The report of a committee on the financial condition of the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Date:
[1865?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The report of a committee on the financial condition of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    eat c/vu THE REPORT OF A COMMITTEE ON THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL. The Committee appointed by the Trustees to consider the condition of the Hos- pital beg leave to submit the following Report: — They have gone into a careful and thorough examination of all matters apper- taining to the daily conduct and management of the house, and are of opinion that it is faithfully, efficiently, and economically administered under the general system which for many years has been established for the guidance of the officers ; and that, with- out some essential alterations in the system itself, there is no reasonable ground for belief that any considerable saving in the yearly expenditure can be made, unless it be brought about by a material reduction in the prices of the various articles which it is necessary to purchase. The number of persons employed ; the amount of wages paid ; the quantity, character, and cost of the articles furnished ; and the variety and quality of the food given to the patients, or provided for the several tables of the resi- dent physician, subordinate officers, and employees,— have all been carefully examined and considered; but nothing has been discovered that by a change, either in quality or quantity, would materially diminish the present expenses, without, at the same time, injuriously affecting what we deem to be the highest and best interests of the insti- tution. That the very highest degree of economy practicable is at all times attained, and especially that some greater regard to cost in the daily orders for special diet o-rven by the physicians and surgeons might not properly be paid, they do not wish to be understood as affirming; but they are well satisfied that both the resident physician and matron, to whom the economical interests of the establishment are intrusted, are faithful and efficient officers, and have earnestly striven to promote these objects. In their judgment, neither the number of persons employed, nor the amount of wages paid, nor the quality or quantity of food furnished to the patients or to the various tables, can justly be called extravagant, or beyond what is necessary and appropriate in an institution of this sort; and they do not recommend any ma- terial change in them at this time. Indeed, the amount, character, and proportions of these several matters,— in other words, the scale according to which the whole internal arrangements of the house should be conducted, — was adjusted and settled in the first years of its history, and has been, from time to time, examined and considered by successive committees; but no one of them has recommended any material altera- tion : and, though the present excessive cost of labor and of all articles of consumption have been strong inducements with your Committee to reduce this scale, and they cer-