County, State, and Federal percentages of contribution in a cooperative hospital construction program-Method VI

We welcome and are most anxious to listen to Dr. John Bourke.
Dr. Bourke.

44

44

1 County percentage contribution ranges from 16.7 percent (minimum) to 56.0 percent (maximum) and is based on the per capita individual income tax paid per annum over the 6-year period, 1939-44.

Senator PURTELL. Our next witness is a graduate of Columbia University Medical School and Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. He has been a rural physician and surgeon and director of the New York State Joint Hospital Survey and Planning Commission, administering the Hill-Burton program, since 1946. He is a member of the State department public health service evaluation team on interAmerican affairs.

STATEMENT OF DR. JOHN J. BOURKE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NEW YORK STATE JOINT HOSPITAL SURVEY AND PLANNING COMMISSION

Dr. BOURKE. Mr. Chairman, Senator Hill, members of the committee: I have submitted a statement.

Senator PURTELL. Is it your desire to present in brief form the statement, or do you wish to read the statement?

Dr. BOURKE. I will read the statement, with your permission.

Senator HILL. Why the word "Joint"-New York State Joint Hospital Survey and Planning Commission?

What does that word "Joint" mean?

Dr. BOURKE. That is because it represents the three departments having major responsibilities for hospital care

Senator HILL. I understand.

Dr. BOURKE. The Welfare Department, the Health Department, and the Department of Mental Hygiene.

Senator HILL. Oh, I understand.

Dr. BOURKE. In other words, it carries out the aims

Senator HILL. Those are the three separate departments under your State government, and this commission represents the whole?

Dr. BOURKE. That is right.
Senator HILL. Fine, Doctor.

I just wanted to get this clear in my

mind, and for the record.

Dr. BOURKE, Mr. Chairman, I should like to add a short statement to my prepared statement, if I may.

Senator PURTELL. We will be very happy to have it.

Dr. BOURKE. My testimony is limited to the medical and technical aspects of Senate bill 2758 and the related Hill-Burton program, in which I believe I am competent, namely, the provisions of the bill designed to secure community medical services and facilities for the patient and for the practicing physician.

I do not believe that I am competent nor authorized to speak favorably or unfavorably with regard to the Federal-State fiscal relationships, those aspects of the bill, under discussion. There are other

groups studying those items.

Public Law 725, the Hill-Burton bill, as amended in 1949, has, in my opinion, contributed greatly to the health and improved quality of medical-care services in New York State. The program, administered by the New York State Joint Hospital Survey and Planning Commission, has been universally well received and has enjoyed the full cooperation and support of the medical and nursing professions. For example, after an inspection trip in 1951 to a number of the smaller Hill-Burton projects in rural areas, the president of the State Medical Society noted in a published statement that: "The provision of these hospitals, by meeting the needs of the physicians in the community, should enable them to render broader and better services to the people in their communities."

In New York the program has mobilized the full participation and assistance of representatives of medicine, hospitals, agriculture, labor, industry, and other groups concerned with hospital care, at both the local and State levels.

To date, 83 hospital projects are receiving Federal aid in New York under the Hill-Burton Act. Of these, 65 are in operation, 10 are under construction, and 8 are still in the design stage. Their total construction cost amounts to $93 million, of which $26 million is being met with Federal funds. Moreover, it is significant that 85 percent of the Federal funds have been assigned to projects under voluntary nonprofit and church auspices.

Exhibit 1 illustrates that.

Senator PURTELL. Without objection, that exhibit will be received and made a part of the record.

(The exhibit referred to is as follows:)

EXHIBIT NO. 1. NEW YORK STATE JOINT HOSPITAL SURVEY AND PLANNING

COMMISSION

Construction status of projects approved to receive Federal aid, New York State,

Jan. 31, 1954

1 At 65 different hospital facilities, 6 of which are sponsors for more than 1 project.

Senator HILL. In other words, those figures show you haven't just sought to use these funds to particularly help out your State; isn't that right?

I mean you haven't sought to just channel these funds into what you might call State or county institutions?

Dr. BOURKE. That is right.

Senator HILL. Is that right?

Dr. BOURKE. There have been no funds allocated to State projects.
I will refer to that briefly.

Senator HILL. All right.

Dr. BOURKE. I believe that the aims of the Congress in passing Public Law 725 have been realized, as evidenced by the number of small communities in the rural areas of our State which now, for the first time, have modern, well-equipped hospitals and more competent medical staffs augmented by younger physicians attracted by the new facilities.

These communities probably would not have achieved this goal without the encouragement and assistance of the Federal program and many would still be operating their hospitals in hazardous, converted, frame dwellings and without proper equipment for effecting proper diagnosis and treatment.

The requests from hospitals for Federal grants for the construction of new and expansion and improvement of existing hospitals have at all times exceeded the funds available to the State.