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Dr. Thompson-"It would unquestionably be an increased expense at the start, but increased collections would make up for this in time."
Dr. Lewis-"There are three phases of this plan, Advertising, Collections, and Blood Bank."
Dr. Thompson-"Blood Bank possibilities are now being investigated."
Dr. Rudolph-"What do you mean by that?"
Dr. Thompson-"The possibilities of having the Blood Bank run by the Society. It is a question of whether the public would not get better service if we did. In counties where Red Cross runs it there is always a shortage, and in other counties there is a surplus."
Dr. Rudolph-"I don't think that is true universally."
Dr. Thompson-"Every hospital laboratory head favors the county society doing it. Dr. Hartman is apparently not too opposed to the idea."
Dr. Thompson-"Do you wish to postpone any further action, or take any further steps?"
Dr. Farness-"Why don't we let this private agency take care of the investigating?"
Dr. Thompson-"The prime interest of the County Society taking it over is to maintain good public relations, to get the accounts in without annoying the patient. What is your feeling regarding the proposed letter to send to the medical society membership?"
Dr. Rudolph-"I think the officers of the society should formulate plans as to what can be done to get the Alameda plan going. Everyone who heard Mr. Waterson is certainly very enthusiastic about it."
Dr. Hayden-"Can that program be integrated with the State Society?"
Dr. Thompson-"Part of this has to be on a County level."
Dr. Hayden-"I think all members should be sent a copy of this letter. I move that the President review the letter and make such revisions as he thinks necessary to make, and send it out to the membership, instructing the secretary to have copies mimeographed and mailed."
Dr. Rudolph-"I second the motion." Motion carried.
Dr. Hugh Thompson-"I thought I ought to discuss the Council meeting in part. This meeting took six hours, and was quite a meeting. The first thing of great general interest was that the new Executive Secretary for the State Society was considered, and has since been appointed. He is a man with long experience in public relations. We all met him and he seemed a very nice fellow. As a sequel to that, it was decided that Kitty Coleman's services should be terminated, because the last two executive secretaries found themselves unable to work with her. It was felt that only in this way could the new Executive Secretary be given a fair break. This discussion took a very long while. The next item of major importance was that after a discussion in which apparently all but one of the Council strongly favored a grievance committee. It was moved that a special committee composed of Doctors Bate, Flinn and Hastings report back next time as to the best form of grievance committee to have. In particular concerning fees, but also medical service, it seemed to be the unanimous feeling of the Council, with one exception, that a grievance committee is necessary. It is now approved, and urged by the A.M.A., and will probably be set up in the near future. Concerning the Industrial Relations Committee, it was pointed out that medical costs for industrial relations work has skyrocketed. Figures were shown for the past three years, particularly on physiotherapy, since in one case of a sprained ankle 90 treatments were given. It was moved that the Industrial Commission be informed that the State Society is gravely concerned regarding the rising costs of medical care, and is taking steps to rectify it. It was also moved that the Industrial Relations Committee stress the advisability of the Industrial Commission appointing a medical man to be present in their office as a full time employee in order that these cases must be watched daily and in such a way reduce their expenditures. This was passed with only one or two dissenting votes. The Industrial Relations Committee was directed to
