The Chest Survey in a Large General Hospital

¹ Radiologist, Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana.

1) In the general hospital a photofluorographic chest survey program is ideally adapted to the study of three groups of individuals: (1) In-patients. (2) Out-patients. (3) Hospital personnel.

2) The examination is quickly and easily accomplished.

3) The mechanism of interpretation and reporting are simple.

4) The difficulties inherent in securing examination of a large proportion of hospital admissions are discussed in detail. The importance of hospital design is stressed, and a plea is made that hospitals of the future be so planned that the admission, registration and x-ray departments will be close to each other.

5) Survey examinations reveal positive findings in 10 to 12 per cent of hospital admissions, and pulmonary tuberculosis in 2 to 3 per cent.

6) The survey method is important in the recognition of other pulmonary pathological processes, and particularly pulmonary malignancy, either primary or secondary.

7) Emphasis is laid upon the importance of the chest survey study in the cardiovascular disease detection and prevention program.

8) No attempt has been made to discuss the economic phase of this method from the standpoint of either original financing or of patient charges.