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Medical Missionary Department

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 16, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 46.

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Medical Missionary Department

By L. A. H.

W. A. RUBLE, M. D. . . . General Secretary
L. A. HANSEN . . . Assistant Secretary
H. W. MILLER, M. D. . . . N. Am. Div. Secretary

Uniformity in Sanitarium Work

OUR Medical Department is now working out some plans for standardizing various phases of sanitarium work. The matter has been under consideration for some time by correspondence. It received attention at our last medical conventions in a way to give it definite recognition. Reference to its presentation at that time will serve to present the question and to indicate the reception it received from our workers in council.
Dr. H. W. Miller called attention to the five-and-ten-cent store syndicates and the Child’s restaurant system as examples in uniform methods of operating. He spoke of the cooperation in certain lines seen in our own educational and publishing work, and spoke for a closer affiliation of our sanitarium interests. Manyadvantages were pointed out as possible through an organized system of sanitariums. Greater satisfaction to patients would result from having similar methods in service. Economy could be secured.
Some things pointed out as subject to uniform treatment were the reception of patients, rates, discounts, history taking, prescriptions, number of treatments given daily and their general nature, technique of treatments, dining room service, menus, uniforms for waiters, the keeping of records, training school regulations and requirements, and advertising.
Dr. Miller stated that our sanitariums have a distinctive field of work, and get their patronage because of this. He said we should so shape their work that as a system of health institutions their distinction will be all the more marked, and their work so carried on that patients going from one sanitarium to another would feel at home and know just what to expect.
The adoption of uniform methods would permit in a large measure of the use of similar stationery — menus, history blanks, labor reports, etc. These could be printed in quantities and furnished from a general source of supply, effecting a saving of time and money.
Dr. W. E. Bliss agreed with the suggestions, adding that it was essential to have systematic instruction in hydrotherapy and massage, so that patients would have the same kind of treatment given similarly by different nurses. The same kind of textbooks should be used.
Dr. F. A. Loop suggested that if one person owned all our sanitariums, they would be run alike. He favored uniformity, and believed that patients should expect the same plan in one institution as in another. He believed such a thing would be the best kind of advertising.
Dr. W. T. Lindsey was in harmony with the idea, and believed we should have uniform uniforms for all the different classes of workers in sanitariums, and uniform ways of wearing uniforms, nurse caps, etc.
Dr. F. J. Otis said this would put “class” in our work. He suggested that, like the Pullman Company, which has “Pullman” woven in its linen, we should have a name representing our system of sanitariums woven in tablecloths, napkins, towels, bedspreads, curtains, and other things as might be practicable.
L. A. Hansen stated that this brought up another matter that had been under consideration by the department for some time,—the establishment of a central purchasing bureau, for securing quotations on all such supplies as could be bought in quantities, and arranging for cooperative purchasing. This would enable our sanitariums to secure the best quality and uniformity in goods and quantity prices. By cooperation of all our buyers, information could be secured and exchanged regarding favorable sources of supply and prices. Strength would be given to all our purchasing, resulting in economy of time and money as well as insuring the best grade of supplies.
W. T. Knox felt that the plans for uniformity in methods and cooperation were of great interest. He believed that the cooperative buying should be taken hold of at once by such institutions as were ready to take it up, and that it should be carried into other lines of work where it could be effective. He thought that an insurance business for all our institutions might be carried in this way.
C. E. Rice was heartily in favor of the plan. He stated that already something in this direction was being done on the Coast,—on insurance, for example,—and spoke of savings that were already being effected. He believed our industrial schools could be helped by our using their products.
J. A. Burden believed the plan could be worked to advantage, and expressed himself as ready to cooperate.
G. B. Starr thought it a good idea to use a uniform monogram or stamp on all dining room dishes, and referred to such use already by one sanitarium.
E. G. Fulton was much interested in the suggestions, and believed that a great saving could be effected.
E. E. Andross was heartily in favor of the plan. He suggested that some of our institutions could do the printing for all the sanitariums, giving a further help to our own work.
E. A. Austin had found from long experience in buying that the best way of purchasing was direct from manufacturers, in large quantities, thus securing at times especially favorable quotations.
Many others spoke to the proposition, expressing hearty favor of it and offering various suggestions of advantage. The following recommendations were passed:—
“We recommend, That the term ‘Associated Seventh-day Adventist Sanitariums’ be used to designate our system of conference sanitariums.
“Resolved, That the Medical Department begin at once to bring about uniformity in the various lines of our work.
“Resolved, That we approve the general plan of a cooperative purchasing agency for sanitarium and school supplies, and that we pledge ourselves to cooperate just as far as possible in perfecting and carrying out this plan.”
The department is developing the plans here outlined. A beginning has been made in providing uniform stationery. Information is being secured on approximate needs in sanitarium supplies and sources of obtaining the same. Syndicate advertising ideas are also being developed.
L. A. H.