N.Y. County Law § 388: Superintendent; general powers and duties

§ 388. Superintendent; general powers and duties. The superintendent

shall be the chief executive officer of the hospital and subject to the

by-laws, rules and regulations thereof, and to the powers of the board

of managers:

1. Shall equip the hospital with all necessary furniture, appliances,

fixtures and other needed facilities for the care and treatment of

patients and for the use of officers and employees thereof, and shall in

counties where there is no purchasing agent purchase all necessary

supplies.

2. Shall have general supervision and control of the records,

accounts, and buildings of the hospital and all internal affairs, and

maintain discipline therein, and enforce compliance with, and obedience

to all rules, by-laws and regulations adopted by the board of managers

for the government, discipline and management of said hospital, and the

employees and patients thereof. He shall make such further rules,

regulations and orders as he may deem necessary, not inconsistent with

law, or with the rules, regulations and directions of the board of

managers.

3. Shall appoint such resident officers and such employees as are

authorized by the board of supervisors for the efficient performance of

the business of the hospital, and prescribe their duties; and for cause

stated in writing, after an opportunity to be heard, discharge any such

officer or employee at his discretion.

4. Shall cause proper accounts and records of the business and

operation of the hospital to be kept regularly from day to day, in books

and on records provided for that purpose; and see that such accounts and

records are correctly made up for the annual report to the board of

supervisors, as required by section three hundred eighty-seven of this

article, and present the same to the board of managers, who shall

incorporate them in their report to the said supervisors.

5. Shall receive into the hospital in the order of application, any

person found to be suffering from tuberculosis in any form who is

entitled to admission thereto under the provisions of this article,

excepting that if at any time there be more applications for admission

to said hospital than there are vacant beds therein, said superintendent

shall give preference in the admission of patients to those who in his

judgment, after an inquiry as to the facts and circumstances, are more

likely to infect members of their households and others, in each

instance signing and placing among the permanent records of the hospital

a statement of the facts and circumstances upon which he bases his

judgment as to the likelihood of transmitting infection, and reporting

each instance at the next meeting of the board of managers; and shall

also receive persons from other counties as hereinafter provided. Said

superintendent shall cause to be kept proper accounts and records of the

admission of all patients, their name, age, sex, color, marital

condition, residence, occupation and place of last employment.

6. Shall cause a careful examination to be made of the physical

condition of all persons admitted to the hospital and provide for the

treatment of each such patient according to his need; and shall cause a

record to be kept of the condition of each patient when admitted, and

from time to time thereafter.

7. Shall discharge from said hospital any patient who shall wilfully

or habitually violate the rules thereof; or who is found not to have

tuberculosis; or who is found to have recovered therefrom; or who for

any other reason is no longer a suitable patient for treatment therein;

and shall make a full report thereof at the next meeting of the board of

managers.

8. Shall collect and receive all moneys due the hospital, keep an

accurate account of the same, report the same at the monthly meeting of

the board of managers, and transmit the same to the treasurer of the

county monthly on or before the tenth day of the month.

9. Shall before entering upon the discharge of his duties, give a bond

in such sum as the board of managers may determine, to secure the

faithful performance of such duties.

10. May attend such courses in the diagnosis and treatment of

tuberculosis and in hospital administration at a state tuberculosis

hospital as may be established and which he may be authorized to attend

by the board of managers of his hospital. Subject to appropriation being

made therefor, the necessary expenses in traveling to and from such

state tuberculosis hospital for the purpose of taking such courses shall

be a county charge.