Conference of Officers in Charge of Government Hospitals Serving Veterans of the World War
History
Conference of Officers in Charge of Government Hospitals Serving Veterans of the World War
Medicine, Military; Military hospitals; World War, 1914-1918 -- Veterans -- Medical care -- United States
When I went to Greenville it was the custom to give the men breakfast at
about seven o’clock; luncheon at 10:30; noon meal at 12 o’clock; at noon
the men were not hungry and were generally dissatisfied with the food;
at 3 o’clock, after the rest hour, they would have another nourishment;
supper was served at five o’clock and as a rule they did not care much
for that. Then we would send over to the wards large quantities of milk
and eggs and bread and butter. They did not need any base balls. They
played ball with apples.
It occurred to me that that was a bad system. We omitted the morning
nourishment and the afternoon nourishment and I substituted an evening
cafeteria luncheon thinking that it was a long gap from the supper at
five o’clock to breakfast at 7. We thereby saved a great deal of money
and since we did that we find the patients think the food is fine. We
also find that they sleep better by taking this light luncheon just
before they retire. I mention that for what it is worth.
The rest hour is important in tuberculosis. That is why hospitalization
is so essential, because men will not take proper rest. We have a
morning rest from 9 to 10, afternoon rest from 1 to 3 and evening rest
from 6 to 6:45. The last period is not universal, and we wonder how you
can get an accurate record of a man’s condition when you do not get his
evening temperature. We find that it has been a great help to us. When I
instituted this rest period from 6 to 6:45 I told the men it was for
their good and although they objected at first, it appealed to their
reason, after they were told why it was done, and we have had no
trouble.
Another thing we have inaugurated along this line. I talked with Dr.
Smith last spring. He agreed to send to our hospital a school for
chiefs. I think this was a most helpful thing, because we had chiefs of
medical staffs come to us and take a course that would tend to make for
uniformity in administrative medical work in our tuberculous hospitals.
I have talked since that time with several of the men who came down to
take that course and I believe every one of them expressed the opinion
that it was very helpful to him to have an opportunity to exchange ideas
and to have the same methods for carrying of medical staff work which
required tact and executive ability.
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