Health Services for Hospital Personnel

Previous publications of this series have discussed the present retarded status of supervision by hospitals over the health of their employees2; the purposes, scope, and philosophy of proper health supervision3; the physical and professional organization of a practical personnel health service4; and the volume and character of the professional work of such an organization for a typical year have been summarized from the actual experience of the Personnel Health Service of the New Haven Hospital.5 Finally, of prime interest to hospital administrators and to medical boards who may contemplate establishing similar services, will be given a statement and an analysis of the operating costs of an adequate personnel health service and of the costs of employee illness. This is desirable, since the feasibility iof any plan for comprehensive health supervision must be judged not only by the anticipated medical results but also by the approximate cost of the program. Moreover, a reasonably accurate estimate -of the probable per capita cost may serve as the basis upon which might be reckoned the relative share of such costs if they are to be distributed between the employer and the employee. The discussion which follows is based upon a typical year's experience (July, 1942, to July, 1943) of the Personnel Health Service of the New Haven Hospital, which aims to provide preemployment medical appraisals, practically complete medical care, and health protection to about 850 employees; exclusions concern only dbstetrical deliveries, dental care,t ophthalmic refractions,t and domiciliary professional service unless the employee lives in quarters controlled by and situated adjacent to the hospital.