A recommendation that the New Orleans Charity Hospital be provided with a 300 to 500-bed psychiatric unit "in the near future" was made here by Dr. Henry O. Colomb.Dr. Colomb, who is head of the Dept. of Neuropsychiatry of the LSU School of Medicine, spoke at a symposium on the new Southeastern Louisiana State Hospital held at the Roosevelt Hotel.
Such a unit he said, should be built "to special plans and to meet the needs for which it is intended in the field of diagnosis, treatment and research."
He said it would provide a place where:
Louisiana citizens could find the best diagnostic and treatment service obtainable.
Doctors who practice in "outlying areas" could be adequately trained in the detection, prevention and treatment of emotional ills.
Medical and technical personnel could be taught to man expanding state mental hospitals which will "need a host of personnel to conduct proper treatment."
Dr. Colomb's subject was "The Functional Organization of the Charity Psychiatric Unit and the Southeastern Louisiana State. Hospital—Immediate and Ultimate."
FACILITIES LIMITED
Although present facilities at Charity are limited, he said that "to adequately utilize what is available and to provide for the future development of the unit" there should be a clinical director in charge.
"He should be certified, or eligible for certification, by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neourlogy and should have had at least five years experience in mental hospital clinical administration.
"This experienced person should be employed now in order to father and co-ordinate the development of facilities at Charity Hospital," he declared.
TEACHING IMPORTANT
Because teaching is an important function of the unit, he said such a director should be assisted by an advisory committee composed of one member of the staff of Tulane, LSU and independent teaching units.
"This committe," he went on, "could assist him in formulating policies to be submitted to the superintendent for his approval."
