Hospital plans : five essays relating to the construction, organization & management of hospitals / contributed by their authors for the use of the Johns Hopkins hospital of Baltimore.

  • Johns Hopkins Hospital
Date:
1875
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hospital plans : five essays relating to the construction, organization & management of hospitals / contributed by their authors for the use of the Johns Hopkins hospital of Baltimore. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    wards, nor could any one be found with tlie advantages of per- sona] experience added to natural endowment of mental power and energy of character, sufficient to qualify him for such a post of duty, willing to assume a merely subordinate position, or able to keep his own opinions and usages entu-ely subject to those of others, some, perhaps, his juniors. Intelligent young men are better suited for such positions. Two resident physicians to each pavilion embracing a pair of wards, one medical and the other surgical, will probably be found a judicious arrangement. If the duties to the patients are ])roperly performed, they will require as much time and atten- tion as can be given to them consistently with the proper study of the cases and the cultivation of medical science, the oppor- tunity for which should be the inducement to seek the appoint- ment. Much time would be occupied in the application of bandages, and splints, and di-essings, which should be requii-ed to be done by the resident, for his own advantage as well as that of the patient. Such positions are generally in request among earnest junior members of the profession, and the selec- tion of suitable incumbents is a matter of grave responsibility. The relations between the physician and surgeon-in-chief and the resident assistants are so intimate, and involve such responsi bility, that it is proper there should be some connection of the senior officer with the selection of suitable incumbents of the junior office from among the candidates who present themselves. The ultimate election should be in the hands of the board of trustees, but should be made from a select body of candidates, chosen from all applicants who may present themselves seeking the appointment after examination of their qualifications and merits by the medical and surgical board. This division of the responsibility of appointment is desirable. The medical officers, sitting as a board of examiners and voting on each candidate, are preserved by the necessary reference of the ultimate decision to the board of trustees, from the perfectly natural influence of partiality each for his own pupil, while the board of trustees is only called to elect from those who have proved themselves qualified to the satisfaction of those under whom they must serve. The influences of friendship and favor- itism are thus, as far as may be done, neutralized. The resident physicians should be elected to serve at least