Editing Norristown State Hospital
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| construction_ended = | | construction_ended = | ||
| opened = 1880 | | opened = 1880 | ||
− | | closed = | + | | closed = |
| demolished = | | demolished = | ||
| current_status = [[Active Institution|Active]] | | current_status = [[Active Institution|Active]] | ||
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Since 1989, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has Closed approximately 1300 state hospital beds, as part of their 'Community Hospital Integration Project Plans' (CHIPPs). The intention has long been the total closure of the state hospital system, which had been moving forward with haste in the past twenty years. Locally, Philadelphia State Hospital was closed in 1989 after several lawsuits. Haverford State Hospital was closed in 1998 under similar terms. The commonwealth also closed the doors on Allentown State Hospital in 2010 and Harrisburg State Hospital in 2006, leaving a remaining handful of sites active. The civilian population at Norristown has been on a strategic decline; 410 beds in 2001, 366 beds in 2002, 306 beds in 2003, 304 beds in 2004, 304 in 2005, 304 in 2006, 294 in 2007, 264 beds in 2008, 234 beds in 2009 and 204 beds in 2010. There have been serious talks about a closure of the civilian division of the state hospital, with the intent to divert their acute population into local long-term structured residences (LTSR), but that has yet to materialize. | Since 1989, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has Closed approximately 1300 state hospital beds, as part of their 'Community Hospital Integration Project Plans' (CHIPPs). The intention has long been the total closure of the state hospital system, which had been moving forward with haste in the past twenty years. Locally, Philadelphia State Hospital was closed in 1989 after several lawsuits. Haverford State Hospital was closed in 1998 under similar terms. The commonwealth also closed the doors on Allentown State Hospital in 2010 and Harrisburg State Hospital in 2006, leaving a remaining handful of sites active. The civilian population at Norristown has been on a strategic decline; 410 beds in 2001, 366 beds in 2002, 306 beds in 2003, 304 beds in 2004, 304 in 2005, 304 in 2006, 294 in 2007, 264 beds in 2008, 234 beds in 2009 and 204 beds in 2010. There have been serious talks about a closure of the civilian division of the state hospital, with the intent to divert their acute population into local long-term structured residences (LTSR), but that has yet to materialize. | ||
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== First Female Physician == | == First Female Physician == | ||
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Hospital staff were themselves not safe from abuse at the hands of hospital administrators of the mid-20th century. It is noted that during the 1948 fiscal year, six hundred staff members were hired for direct care of patients on various units. However, within the year three hundred and fifty resigned their posts, and nearly two hundred were fired. By many superintendent's admission, the task of working with the mentally ill was taxing, and presented: low pay, extended hours of the work week, little recreation and substandard housing for employees. However, often times the welfare of the attendants was also dubious, as the commonwealth placed a number of their employees in hazardous situations due to financial constraints.<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=_7PEgVCPDh8C&pg=PA536&dq=norristown+state+hospital&hl=en&sa=X&ei=av3dUOSbNOqP0QG58oGYCg&ved=0CGgQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=norristown%20state%20hospital&f=false</ref> | Hospital staff were themselves not safe from abuse at the hands of hospital administrators of the mid-20th century. It is noted that during the 1948 fiscal year, six hundred staff members were hired for direct care of patients on various units. However, within the year three hundred and fifty resigned their posts, and nearly two hundred were fired. By many superintendent's admission, the task of working with the mentally ill was taxing, and presented: low pay, extended hours of the work week, little recreation and substandard housing for employees. However, often times the welfare of the attendants was also dubious, as the commonwealth placed a number of their employees in hazardous situations due to financial constraints.<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=_7PEgVCPDh8C&pg=PA536&dq=norristown+state+hospital&hl=en&sa=X&ei=av3dUOSbNOqP0QG58oGYCg&ved=0CGgQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=norristown%20state%20hospital&f=false</ref> | ||
<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=MHkBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA490&dq=norristown+asylum&lr=&as_brr=3&ei=90C5SqT2EJWqMuXm0L0P&client=firefox-a </ref><ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=_29NAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA221&dq=norristown+asylum&lr=&as_brr=3&ei=90C5SqT2EJWqMuXm0L0P&client=firefox-a</ref> | <ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=MHkBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA490&dq=norristown+asylum&lr=&as_brr=3&ei=90C5SqT2EJWqMuXm0L0P&client=firefox-a </ref><ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=_29NAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA221&dq=norristown+asylum&lr=&as_brr=3&ei=90C5SqT2EJWqMuXm0L0P&client=firefox-a</ref> | ||
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== Layout of the Campus == | == Layout of the Campus == | ||
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Building #61 ''' Power Station'''- Active; This is fairly modern and is a power station for the remaining active buildings. | Building #61 ''' Power Station'''- Active; This is fairly modern and is a power station for the remaining active buildings. | ||
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== Norristown State Hospital in the News == | == Norristown State Hospital in the News == | ||
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== External Links == | == External Links == | ||
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* [http://www.dhs.pa.gov/citizens/statehospitals/norristownstatehospital/index.htm#.VkrHvb_zjG8 Official State Website] | * [http://www.dhs.pa.gov/citizens/statehospitals/norristownstatehospital/index.htm#.VkrHvb_zjG8 Official State Website] | ||
* [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~asylums/norristown_pa/index.html Historic Photographs of Norristown State Hospital] | * [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~asylums/norristown_pa/index.html Historic Photographs of Norristown State Hospital] | ||
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*William F. Waugh, A,M., M.D. (1888) Miscellany, ''The Medical Times and Register, Volume 18''. The Medical Publishing Company, 628, 669–670, 695–699, 708. | *William F. Waugh, A,M., M.D. (1888) Miscellany, ''The Medical Times and Register, Volume 18''. The Medical Publishing Company, 628, 669–670, 695–699, 708. | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
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+ | == Images of Norristown State Hospital == | ||
+ | {{image gallery|[[Norristown State Hospital Image Gallery|Norristown State Hospital]]}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | <gallery> | ||
+ | File:Norristown 01.jpg | ||
+ | File:Norristown 02.jpg | ||
+ | File:Norristown 03.jpg | ||
+ | File:Norristown 04.jpg | ||
+ | FIle:Norristown 05.jpg | ||
+ | File:Norristown 06.jpg | ||
+ | File:Norristown 07.jpg | ||
+ | File:Norristown 08.jpg | ||
+ | |||
+ | </gallery> | ||