DR. LLOYD: suggested that if patient stays away less than 24 hours mild disciplinary action might be applied, if longer than 24 hours he should be disciplined, that these matters were covered in the paragraphs referred to.
ADMIRAL STITT: “The next discussions will be on “The Relation of District Managers to Hospitals.””
DR. WILLIAMS: emphasized the point that when a man comes to the hospital he should be treated for everything that is wrong with him.
SURGEON BROWNE: wished to report a plan in operation in Boston. Every two weeks a luncheon conference is held, at which are present the Commanding Officers of the hospitals, the head of the American Legion in the State, head of the New England Red Cross, and the Commissioner of State Aid and Pensions. In this way it was possible to straighten out all difficulties and there is now practically no friction between these departments.
CAPT. ELLIOTT: spoke on the contact with the District Manager here in Washington, that it was very easy to reach him by telephone and obtain advice which facilitates the discharge and treatment of patients very much. The relation of the Naval Hospital with the District Manager has been one of greatest cooperation, that the Veterans’ Bureau had even gone so far as to lend a typist and stenographer to help in the great amount of clerical work necessary in making out papers for Veterans’ Bureau patients.
Another man spoke of the multiplicity of paper work necessary in connection with the new form adopted by the Veterans’ Bureau in place of 1934–B, that it was impossible to manifold this form and it necessitated just twice as much work as before. He suggested that the Committee on Forms consider the feasibility of adopting forms that can be manifolded and thereby make economical saving.
SURGEON YOUNG: stated that in regard to the relation of the District Manager he would like to know whether the representative of the Veterans’ Bureau to be in the hospital is to be there as a man directly connected with the personnel of the District Manager’s office, or whether he is to be there as a representative of the Veterans’ Bureau itself.
DR. RAWLS gave the information that the educational director would be a representative of the District Manager, on the staff of the Commanding Officer of the hospital, who would deal with the District Office in matters pertaining to the District and to the hospitalization of the patient. He stated that it might be that in dealing with certain other phases he would have a direct channel to the Bureau, but this had not been definitely decided.
GENERAL SAWYER: stated that the subject of hospitalization most now be viewed as a much broader field than ever before, that after discussing the subject of an educational department and social service work with people in contact with it it was decided to be absolutely necessary to enlarge the personnel of these hospitals so as to take in these various new things which were coming up for consideration. He emphasized the fact that the end result is the important thing, but that in consideration of all of these subjects it should be understood that these Red Cross representatives and all other employees will be subject to the Commanding Officer. He said he was satisfied that most of the complaint made was by individuals who come into the hospital and do not come in contact with the Commanding Officer. The whole idea of the social service relation is that these men shall be made more resourceful and more capable of earning a living for themselves.
COL. EVANS: took up the number of personnel required, and stated that it had been approved that the average requirements would be—one teacher or one occupational therapist for each twenty individuals actually engaged, and one physiotherapy aide for each twenty treatments per day. He stated that one might not take care of over five patients, but the basis of estimation was one for twenty, and that the average would be one to sixteen if the educational director and his clerical help are included.