A partial answer to New Orleans' need for more hospital beds to care for its sick, for more research facilities to maintain its place as a major pioneering medical center is offered by Touro infirmary. The 104-year-old hospital has begun a $3,800,000 expansion and improvement program to help serve the requirements of today and tomorrow.
Construction already has begun on a four-story research building and a two-story service annex costing $1,200,000. Later a seven-floor medical and surgical wing and a new entrance and lobby will be added. The new facilities will add 100 beds, increasing the present capacity 25 per cent to a total of 562 beds. According to the New Orleans Hospital Council, the city needs 65 more hospital beds each year to keep pace with its population growth.
Research facilities to be provided by the hospital will permit Expansion of Touro's laboratories. Another of the occupants will be the Urban Maes Laboratory, an independent activity sponsored by the Urban Maes Research Foundation, the Louisiana State university school of medicine, the Tulane university school of medicine and Touro infirmary.
Bequests to the hospital and grants from the Ford Foundation, and the federal government havef made available approximately $1,4 ^00,000 for the ambitious and essential program, The remaining $3,800,000 is to be raised by public subscription. By assisting the*nonj-profit, nonsectarian general hospital to do a better job of commuif-ity service—a million days of frqfe patient care worth $10,000,0p iiave been provided since 1921 apd jpf medical research and training, Orleanians will be looking jifter thela: own welfare.
