COL. EVANS: stated that a recommendation is to be presented to Col. Forbes, for his approval or disapproval, to the effect that the educational director in a hospital will be the Bureau’s representative there in regard to rehabilitation work and will furnish data regarding the man as to what he has done and what he can do.
GEN. SAWYER: said he understood that this representative was accounted for in the list presented formerly by Col. Evans.
COL. EVANS: answered that that was the provision made.
COL. FORBES: said that he believed that the rehabilitation proposition is much more of a medical problem than an educational one; that there must be a closer medical observation of the men and not quite so much education; that if the physical disability can be removed first, then the man is better equipped for vocational work; that the man should have the maximum of hospital treatment before he is put into vocational work; that the problem is 90% medical and 10% educational.
SURGEON DEDMAN (Greenville): stated that his place had adopted the system of sending a copy of the physical report of the Board of Medical Officers to the social welfare part of the Red Cross, and one copy to the educational department of the Veterans’ Bureau so that the Bureau might be in constant touch with the man’s physical condition. He recommended that there be in the sub-offices experts on T.B., etc., and thereby eliminate the sending of men to hospitals when they have no trace of such disease.
He expressed appreciation of the work of the Red Cross in his community.
COL. FORBES: added his appreciation of the splendid service rendered by the Red Cross, and stated that that organization had recently made available to the Bureau $175,000 for recreational purposes.
SURGEON STITES: stated that the educational director at the Alexandria hospital is kept in constant touch with every patient there, particularly those approaching discharge. He also stated that he was particularly impressed with what was contained in General Wood’s paper with reference to the care and treatment of disabled veterans whose disability is in no way connected with the service; that there are veterans in his community who need treatment, but whose disability is not connected with service.
COL. FORBES: emphasized the fact that the law provides that the disability must be in line of duty or during the period of military service.
COL. FORBES: in answering a conferee, stated that the law providing for admission to Soldiers’ Homes was amended to apply to veterans of the World War; and that all that is required of the man is to make application to any National Soldiers’ Home and present an honorable discharge from the service.