Board of Directors Meeting, September 26, 1952 Page 3
Letters from Dr. George Dixon and Mr. Jack Snell regarding the unanimous decision of the executive Board of the Pima County Chapter of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis that St. Mary's Hospital would be established as a treatment center for infantile paralysis in Pima County.
Dr. Dixon--"This if purely an academic proposition. Polio has increased in the county at large and cases here are costing too much per case. So far, Pima County is fortunate in that we have never had a true epidemic, but by dividing cases between two hospital as in past years attending men and nursing setups have had to spend two or three days straightening things around, an this is an imposition to the case. Group Nursing will help. By having a place that is organized, with certain minimal standard orders to begin with, equipment at hand for serious polio cases, where one hospital is responsible, multiple cases can be handled by the group and nurses always present who can be thrown in an emergency--it will be much better for the case. I would like, as Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board to the Pima County Chapter of the National Foundation, now that the Polio Board has recommended a single hospital, to have it brought before the Pima County Medical Society. There may be confusion until it is well understood by the community that there is a single place--say a case shows up in the middle of the night, and the question arises 'What shall we do with this case?'--it should be sent to the center which handles such cases. It would seem to me that if the Pima County Medical Society endorses a single center, it won't be long until polio cases will be sent there so that they can be promptly diagnosed, better handled, which will be better for the individual case and more economical so far as the Foundation is concerned. We are already way shy of funds in this county for what was collected here, even thought collections were 50% over last year; we have had to go back to the Foundation. During the latter part of August and September they did hire Mrs. Herrera, who has had considerable experience in polio, as an 'orientation nurse', and she instructed nurses so that cases were properly taken care of--this, after some pretty gross errors had occurred which were due to bad and improperly trained personnel."
Dr. Hayden inquired whether the board Dr. Dixon represents requires authorization from the Medical Society.
Dr. Dixon said that there is no reason why a private case cannot go to any hospital he wants--that this is only for those who need financial aid.
Dr. Harry Thompson asked if there might be going to be any repercussion as to who will be paid--a particular group, or anyone who is called in on a case.
Dr. Dixon said that he did not think there will be any change at all in this respect, that the proposition made up about three years ago stated that anybody belonging to a hospital staff was qualified to take care of a case, and Industrial insurance rates were paid. He added that many of these people pay the doctors themselves, and sometimes the doctors are paid by the Polio Foundation; some people pay for one nurse, of the room for some time, and the balance is carried by the Foundation.
Dr. Harry Thompson moved that this recommendation be accepted and approved by the Board of Directors, and that it be brought before the society for approval.
Dr. Beaton inquired if there is any reason for the Society to approve it.
Dr. Dixon replied that he thought there was reason--that if there were a designated center, approved by the Medical Society, that pretty soon all cases would go to the same place, and everyone would be benefited.
Dr. Beaton said that Medical Center has been the center for a long time, and asked if, by approving this, the Society would be taking something away from The Medical Center and giving it to another hospital.
Dr. Dixon replied that when the idea originated all costs per day per case were carefully investigated at both hospitals; that costs per day at Medical Center were much higher, and that was the basis for the recommendation.
Motion seconded by Dr. Kent.
Dr. Engle thought the farthest the Society ought to go is to approve setting up a center.
Motion carried.
