Part 15

MEETING ADJOURNED—4:30 P.M., Jan. 17, 1922.

Third Session Wednesday, January 18, 1922.

At 10:00 A.M. the meeting was called to order by General Sawyer.

The roll was called by Dr. W. A. White.

GENERAL SAWYER: Called attention to the fact that is had been discovered during yesterday’s afternoon session that a number of resolutions would probably be presented during the Conference, some of which would require very close attention, and that the Federal Board of Hospitalization is of the opinion that it is quite necessary to appoint a Committee on resolutions, whereupon the following Committee was appointed.

Committee on Resolutions.

Major General Merritte W. Ireland, U. S. A., Rear Admiral Edward E. Stitt, U. S. N., Surgeon General H. S. Cumming, U.S.P.H.S.

In accordance with a resolution passed during yesterday’s session, the following Committee was also appointed:

Committee on Forms:

Captain Norman J. Blackwood, U.S.N., Surgeon M. C. Guthrie, U. S. Veterans’ Bureau, Asst. Surg. Gen. J. W. Kerr, U.S.P.H.S., Colonel James A. Mattison, N.H.D.V.S., Major L. L. Hopwood, U.S.A.

General Sawyer urged that the Committee on Forms meet at the earliest possible moment in order that plans may be devised to take up immediately the work involved in this connection and that suggestions be obtained from the Committee, which will necessarily be brought to the attention of the heads of the Departments represented in the Federal Board of Hospitalization. He stated that every endeavor will be made to simplify matters in order that clerical work may be reduced to the lowest point consistent with the requirements of law. He pointed out in this connection that the requirements of this nature had recently been modified by over fifty per cent and that the Internal Revenue Service is now taking up this same subject.

General Sawyer introduced Major General Merritte W. Ireland, who presided over the morning session.

GENERAL IRELAND: requested those present to make extensive notes as to the points brought out by the various speakers relative to such matters it was desired to discuss later, stating that the papers would first be read and would then be open for discussion.

COL. P. S. HALLORAN: read a paper on the subject of “U.S. Veterans’ Bureau Inspections, U. S. Veterans’ Hospitals”, as follows:

“The inspections of the U. S. Veterans’ Bureau hospitals were formerly made by the General Inspection Service of the U. S. Public Health Service.

In October 1921, the Director authorized in General Order #39, the organization of an Inspection Service of the Medical Division of the Bureau under the provisions of sections 2 and 9 of the Act of Congress approved August 9th, 1921, commonly known as The Sweet Bill.

In carrying out Section 6 of the Sweet Bill which authorized the decentralization of the Veterans’ Bureau, the Inspection Section was organized to consist of the Chief and several assistants located in the Central Office, and an Inspection Section in each District Office.

The Section in the Central Office functions under Assistant Director of the Medical Division, and the Inspectors of the District Offices function under the immediate supervision of the District Medical Officer.

The Chief of the Inspection Section directs and co-ordinates the duties of all personnel assigned to Inspection Section including those temporarily assigned to it for special duty, for example, various specialists at the Central Office are available to investigate matters pertaining to their specialty, and for this purpose, are temporarily assigned to the Inspection Section and work under the direction of the Chief of the Section to whom their report is submitted.

Ordinarily the District Inspectors make all inspections and investigations within their respective districts when directed by the District Manager or the Director of the U.S. Veterans’ Bureau. Only special cases are investigated by the Central Office.

In general, the duties of the Inspection Section are to make such inspections and investigations as may be necessary in order to standardize the character of examinations, medical care, treatment, hospitalization, dispensary, and convalescent care, nursing, vocational training, and such other services as may be necessary for the welfare of beneficiaries of the U. S. Veterans’ Bureau.

Upon the organization of the Inspection Service in each District, instructions were given from the Central Office, that the work of the Inspection Service would first be to make complete inspections of all Contract Hospitals caring for ex-service men. The inspection of Governmental Hospitals to be delayed until the Contract Hospitals had all been inspected. This course was taken due to the fact, that is was generally known Governmental Institutions were well organized, and had recently been inspected by Officers of their respective services.

The inspections of Governmental Institutions made by the Inspection Section of the Bureau are limited to matters which directly concern the welfare of the beneficiaries of the Bureau. Investigations of the official conduct of acts or officers of Governmental Services ordinarily are conducted through the regular agencies of those services which are organized to guide and control their own personnel, and to whom such matters are referred through proper channels to the Director of the Bureau for transmission to the services concerned, for their investigation and administrative action.

See General Order No. 28—U. S. Veterans’ Bureau.

It is the policy of the Director to cause an investigation to be made of all complaints received which concern the welfare of the ex-service man, although it is realized that often complaints are grossly exaggerated.

During the comparatively short period which the Inspection Section has been functioning, the following are a few of the principal complaints received and investigated:

(1) Loss of property such as valuables and clothing of patients. Investigation has shown, that patients were not informed of the hospital regulations regarding the disposition to be made of these articles upon admission; adequate lockers not available, or total disregard by patients of existing hospital regulations.

(2) Preparation and shipment of remains of deceased;—casket too small, shabby lining; no flag furnished; shipping-box broken, due to lack of reinforcements; shroud of cheap material.