Evening star., 1955-05-19
Citizens Urge Expansion
For Freedmen's Hospital

Sue 10 serve pOCn Iee-pdylug anu
INDECENT patients-'bearing in
mind that for many years to
come the hospital will be the
primary source of medical care
for the Negro in the community" :"
The hecommission asked that the
present arrangement the hos
pital has with the District as to
INDECENT patients-chief source Of
teaching material-be strength
ened. "It is essential" the COM
mission said, that the District
supply the hospital sufficient in
and out-patients to meet its
minimum teaching requirements
so as not to jeopardize accredita-
ton of the medical programs.
Financially, the request would
mean an increase from the pres
emily authorized 100000 reim-
bursement rate to $460,000, the
commission said.
(The District has taken pre-
cautionary measures to assure
that the reimbursement budget
will not be exceeded. One Of
these has been the elimina-
ton of emergency ambulance
cases for Freedmen's with the
result that INDECENT teaching
cases have dwindled.)
The commission also asked
that the Medical School make
fuller use Of District General
Hospital and seek affiliation with
other institutions, when sufficient
numbers of qualified staff are
available, thus broadening the
base for its clinched training"
The transfer Of control Of the
hospitarto be made to assure
co-ordinated control of the hos
pital-would take place "at least
one year prior to the anticipated
occupancy date for the new
plant" the commission recon-
mended.
The commission also asked
the Board of Trustees of Howard
University to give consideration
to establishing a degree-grant-
ing, undergraduate college OF
nursing.
Now Tncnyne Seen
Exploring the possibilities OF
Freedmen's operating independ-
ent of Federal support in time,
the commission said:
"Non-Federal status Of the
hospital will open up hitherto
closed sources of income and
will provide incentive for private
support facilities or a mod
ern plant will attract fee-paying
patients who now understand
ably prefer to go elsewhere for
treatment"
The commission added:
There will be a diminishing
need for Federal control and
support as integration Is accom-
plished. The commission feels
that this is the key to the future
support program, and that as
this hospital moves toward COM
plete integration, Federal sup
port should be correspondence
reduced. At the same time
it is recognized that Federal
support-initially, in substantial
amount-will be required"
The commission also:
/. Called for an end to deficit
financing" by the Government
of operating costs of the hos
pital and suggested a "phased'
plan of financing.
2. Asked for an annual inSpec-
ton of the school and hospital
by the Public Health Service.
8. Asked Secretary Hobby to
appoint an advisory council to
aid in planning and administer
ing the university hospital.
Clyde H. Hendrix, chairman
Of the Iowa Development Com
mission, headed the committee
Other members were:
Benson Ford, vice president
Ford Motor Co.; Mrs. Isabella
Jones, former deputy secretary
Pennsylvania Department Of
Welfare; DR.. John w. Lawlah
District physician; B. M. Nickel
way, editor of The Star; Mrs
R. Louise McManus, director
division of nursing education
Columbia University.
Also, DR.. Peter M. Murray
president, New York County
Medical Society; G. Rowland
Shaw, former Assistant Secretary
of State; DR.. Garnet c. Wilkin-
son, retired District assistant su-
perintendent of schools, and Dis
trict Court Judge Luther Young
doh1