SOCIAL WORK IN THE STATE HOSPITALS

The after-care work carried on by the social workers of the several hospitals has been well maintained during the past year. As previously noted the war prevented progress in out-patient activities.

The combined reports of the social workers of the State hospitals show that during the year 3,496 visits were made to paroled patients, 462 visits to other patients outside the hospitals, 2,481 other visits on behalf of patients and 213 visits on behalf of preventive cases. Situations were obtained for 167 discharged patients and for 6 preventive cases. The social workers attended a total of 467 clinics and interviewed 1,621 persons at their offices in the hospitals. In addition to the work thus summarized the social workers have rendered valuable service in collecting statistical and other data for the hospitals.

A statistical report of the principal activities of the social workers in the several State hospitals is given in the accompanying table.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES OTHER THAN INFLUENZA

At the beginning of the fiscal year influenza was not included in the list of communicable diseases made reportable by the State Board of Health. This disease was therefore reported separately by the State hospitals and is treated under a separate heading in this report.

The only new cases of communicable disease reported among patients other than influenza were diphtheria, 92; measles, 1; mumps, 1; tuberculosis, 638; and typhoid fever, 26. Among employees there were 18 new cases of diphtheria, 2 of measles, 13 of mumps, 1 of para-typhoid fever, 2 of scarlet fever, 9 of tuberculosis and 3 of typhoid fever.

The new cases of communicable disease occurring in the several hospitals are shown in the following table: