Medical Society of South Carolina Meeting Minutes: 1955

              Con't. report
of Nom.Pol. &	perhaps 30 minutes, then supper at a specified time, then the meeting after-
Pub. Rel.	wards. In such * plan it is anticipated that the Society would pay for
Comm.
	the drinks at an estimated cost of $45.00 a meeting, and that each individual
	member would pay for the cost of his own dinner.
3. Prof.	Next there followed a discussion of the advisability of the Medical
writer to	Society obtaining or retaining a professional writer for the purpose of
improve	improving the public relations between the Medical Society and the general
relations,	public. In general, it was believed that .t present, the Roper Hospital
	and the Medical Society are brought into the news now only then there is
	some controversy with County Council over the amount of money to be appropr-
	iated, for the care of the indigent sick, or when some poor soul is com-
	plaining about inability to obtain proper treatment in the Emergency Room.
	It was believed that it would be to the advantage of the Society to have
	its work and the work of the Hospital brought before the public in a favor-
	able light throughout the year, under more propisious circumstances than
	have existed in the past.
	THAT - The Medical Society of South Carolina obtain a public relations
	expert for the purpose of having him or her present the work and problems
	of the Medical Society and of the Roper Hospital, and their functions. Such
	presentations would emphasize the fact that the provision of medical care
	of the indigent sick is a community responsibility rather than one of the
	Roper Hospital and the Medical Society alone, as an example. Such releases
	to the public are to be approved and edited by the Chairman of the Public
	Relations Committee of the Board of Commissioners of the Roper Hospital.
	The expenses of such releases are to be paid out of monies in the Roper
	Fund, which is administered by the Board of Finance of the Medical Society
	of South Carolina, and such expenses shall not exceed Five Hundred Dollars
	($500.00) per annum. The Committee feels that this proposal would be of
	considerable benefit to the Medical Society and the Roper Hospital espec-
	ially in the period of transition &bead."
	Signed: H. C. Robertson, P. G. Jenkins,
	J. J. Ravenel, B. S. Smith, Jr,
	Edward F. Parker, Chairman.
Report	The report was discussed by Dr. R. M. Hope who opposed a paid professional
discussed
by Dr. Hope.	public relations advisor but who now favors it.
	Dr. Robert Wilson said that the South Carolina Medical Association wants
	a public relations advisor and a committee composed of Dr. J. I. Waring, Mr.
Moved, sec.	M. L. Meadors and himself are trying to get such a person. The idea is good
and
passed that	but it is hard to get a man or woman for the job for $500.00. This was further
report be	discussed by Drs. J. I. Waring, A. J. Buist, Jr., Edward F. Parker and others.
accepted as	Dr. R. W. Hanckel moved the report of the Nominations, Policy and Public Rel-
presented.	ations Committee be accepted as presented. This was seconded and
	unanimously
	passed.
Dr. Hope	Dr. Hope then reported the latest developments in the expansion program.
reports
on	He said that County Council has allocated $300,000.00 to the negro doctors to
developments
of expansion	rebuild--the training school hospital on Cannon Street. Roper Commissioners
program.	suggested to County Council and the negro doctors that old Riverside be reno-
	vated for the negro doctors and their patients. This would give more beds as
	well as ancillary facilities in the medical center. The negro doctors said
	they were not interested and felt we were trying to undermine their plan.
	Dr. Hope said after the last meetings with County Council the members of
2/17/55	County Council showed more genuine interest in Roper's expansion than at any
	time previously.
	-