Page 2
Duke Hospital, InterGom
CoSupt^^ Cotnet
J. M. Pyne L. E. Swanson
In Spring, a Duke Hospital man’s
fancy tiirns to the hoe and spade,
picnics, fishing poles, Buggs Island—
and BUDGETS.
Beginning this month, each depart
ment head in turn will be invited to
attend a budget conference. This
year’s progress and this year’s prob
lems will be discussed in detail. Plans
for the new fiscal year will be made
and expressed in terms of dollars
needed to provide personnel and sup
plies necessary to carry out these
plans. Future income will be esti
mated and a balance between income
and expense sought.
In light of the country’s general
economic situation and the financial
problems facing us, it may not be pos
sible to balance the budget. We will
ask each department head to plan
carefully and to take full advantage
of all possible economies—economies
that will NOT penalize service to our
patients.
A report on the operation of our
Hospital during the calendar year
1953 reveals some important things.
The cost of caring for the average
patient for ONE day in the Hospital
was $19.57—an increase of 12 per
cent over 1952.
Why the increase? Biggest factors:
Fewer patient days over which to
spread the cost of operation, and in
creased salaries to personnel.
Inflation and new services for our
j)atients helped account for the in
crease but were not major influences.
An average daily cost of $19.57 per
patient may seem to be a staggering
figure, but it is well within the cost
experienced by other hospitals which
offer complete services.
Here’s the way the Duke Hospital
dollar was spent in 1953:
Adiiiinistratioii $ -05
Dietary .14
Laundry -02
Housekeeping -05
Medical Personnel from N. C.
Here for Spinal Cord Meet
A special two-day conference on
spinal cord injuries got underway
here Thursday for medical service
personnel from throughout the State.
Dr. James IT. Semans, program
chairman, said that the Conference
stresses team care of patients with
spinal cord injuries, as well as ex
plains the role of each service involved
in the care of such patients.
“Care of a paralyzed patient dur
ing the first few weeks requires in
tensive, specialized team care,” Dr.
Semans pointed out.
Sessions began at 1 :30 p.m. Thurs
day, in the Amphitheatre. Visiting
representatives from the State’s hos
pitals, clinics and teaching institutions
had an opportunity to question medi
cal consultants and other team mem
bers.
Highlight on Thursday was a movie
“The Men,” starring Marlon Brando
and depicting the story of a para
plegic.
Friday’s meeting features a round
table discussion of “The Integrated
Treatment Program” for pre-ambula
tory and ambulatory patients. The
final session will deal with “Function
al Devices and Home Adjustment.”
Konndtable participants include
]\liss Mary Clyde Singleton, physical
therapy; Miss Dorothy Bray, nurs
ing; Mrs. Jeanette Reardon, social
service; Mrs. Elizabeth Waggoner,
occupational therapy; Dr. Semans,
urology; Miss Glora Kicklighter, die
tetics; and Dr. E. ('harles Kunkle,
neurology.
]lcat, Light, Water .03
Maintenance & Kepairs .05
Medieal & Surgical
A. Salaries of Physicians
Surgeons and Ilousestaff .05
B. Supplies & Misc. .16
Nursing Service .21
Nursing Education .02
Medical Hecords .02
Social Service .01
X-Ejiy .05
Laboratories .05
Pliarmacy .03
Physical Therapy .01
Depreciation .05
^.OtT’
From a different point of view the
expenses were distributed as follows:
Salaries & Wages .55
Supplies .31
Misc. .14
.$1.00
Scholarships .
(Contmued from page 1)
attributes.
This year’s contestants will be
Patsy Paige Mcljamb, Goldsboro; Bet
ty Frances Tliompson, Wilmington;
Loretta Kay Thompson, Ayden ; Emi
ly Eastwood Francis, Washington;
Kay Lorraine She])herd, Winston-
Salem; I’atricia Drake, Asheboro;
Patricia Anne Ingle, Raleigh; Marjo
rie Anne Brewer, Graham; Sandra
Eleanor Car])enter, Charlotte; Julia
Ann Gardner, Gastonia; ilartha
Caroline Fortune, Brevard; Carolyn
Wayne Taylor, Charlotte; Dorothy
Elizabeth England, Marion; and Pa-
ti-icia Ann Helms, Monroe.
Duke Calenflar
A calendar of events and meet
ings to be held at Duke Hospital
will be i^ublished in each issue of
the InterCom. If you would like
to include notices of events to be
held during June and July, please
call Hospital Extension 8206 before
May 20.
April 8-9, Spinal Cord Confer
ence in Amphitheatre.
April 9-10, School of Nursing
Scholarship Competition.
April 11, 4 p.m., Town Hall
meeting in Physics Building Audi
torium. To])ic for Discussion,
“Accidents—in tlie Home and on
the Highway.”
April 19, 8:30 ji.m., lecture by
Paul Weiss in P]ngineering Audi
torium. Topic, “Science, the
Scientist and Society.”
Aj)ri] 20, lecture by Dr. Richard
Bing. Topic, “Metabolism of the
Heart.”
April 23, brief liospital lecture
l>y Dr. d’Esopo.
May 4, 8 i).m.. Women’s Auxilia
ry annual meeting in Men’s Grad
uate Center. Speaker, Elon Clark.