Editing Wernersville State Hospital
From Asylum Projects
Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit can be undone.
Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
| Latest revision | Your text | ||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
| current_status = [[Active Institution|Active]] | | current_status = [[Active Institution|Active]] | ||
| building_style = [[Transition Plan]] | | building_style = [[Transition Plan]] | ||
| − | | architect(s) = | + | | architect(s) = |
| − | | location = | + | | location = |
| − | | architecture_style = | + | | architecture_style = |
| peak_patient_population = 1,851 in 1947 | | peak_patient_population = 1,851 in 1947 | ||
| alternate_names =<BR> | | alternate_names =<BR> | ||
| Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
}} | }} | ||
[[image:WernerSH Vint 06.jpg|300px|left]] | [[image:WernerSH Vint 06.jpg|300px|left]] | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
From the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare web page: The Pennsylvania General Assembly authorized the creation of the State Asylum for the Chronic Insane on June 22, 1891. The facility was to be a public mental hospital for persons needing extended care. Courts were not permitted to make direct admissions to Wernersville; only patients who had at least one year of care at another state mental hospital were eligible for admission. This special role for Wernersville continued until 1923. | From the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare web page: The Pennsylvania General Assembly authorized the creation of the State Asylum for the Chronic Insane on June 22, 1891. The facility was to be a public mental hospital for persons needing extended care. Courts were not permitted to make direct admissions to Wernersville; only patients who had at least one year of care at another state mental hospital were eligible for admission. This special role for Wernersville continued until 1923. | ||
| Line 34: | Line 32: | ||
The patient population hovered around 800 and 900 through the hospital's first quarter century. By 1935 it had increased to 1,407, and with the closing of mental health wards at many county hospitals in 1942, Wernersville soared past its planned 1,000 capacity with 1,832 patients. By 1970 the census figure was 1,167; the decrease was due to new treatments and intensive community readiness programs conducted by professional therapists. This deinstitutionalization process continued, and by 1975 the population had been reduced again to 832; by 1992 it was 468. | The patient population hovered around 800 and 900 through the hospital's first quarter century. By 1935 it had increased to 1,407, and with the closing of mental health wards at many county hospitals in 1942, Wernersville soared past its planned 1,000 capacity with 1,832 patients. By 1970 the census figure was 1,167; the decrease was due to new treatments and intensive community readiness programs conducted by professional therapists. This deinstitutionalization process continued, and by 1975 the population had been reduced again to 832; by 1992 it was 468. | ||
| − | With the ever-improving advances in psychiatric treatment and pharmacology and the concentration on cooperative discharge planning, Wernersville was able to return more patients to the community in this last decade. Today the current hospital census is | + | With the ever-improving advances in psychiatric treatment and pharmacology and the concentration on cooperative discharge planning, Wernersville was able to return more patients to the community in this last decade. Today the current hospital census is 185. The hospital currently works very closely with the mental health programs of Berks, Lebanon and Lancaster Counties toward the goal of preparing patients for community living. |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
== Images of Wernersville State Hospital == | == Images of Wernersville State Hospital == | ||
| Line 67: | Line 49: | ||
*February 24, 2010 - [[Decision to shut Allentown facility final; about 55 patients heading to Wernersville State Hospital]] | *February 24, 2010 - [[Decision to shut Allentown facility final; about 55 patients heading to Wernersville State Hospital]] | ||
*March 09, 2010 - [[Wernersville State Hospital preparing for Allentown State Hospital patients]] | *March 09, 2010 - [[Wernersville State Hospital preparing for Allentown State Hospital patients]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Links & Additional Information == | ||
| + | *[http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/PartnersProviders/MentalHealthSubstanceAbuse/StateHospitals/003670162.htm Wernersville State Hospital Website] | ||
| Line 73: | Line 58: | ||
[[Category:Active Institution]] | [[Category:Active Institution]] | ||
[[Category:Past Featured Article Of The Week]] | [[Category:Past Featured Article Of The Week]] | ||
| − | |||
