Herbert Rich

Children with muscular dystrophy

Summary A study of 185 children and youthreported with muscular dystrophy to the New York City register revealed that 130 could be located. Of the 130 located children, 113 had muscular dystrophy, of whom 100 were still alive. The study of the 100 surviving children with muscular dystrophy revealed that as a group there is considerable need for improvement of medical and health, social, educational, and recreational services.

Methods of securing uniformity in hospital statistics on premature infants in New York City.

Summary This paper describes a study undertaken in New York City to ascertain the completeness and accuracy of previous methods in keeping hospital statistics on the survival rates of prematurely born infants, and describes the current plan established so that each hospital in the community may be assured that its statistics will be complete, accurate, and consistent, and so that some comparability between premature centers may be possible.

Congenital heart disease in a medical rehabilitation program.

Summary A study of the first 129 childrenwith congenital heart disease cared for in the New York City medical rehabilitation program reveals the following facts: 1. This group of 129 children represents 41 per cent of the children with congenital heart disease cared for by the participating hospitals during the period studied. 2. Most of the children were in theinfant, preschool, and early schoolage groups. 3. Three of the nine participating hospitals cared for 76 per cent of the children in the program. 4. Forty-seven per cent of the childrenreceived a diagnostic work-up only, and 53 per cent received a diagnostic work-up and surgery. 5. At each step of the way in themanagement of children with congenital heart disease, a considerable number of children had a change in diagnosis. 6. Of the children having surgery, 23 per cent were cured and 48 per cent were improved. Seventeen per cent of the children died during or after surgery. 7. The average cost per child was

CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS AND BIRTH INJURIES IN NEW YORK CITY

218.31. 8. The average length of hospitalstay was 31.9 days, of which 16.7 days were covered by the program. The implications of these findings for improvement in the administration of the program and in the care of handicapped children are discussed.