The Colorado State Department of Health today issued a report revealing that it has conducted an inspection of the Jewish Consumptives’ Relief Society of Denver and after investigating the charges against the institution made in a New York injunction suit, it came to the following conclusion:
“In general, the Jewish Consumptives’ Relief Society Sanatorium at Spivak, Colorado, has a well-arranged and adequate physical plant, providing excellent medical, surgical and nursing care, supplemented by occupational therapy and rehabilitation. It would appear that this institution offers tuberculosis patients an opportunity to recover from their disease under circumstances well above average for similar institutions.”
The Health Department report, signed by Dr. R.L. Cleere, executive director of the Department, counted 189 patients on the day of inspection. “The water and milk supply, garbage and waste disposal, and food sanitation appear to be excellent and well-above the regular standards,” Dr. Cleere established. Reporting in detail on the medical and nursing care, X-Ray services, laboratory facilities, clinical records and medical social work at the J.C.R.S., Dr. Cleere said in each case that it was “well above the standards recommended for tuberculosis sanatoria.”
Dr. James P. Dixon, director of the Denver Bureau of Health and Hospitals, reported that “the staff of the J.C.R.S. is doing a competent job in exercising sanatorium care for persons having tuberculosis.” Dr. Casper F. Hegner, president of the Colorado State Medical Society, who has served for 20 years as chief of surgical service at the J.C.R.S., said: “All facilities necessary to excellent medical, surgical and laboratory work have always been supplied. The record of achievement of the Jewish Consumptives’ Relief Society over these years has been equalled but by few and not excelled by any similar institution in the entire country,” added Dr. Hegner.
CATHOLICS FEEL “AT HOME” IN THE JEWISH INSTITUTION, PRIEST SAYS
Rev. Msgr. John R. Mulroy, president-elect of the Catholic Hospital Association of the United States and Canada, stated that in 22 years of placing Catholic patients in the J.C.R.S., “there has never been any distinction made as to the type of service given Catholics and they have always felt very much at home in the J.C.R.S.” He expressed appreciation for courtesies extended to Catholic clergy and patients.
Edward Miller, president of the Denver Tuberculosis Society, declared: “I have known of a large number of patients who have received beneficial treatment at the J.C.R.S. and who have been enthusiastic regarding that treatment.” Dr. John B. Grow reported from personal experience as consultant in thoracic surgery that “patients are given the benefit of all types of surgical therapy when this type of treatment is indicated”.
Gov. Lee Knous of Colorado has expressed pride that the “reputation of the J.C.R.S., as an outstanding institution or healing and medical research, has spread throughout the world. The officers, board of directors and supporters of the J.C.R.S. are to be congratulated for building up the institution into a noble monument of humanitarianism that is a credit to the Jewish people who founded and guided it,” he said in a statement.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
