That is the distribution of the 6,000 beds that I referred to, if we are to take care of the load up to 1935, of noncompensable cases. The program outlined above involves now construction at 34 locations scattered throughout 25 States and the District of Columbia, and would cost roughly $17,500,000; about $3,000 per bed. Senator REED. That is less than you have been paying per bed. General HINES. Yes. There are a great many additions to existing facilities. It contemplates nine new hospitals (all of the general medical and surgical type) in as many States, and additions to 25 existing institutions. Further, its adoption would leave but three States, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Delaware, without hospital facilities of one type or another controlled by the Veterans' Administration, and would make Delaware the only State in the Union without a Federal hospital. In addition, it would provide hospital facilities of the general medical and surgical type within 1 to 15 miles of 45 of the 54 regional offices maintained by the Veterans' Bureau-a desirable arrangement and one that should insure the expeditious treatment of emergency cases developing in the populous centers of practically every State in the Union. It will be noted, that while the above program provides neuropsychiatric facilities at 14 locations it does not contain a single new hospital of that type. This is in accordance with the established policy of developing specialized facilities to meet the needs of a number of States, rather than limiting the size of such an institution to the requirements of the State in which it is located. That the 20 existing or authorized neuropsychiatric hospitals under the control of the Veterans' Administration have been located with due regard to the requirements of all sections of the country is evidenced by the fact that the average distance (air-line) from the center of population of each State to the nearest Government hospital of the type mentioned is but 164 miles. I would like permission, Mr. Chairman, to insert following that statement a tabulation by districts, giving the States-for example, district 1, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont-and giving the existing facilities and patients for the three major groups of disabilities. For example, I will take the first district and read it. The other 13 I need not read unless you desire the detailed information. District 1 consists of the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. On January 1, 1931, we had, for tuberculous patients, the following facilities: Veterans' Bureau Hospital, Rutland Heights, Mass., 412 beds, with a patient load of 398; 187 of that load were service-connected cases and 211 were non service. The Public Health Service hospital at Portland, Me., had three patients; the naval hospital at Chelsea, Mass., 10 patients; and the Soldiers' Home at Togus, Me., 2 patients. The total beds available for tuberculosis were 427, with 424 patients, 218 nonservice, and 206 service connected. The percentage of 202 (10) cases at present is 51.41; the excess of beds over patients is 3. On December 1, 1928, the percentage of 202 (10) cases was 57.8. Senator WALSH of Massachusetts. Have you applications from patients to enter these hospitals in that district? General HINES. Yes. Senator WALSH of Massachusetts. So, there is a waiting list. Senator WALSH of Massachusetts. How many? Senator WALSH of Massachusetts. Never mind. It is in the record. General HINES. I have a table that will give it by districts, too. We have the following general medical and surgical facailties in that district: The Public Health Service hospital, Portland, Me., with 41 beds; the naval hospital, Chelsea, with 245 beds; naval hospital, Newport, R. I., 125 beds; naval hospital, Portsmouth, N. H., 75 beds; Soldiers Home at Togus, Me., 25 beds. We had only nine general patients in contract institutions in that section. Out of a total of 511 beds, we had a load of 458 patients, of which 394 were nonservice-connected cases, and 64 service-connected cases. In the neuropsychiatric group, facilities exist at Bedford to the extent of 482 beds; Northampton, Mass., 552 beds; and Togus, Me., 3, or a total number of beds for psychotic patients of 1,037. In addition there were 110 psychoneurotic beds, or a total number of neuropsychiatric beds available of 1,147, with a patient load of 204 nonserviceconnected cases and 902 service-connected cases. The percentage of 202 (10) cases at present in that group of hospitals is 18.44; on December 1, 1928, it was 3.4, showing a material increase in nonserviceconnected, even in that group. The American Legion, at the last convention, recommended an addition of 100 beds at Northampton and 50 additional beds at Bedford. Each district is analyzed in that way, and I would like to insert that in the record if the committee desires it. The CHAIRMAN. You may insert that in the record at this point. DISTRICT NO. 1.—Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, January 1, 1931 DISTRICT NO. 1.—Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, January 1, 1931-Continued Percentage of 202 (10) cases at present 18.44; Dec. 1, 1928, 3.4. Excess of psychotic patients over beds at present, 22; upon completion of additional facilities authorized at Bedford, Mass., there will be an excess of 130 beds over patients Jan. 8, 1931. American Legion at last convention recommended 100 additional beds at Northampton, and 50 additional beds at Bedford, Mass. DISTRICT NO. 2.-New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, January 1, 1931 1 Includes 61 patients at hospitalization center at Saranac Lake, and 38 at Liberty, N. Y. Percentage of 202 (10) cases at present, 57.74; Dec. 1, 1928, 47.1. Excess of beds over patients upon eliminating cases at hospitalization centers, 23. Excess of beds over patients at present, 43; upon completion of authorized program (135 beds at Hart ford, Conn., Feb. 11, 1931, and 200 beds in New York City), 378. DISTRICT NO. 2.—New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, January 1, 1931—Con. Percentage of 202 (10) cases at present 19.49; Dec. 1, 1928, 72. DISTRICT NO. 3—Pennsylvania and Delaware, January 1, 1931 Percentage of 202 (10) cases at present 59.91; Dec. 1, 1928, 55.1. American Legion at last convention recommended a new 500 bed hospital for north central Pennsylvania Percentage of 202 (10) cases at present 83.63; Dec. 1, 1928, 82.7. Excess of beds over patients upon completion of facilities for 47 beds at Aspinwall, Jan. 5, 1931, 44. Excess of psychotic beds over patients at present 296; upon full utilization of new hospital at Coatesville. 328. American Legion at last convention recommended 769 additional beds at Coatesville. DISTRICT NO. 4.-District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, Excess of beds over patients at present, 194; upon completion of new hospital in West Virginia (150 beds American Legion at last convention recommended a new 400-bed hospital for Virginia and 235 addi- The Public Health Service is erecting a new 325-bed hospital in Baltimore which is twice the size of the NEUROPSYCHIATRIC 100 of these cases are in the Davis clinic, Marion, Va. Percentage of 202 (10) cases at present 31.43; Dec. 1, 1928, 18.7. Bids are to be opened Feb. 3, 1931, for the erection of a new building of 146 beds at Perry Point, which is American Legion at last convention recommended 1,000 additional beds at Perry Point. |