I have briefly outlined the growth to the present time in government hospital facilities available to the United States Veterans’ Bureau. Combining the figures I have enumerated it is seen that the total number of available government hospital beds has increased during a period of a little more than two years and a half from a few thousand beds in 21 Marine hospitals to a total of 28655 beds in 94 government hospitals.
Let me now outline briefly the growth in our hospital population over this period. In September, 1919 there were recorded a total of 6003 patients of the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, which total had increased by January 1920 to 10907, and by July 1920 to 19,489, averaging over this period a monthly increase in hospital patients of approximately 1225. From July 1920 to January 1922 the hospital population increased from 19,489 to 29,263.
These 29,263 patients are hospitalized to the following extent in the several classes of facilities: United States Public Health Service, 13,874; United States Army, 1530; United States Navy 1473; National Soldiers’ Homes, 2637; St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Interior Department, 825; Contract Civil Hospitals, 8924. By general class of disease, these patients are divided as follows: Tuberculosis, 11,822; Neuro-psychiatric, 8,414; General medical and Surgical, 9027.
Of the total number of 28,655 government hospital beds available, 20,339 are occupied at the present time, leaving a balance of 8,316 unoccupied hospital beds.
As previously stated, it is the policy of this Bureau wherever practicable, to remove beneficiaries of the Bureau from contract institutions and place them in hospitals operated by the governmental medical services. If it were possible at the present time to fill every vacant government bed by patients in contract hospitals we would still be obliged to continue 608 cases in contract institutions.
An analysis of the vacant government beds shows that they fall under the following category:
For tuberculosis 2,292 For neuro-psychiatric 748 For general medical & surgical 5,276 ————— Total 8,316
An analysis of the patients in contract hospitals shows they are classified as follows:
Tuberculosis 2,930 Neuro-psychiatric 4,004 General medical & Surgical 1,990 ————— Total 8,924