OF the District
on relief and the medically in
digent-self-supporting until hit
with illness.
OF these agencies, the COM
mittee concluded that they were
doing a moderately good job"
within their budgets, but added
that there are weaknesses that
must be eliminated"
The weaknesses stem, the
committee said, from a lack of
Cd community planning and CO.
ordination of medical rest .ces
and CD inadequate financial
support.
Leahy Heads Survey.
The survey, headed by Will
liam E. Leahy, was set up by
an advisory committee to Health
Officer Daniel l.. Seckinger. It
is the result of implied criticism
of the District medical care pro-
gram, contained in a House sub
committee fiscal report in 1850.
The committee consisted Of
representatives of the United
States Public Health Depart
ment. District Medical Society,
American Association of Medi-
cal Social Workers, United Com
Services. District Tuber-
culOsis Association, District Cam
Ger Society, Medico- Chirurgical
Society. Board of Trade, Board
of Public Welfare, local hospitals
and other organizations.
Recommending a board Of
health. the committee states
that in public health program
where policies should reflect
community thinking and inter-
ests." collective judgment and
decisions by a group of persons
would be better than those Of
a single person.
The board, to be established
by law would be policy making.
lay don rules and regulations.
hold hearings, issue licenses and
permits, approve plans. pro-
grams, budgets and reports, and
would appoint the Director Of
Public Health.
Board members, to be appoint
ed by the Commissioners, would
be three physicians, one dentist,
one nurse and four private citi.
zenS.
The best thing about a board
Of health, the committee said.
would be to ensure the respon-
Siveness Of the Health Depart.
ment to the community"
Has 20 Agencies.
Concerned with the adminis-
trative setup Of the Health De-
partment. the committee pointed
out that at present, provisions
and arrangements for care of the
needy are divided among some 20
agencies of the sprawling depart
ment.
mo administrative unit has
(See INDECENT, Page AID