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
He also expressed himself as being in favor of the dispensary plan for
the Districts; but added that he felt there must be a great deal of
cooperation between the District Managers and the Medical Officers in
hospitals; also, that medical officers in dispensaries should use a
great deal of judgment in referring cases to the attending specialists.
COL. FORBES: said that that was a medical question; that the District
Medical Officers should go the limit in providing hospital care if in
their judgment it is the proper thing to do.
COL. BRATTON: stating that he had charge of the Army and Navy General
Hospital at Hot Springs, spoke concerning the discharging of patients
from government hospitals by reason of disorderly conduct. He stated
that when such men were discharged they were not granted transportation
to their homes, and therefore became nuisances to the community there.
COL. FORBES: stated that there is a General Order providing for the payment
of such transportation.
COL. FORBES: inquired of this officer regarding the paper work of his
hospital.
COL. BRATTON: answered that he found it very cumbersome; that he has to make
triplicates; that two of these copies go to the District Manager who
sends one to Washington.
COL. FORBES: said he wished he would suggest to General Ireland a medium for
reducing this.
COL. BRATTON: said that he was running two sets of records,—Bureau and Army.
COL. FORBES: replied that he was dealing with two distinct sets of men.
COL. BRATTON: stated that he had just made out his annual report. He said
his place had treated 851 Veterans’ Bureau patients the last year, and
he told the different diseases involved. Added that in many cases
referred to them no trace of disease was found; also, that one man was
sent from Oklahoma and the only ailment discovered was one decayed
tooth.
COL. FORBES: replied to the effect that that man is entitled to vocational
training under Section 2.
SURGEON GARDNER (St. Paul): expressed himself as being in favor of the
dispensary project, as it would assist the medical officers greatly. He
added that he has two patients suffering from paralysis, and does not
know where to place them.
LIEUT. COMMANDER HIGGINS: stated that he is not in a hospital, but one thing
that impressed him in his contact with men in hospitals was Dr. White’s
“third class”, the border-line mental types. He said this type gave the
most trouble in hospitals, but that they do not get the sympathy of many
medical officers not accustomed to dealing with that type.
COL. FORBES: asked if he believed there were a lot of men hospitalized,
drawing compensation and taking vocational training from the Government,
who are not entitled to such.
LIEUT. COMMANDER HIGGINS: replied that it would be a very hazardous thing
for him to say because he had not been in contact with them; but that
from a civil standpoint that might be true.
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