Page 4
Duke Hospital, InterCom
Supt^^
Coxnex
By Charles H. Freiizel
Kenovations, new buildings, larger
])arking lots, and changing road pat
terns are signs of j)rogress and are
inevitable in the life of a dynamic
and growing organization. Cnrrent
changes at Duke TTnivei-sity Medical
Center, however, nuist leave some of
us with feelings of sadness. We can’t
help but think back to the days gone
by when life at Duke was less com
plicated and the pace more leisurely.
These changes suggest more than
physical alteration and growth. The
nature of the new l)ui]dings and the
obviously increasing inadequacy of
the old indicate the changing scope
and range of functions in the Medical
Center. We are seeing new patients,
needing different things done for
them, and we are adding constantly
to the things tliat can be done for
them.
Organization, staffing, and work
patterns must adapt tliemselves to
the functions to be performed. This
can be done piece by piece, reacting
to each major change, and meeting
each demand as it arises. This lias
been the pattern of change iu many
areas of Duke Hospital. There comes
a time, however, when the basic or
ganizational pattern is so distorted
by change that it no longer can ef
fectively function. Often existing
categories of personnel are called up
on to perform functions for which
they have not been ade(|uately ])re-
pared.
Realizing tliat this has hai)|)ened
in many areas of the hospital, we
are currently planning a comprehen
sive study in a ]>atient ward ai-ea to
determine the i)resent elements of
complete patient care and ward man
agement. It is anticipated that the
organization of the ward will be
changed so as to best meet its needs.
McDowell Ward has been selected as
the test ward, and the studies will
begin there in the next few weeks.
We will keep you informed of the
findings in the study and of the or
ganizational changes made in an ef-
George Kanter
Named Personnel
Director
George B. Kantner has l>een ap
pointed personnel director of the
Duke University Medical Center. Mr.
Kantner recently retired from the
U. S. Marine Corps after 20 years'
service. He attained the rank of
colonel and last year was a member
of the Military Studies and Liaison
Division of the Weapons Systems
Evaluation Grouj), Department of
Defense, in Washington, D. i'. Dur
ing World War IT, he served in the
Pacific Theater, and from 194()-49
was an assistant ])rofessor iu the
Naval ROTC unit at Duke Univer
sity. Born in Somerset, Pa., Mr.
Kantner received the B.S. degree
from Pennsylvania State College and
did graduate work in i)ersonnel man
agement at George Washington Uni
versity.
Mr. Kantner succeeds Richard A.
Bindewald who had been hospital
j)ersonnel officer since 1954. Mr.
Bindewald has been named assistant
to the dean of the Duke University
Medical School. In this capacity,
Mr. Bindewald will assist Dean
Woodhal] in business administrative
matters pertaining to the Scliool of
Medicine.
Geome B. Kantner
From
The
Auxiliary
fort to improve patient care. AVe feel
that this pilot study will have worth
while effects throughout the Medical
Center.
By Carolyn Hackney
Auxiliary members and guests at
tending the Memberslii]) meeting No
vember 9 were given an inside view
of what it takes to operate an insti
tution the size of Duke Hospital.
Held in the hos])ital’s Ambulatory
Dining Room, the meeting was billed
as “Know Your Hospital” night and
featured a ])a7iel discussion by hos
pital staff members. Su))erintendent
Charles Frenzel jiresided over a mock
staff' meeting attended by George
Kantner, personnel; Mary (Catherine
Male, dietetics; Margaret Mitchell,
luirsing; and Charles Boone, admin
istration.
With the use of a blackboard Mr.
Frenzel revealed the staggering cost
of operations. Basic cost ]>er patient
per day averages $28.50. There are
three employees for every i)atient.- a
total of 2100 persons. With the i>a-
tient census and the cost of i)atient
care always on the increase, the hos
pital’s 2() departments work luider a
constant budget deficit.
Miss Mitchell pointed out that the
nursing shortage conthiues to be a
serious problem causing grave con-
(!ern. She described the efforts of
Duke Medical Center to recruit more
luirses througli luitional advertising
and tlirough a large scliolarship pro
gram which includes the Auxiliary’s
nursing scholarship.
Duke has more dietetic interns than
any other institution in the south,
accoi'ding to Miss Male. The Auxili
ary members could, of course, appr‘-
ciale the problems faced by a de
partment which must plan and serve
.'J,000 varied uu'als a day!
.Ml'. Boone stressed the pi'obU'uis of
maintenance and renovation to the
building. Among the figures which
(lramatiz(‘d the magnitude of the o]>-
eration at Duke lIosi)ital were som(>
3 million cubic feet of oxygen used
per year and three and a half million
pounds of laundry washed and
finished yearly.
The thanks of the Auxiliai-y go to
Mr. Frenzel and liis staff' for an in
formative program.