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Show March of Dimes Expands Mid for Victims Of Crippling Birth Defects, Arthritis, Polio Victims of crippling birth defects and rheumatoid arthritis, ar-thritis, among the largest groups of the medically underprivileged un-derprivileged in the nation, can soon look for help virtually virtu-ally at their doorsteps, thanks to the March of Dimes. The National Foundation, supported by March of Dimes funds, has broadened its horizons hori-zons to give direct aid to children chil-dren under the age of 19 suffering suf-fering from all types of birth defects. Aid was previously limited to children with open spine, open skull and water on the brain. The voluntary health organization organi-zation has also authorized its 3,100 chapters throughout the United States to use available funds to establish a network of Special Treatment Centers and Evaluation Clinics for birth defects and arthritis. Assistance Assist-ance to polio victims will be continued. The National Foundation's experience with polio treatment treat-ment and rehabilitation centers as well as pilot projects conducted con-ducted in birth defects and arthritis ar-thritis has proved the value of bringing together teams of experts ex-perts to deal with medical, economic and social problems of chronically disabled patients and their families. Under the newly expanded program, National Foundation chapters wi:i finance Special SMlf MM CITY OMAHA ANN AltOe g ,E V ( 5 AC TAZCllVttANO 1 t I I J ' 'Nw COIUMIUS t I - -i ( I NA$HVHll Lr T ' '"" O I l "AUGUJTA Artkihlt Clinical fcvdy Cserw tLL-V"! . J fVN ATLANTA Artknris Special Treeriime CM f tiffs (Mem ClieieeJ lively Cmw V A L O s.rt Perec's specie) liWH CMW OAUAl JACKSON V MIAMI k NJiMtrliiii Clieicei Study ban A I HOUSTON HlnmytlHh Spec I Tieotiime Center J '- iw ' March of Dimes-supported Special Treatment and Clinical Study Centers offering comprehensive compre-hensive care to victims of birl'i defects, arthritis and polio are expanding throughout U. S. Treatment Centers at major hospitals in several large cities. These will operate full time and provide treatment for both in- and outpatients through teams of specialists in the medical med-ical and allied professions. For areas Isolated from large medical centers, chapters will develop birth defects and arthritis ar-thritis Evaluation Clinics to offer outpatient care only, through periodic clinics with visiting medical specialists. Cases that require more extensive ex-tensive care or hospitalization may be referred through Evaluation Eval-uation Clinics to Special Treatment Treat-ment Centers. On the national level, March of Dimes funds will continue to support and expand Clinical Study Centers which provide exemplary total care for birth defects, arthritis and polio victims vic-tims and also conduct research in those diseases. As the number of centers of all three types increases, there will be an increase in knowledge knowl-edge and improvement of treatment treat-ment facilities and techniques to bring closer to reality the control of chronic crippling diseases. dis-eases. In conducting its vastly expanded ex-panded patient aid program. The National Foundation will 'nphasue aid in aioas of ur. met needs. It will not duplicate assistance already being provided pro-vided by other agencies. |
