PAPERS OX MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH 431 



the physical examinatioii, with clinical, pathological, and 

 X-ray findings when indicated; the working diagnosis; 

 the treatment, medical and snrgical; the medical pro- 

 gress ; the condition on discharge with final diagnosis ; 

 and in case of death, the autopsy findings when available. 



5. That clinical laboratory facilities be available for 

 the study, diagnosis, and treatment of patients, these 

 facilities to include at least chemical, bacteriological, 

 serological, histological, radiographic and fluroscopie 

 service in charge of trained technicians. 



These standards have been made high enough to pro- 

 tect the patient and low enough to be reached by the 

 majority of hospitals, whose motives are high. The 

 college sums up the ''Minimum Standard" in the fol- 

 lo^ving statement: ''It grew out of the straight think- 

 ing of the clearest minds in medical and hospital work 

 on this continent. It is practicable, workable and con- 

 structive. It costs effort rather than money. It safe- 

 guards the care of every patient admitted to the hos- 

 pital by insistence upon competence on the part of the 

 doctor, by thorough study and diagnosis in writing of 

 each case, and by a checking up at least once each month 

 of the clinical service of the hospital. It fixes responsi- 

 bility through-out the hospital. It defines the minimum 

 service to the patient which beyond all debate is consid- 

 ered essential". 



In an article published in the "Word's "Work in June 

 of 1920 on the eft'ect of this standard among hospitals, 

 Mr. Hawthorne Daniel says in part : ' ' The statement is 

 simplicity itself, and yet with all its simplicity it con- 

 tains just the suggestions that go to make good hospitals 

 of mediocre ones; just the suggestions that lead to the 

 conservation of lives and the elimination of unnecessary 

 operations ; just the suggestions that bring about the 

 conscientious care that every patient in every hospital 

 has a right to expect." 



Within the brief period of three years, practically all 

 of the national associations interested in hospitals have 



