COL. PATTERSON: I have already occupied a great deal of time and so I can only voice the sentiments expressed by the previous gentlemen. I know those of us in the Bureau have learned a great deal and I hope that it will be possible to let us have the benefit of a similar Conference next year. We in the Bureau will be in a much better condition to profit by your suggestions than we are this year and we will know better where we stand than we do at present. Most of us are rather new to the job and are in a very receptive mood.
In passing I would like to tell Captain Blackwood that the new order, G.O. 27, covers most of the things he brought up. Some of the other suggestions as to the way patients got into hospitals I fear will take some time to rectify. We are in the hands of our agents in the field. Many of them are not up to the standard. We hope to rectify that. As far as the hospital question is concerned, I think you understand that the Medical Bureau is with you and I hope you will take to heart what Commissioner Burke has said and give us in writing the benefit of your opinions and send them in through your chiefs. I hope you will give that your attention and let us have the benefit of your advice. We want constructive criticism and we need your help.
GENERAL SAWYER: How many of the Commanders present are accompanied by their wives. Those that are, please stand. (Six stood up) I want to say furthermore that the reception at the White House is at 8:30; entrance by the North Portico. I feel sure that I can predict for you a very pleasant evening.
In summarizing, just in a few words, I would like to give you something of an idea of the impressions that have come to me and I believe that you will agree that they are fair and that you should accept the same impression for yourself.
First, it has been a great delight to me, personally, to meet you Commanders of these various hospitals. I have a very much better idea of the kind of men that are caring for these institutions and wish to say to you that I am more than pleased with the capacity and the efficiency that you demonstrate. Your contact here with each other has helped you very greatly. To me the whole hospital question is visualized in a much broader way. I thought I had a fair conception of what this proposition meant, but I must say I have enlarged my horizon very materially. As for myself I have received an inspiration such as I have never had before to make of this hospitalization subject a matter for consideration and of engagement of a much higher type. With the idea of its immensity, with a better understanding of many of the details and requirements and difficulties, I myself go forth to the undertakings I have before me as the Chief Coordinator of this Board with much more determination than ever before, with an ambition that has never quite possessed me before, so I feel that I myself have been very greatly benefited.
There are some things you will take back with you out of this crowded program. As the days come and go you will have the experience of referring to this Conference as having given you new light and as having given you an assistance you hardly record today.
It is my own wish that we may be able to put in the hands of each of you quite extensive minutes of all of these proceedings. If I can bring that about in the course of a reasonable length of time, you shall be possessed of such a record.
I wish to thank the speakers for conforming so regularly to the suggestion as to time limit. I wish to thank you for the care with which you have prepared your papers and presented them. I wish to thank those of you who have participated in the discussions. I want to express my appreciation of those of you who have listened so intently and apparently with such interest.
I would be unfair to the occasion if I did not express my gratitude for the assistance that has been given us by the nurses in their association with us here.
One thing I would have you do. You are but single representatives of the institutions from which you come.