Tuesday, May 22, 1962 University Daily Kansan
Page 3
Physician Points Up Health Needs
(Editor's Note—Lawmakers and doctors and the Kennedy administration are in favor of financing medical care for the aged. But what about the best MEANS of caring for older adults? The legislation advanced to just begin in Rochester, N.Y., to determine the human and financial factors. The legislation enhanced our foundation's expertion to provide first scientific blueprint for care of over-65 persons. In the following dispatch, the director of Operation Rochester discusses
By Dr. John Hill Director, Ford Foundation Project on Health Care of the Aged Written for United Press International
How can we provide effective and economical health care for our mounting "over-65" population?
To help find some answers to this critical problem, the Ford Foundation is supporting a new $325,000 experimental project of the University of Rochester and two Rochester-area agencies, the Council of Social Agencies and the Patient Care Planning Council.
THE FOUR-YEAR study just launched is believed to be the nation's first intensive community-
wide effort of its kind. It will be supervised by a group of volunteer and professional health and welfare leaders headed by Marion B. Folsom, Secretary for Health, Education and Welfare during the Eisenhower administration. Working with them will be professional teams of doctors, nurses, social workers, and specialists.
The results may have far-reaching effects in shaping the future pattern of medical care for our country's aged. And, although the study will focus on the elderly, it may shed new light on health services and costs in all age groups.
THE URGENT NEED to pioneer new paths in health care of the aged results from three nationwide trends:
- Sharply rising population figures in the over-65 age group, with an accompanying rise in needs for health services for this group.
- Tremendously increased numbers and kinds of health services and facilities.
- Mounting costs of medical care
'Standard' to Expand
(Continued from page 1) We will try to get at least one representative and a circulation agent on the campus of every state university and college."
He said that the board plans to distribute 1,000 copies of "The Standard" at KU and at Kansas State University and 500 copies each at all other colleges in the state.
Payton said that it would cost approximately $400 a month to print the new "Standard."
"It will cost the new board approximately $400 to print one issue monthly," said Payton, "but I think the advertising will take care of the costs."
He said that this figure would include all mailing and handling costs.
—with their impact on the individual's pocketbook and on local, state, and federal health and welfare budgets.
Under the new board's direction, "The Standard" will be increased to 24 pages for the first issues next fall. Currently the book contains 8-12 pages.
"The Standard" began publication under its current editor, Payton, last Feb. 10 as a four-page magazine, typed and reprinted by photo offset. The format changed, however, and "The Standard" was increased to 8-12 pages on April 10, when the first volume was printed on a letter press.
California U. Biggest College
BERKELEY, Calif. — (UPI) The University of California, with some 50,000 students on seven campuses, is the nation's largest university.
But the picture is far from dark. In fact, the number and variety of ways to care for the elderly ill today offer greatly expanded opportunities to give each patient the type of care he needs—with greater economy of professional and financial resources than ever before.
UNTIL RECENTLY, for example the elderly patient had only two alternatives. He could go to a hospital or he could stay at home under his family's care (if he had a family). But in the last few decades a whole new range of choices has opened up. The types of institutional care alone cover a broad spectrum. A growing number of communities have general hospitals, hospitals for chronic or long-term patients, nursing homes, homes for the aged, and boarding homes.
THE TYPES of non-institutional service run an equally broad gamut. The patient may have "organized health care," provided in his home by professional specialists working through a central agency. Or he may receive public health nursing care at home. Or he may stay in a foster home. Or in an apartment connected with an institution (such as a home for the aged), where he can be independent but can readily get service if needed.
Some patients, of course, can be effectively cared for in only one type of facility. For example, certain illnesses or disabilities can be properly handled only in a hospital. But it's possible that some patients can
be served equally well by one or more methods of care. If a patient can live at home by using community services, he should not be placed in an institution.
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First, we will take a random sample of elderly people in our community. A professional team composed of a physician, a public health nurse, and a medical social worker will gather information on each person requiring a variety of medical services. With the patient's permission, the team will assign him—on a random basis—to one of the types of care which they consider suitable for him. A record will be kept of the costs involved in each case.
OUR STUDY proposes to evaluate each type of health care in terms of its effectiveness for different kinds of patients and in terms of its cost, compared to other equally suitable types of care. Our basic plan of attack, briefly is this:
After about two months another professional team will again evaluate each patient's situation; they also will interview him and his family to learn their reaction to the care which he received.
FROM THIS experience we expect to be able to draw up some standards for determining the most suitable type of care for various types of patients. We should also
Portraits of Distinction
Bob Blank, Photographer
721 Mass. VI 3-0330
learn something about the obstacles to patients' acceptance of the kind of care recommended. And we should get some indication of the proportion of elderly patients requiring each type of health care.
In addition, we expect to have amassed the data needed to estimate the total cost of each method of care for various types of patients over a given period. Eventually, we should be able to work out a method of estimating the relative costs of care for any patient when alternate types of care are equally suitable — and to choose the less costly method.
If our plan works, we will put it into effect in our own area and will make the results of the study available to interested communities and agencies throughout the country.
"COLLEGE WEEK" IN BERMUDA:
WHERE THE GIRLS ARE!
Each spring, thousands of well-heeled kids cut loose in Bermuda. In this week's Post, you'll find out what really goes on at these beach-house binges. And why one youngster says: "You're supposed to go home paler than you came."
The JAYHAWKER Staff
is sorry to report that the 4th Edition will not be ready for distribution before the end of final week.
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