COLONEL JAMES A. MATTISON, Chief, Surgeon, N.H.D.V.S.
“Of the various papers which have been read this afternoon on the medical side, nursing side, diet and supplies, the two words which seem to have been the key-note of each of these papers have been ‘standardization’ and ‘cooperation’. It seems to me that the matter of standardization on the subject that I am to talk on is one of the most important factors that we can consider.” He stated that standardization could be carried not only through the individual hospital, but through every government agency which does this type of work. He continued, reading the following article—“Hospital Supplies”.
“Almost every group of hospitals follows a different system in the business management, especially from the standpoint of procuring, conserving, and issuing of supplies. It is believed that a decided step forward for U. S. Veterans’ Hospitals would be a standardization in the method of procuring, handling, and issuing of all supplies. At the present time most of our agencies have different laws regulating the methods by which supplies are to be purchased and handled.
In some branches of the service practically everything has to be procured on competitive bids. In some, greater leeway is allowed and certain articles may be purchased by circular letter, while others give still greater leeway in allowing the purchase of a large quantity of supplies in open market. There are advantages in all of these methods and at the same time there are opportunities, at least in some cases of some of the methods being greatly abused. This, however, depends almost wholly upon the personnel responsible for the transactions.
The property officer or employee, whether he is represented by the same person as the purchasing officer or not, is inseparably connected with the subject of supplies, and the weaknesses connected with hospital supplies, provided such an officer is not too greatly handicapped, depends to a very large extent upon this individual.
The per capita cost of supplies in general is dependent not so much upon the quantity actually used as upon the waste which takes place, and the waste depends wholly upon the personnel handling the supplies. It is therefore, highly important that the personnel in charge of the supplies must of necessity be thoroughly trained and conversant with the needs and requirements of the service and at the same time have authority to question requisitions and demands which are in excess of apparent needs. This is a fact which I am sure we all recognize.
It is not the policy of the Government in any branches of the service to furnish inferior quality of supplies. However, the experience of Government hospitals in general is, that it is quite difficult in many cases to get the grade of goods delivered that is specified, regardless of what method is followed in making purchases. This is particularly true with certain firms who regard U. S. Government agencies as legitimate prey and have no scruples in unloading undesirable goods or goods of an inferior quality, provided they are able to get away with it. I daresay that every branch of the service has to contend with this condition and it is believed that here again there should be some means by which other branches of the service may be apprised of information regarding unreliable firms which has been obtained by them through actual experience.”
MR. M. SANGER, of St. Elizabeths’ Hospital, gave a further discussion of “Hospital Supplies”, as follows:
“Mr. Spangler, in a presentation of the question of Hospital Supplies, has covered in a general way the method of deciding the class of supplies required, how to procure these supplies, how to decide upon the quantities needed, and the general scope of standardizing supplies so as to serve the best interests of the Government, to supply the needs of the patients, and to procure and conserve the supplies in the most economic and efficient. manner.
In reference to the supplies themselves, as has been stated, the first thing is to decide what is needed. The second, as to the best method by which these supplies may be purchased. Third, the amount of warehouse space available for storing these supplies. Fourth, as to the best grade of supplies to secure for the particular purpose for which they may be required. Fifth, considering warehouse space and the non-perishable class of supplies, what are the most economic quantities in which they may be purchased.