Principles of Hospital Administration and the Training of Hospital Executives (Classic Reprint)

General Considerations An interpretation of the principles involved in hospital functions, organization and tendencies and a presentation of their relationships to the broad problems and activities of community life ard to the professional groups should be the basis of training for hospital executives. An attempt to merely provide a vocabulary or even considerable information relative to this complex field would probably be insufficient. A philosophy of community responsibility in matters of health is rapidly growing and ultimate success depends upon a proper interpretation of the principles involved, logical plans of organization and finance to meet the various situations and the development of a group of creative leaders in the field of health economics. It is logical to look to the professional groups now identified with health activities, they have a responsibility which can not be shifted, to develop such leaders and to supply information and advice as to sound methods of meeting the growing demand for adequate health services. Obviously attention must be directed primarily to securing leaders and developing sound health policies as rapidly as possible rather than to formulating theoretical courses of study, supplying information or meeting superficially the immediate demands, although these matters must have proper consideration. The hospital can not be separated from the problems of health. Security, happiness and progress, national no less than individual, are in considerable measure dependent upon individual health and vigor. Health as such is a positive state which, within limits, can be maintained or restored and it is incumbent upon communities to have within themselves or accessible reasonable provisions for such maintenance and restoration. Owing, however, to the great diversity of conditions of local social-economic life and the varying degree
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)