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Pennhurst State School and Hospital
Location: Pennhurst was a large 1,400 acre site. It included 3,550 beds and was a state-owned and state supported institution. This institution was devoted to the study, care, treatment , education and vocational training of mentally retarded boys and girls whose parents were legal residents of the eastern half of PA. The institution is both a hospital, school and in many aspects an almost completely self-operating community. This institution lays in both Chester and Montgomery counties.
Board of Trustees: The board was appointed by the Governor to serve without compensations of any kind in an executive capacity. He was also to pass by vote on all major issues affecting the management and operations of the school and its functions.
Medical Staff: The medical staff was comprised of 6 staff and 6 medical consultants. There was always the presence of a staff physician on duty at all times. This was to insure the prompt attention to any aliments or accidents that were to present themselves. While there were regular clinical treatments daily. Constant contact insured the health and well being of 3,550 people in order to keep them healthy.
Dental Staff: The dental staff was made up of 2 registered dentists, 1 dental intern, and 1 oral hygienist. Also 4 trained female patients were trained and served as dental assistants.
Hospital: The hospital had a capacity of 300 beds with separate wards for the male and female patients. The hospital was furnished with proficient equipment and facilities, such as an operating room with two consultant surgeons on call at all times. The hospital was staffed with 3 head nurses, 38 graduate nurses, 2 supervisors, 6 assistant supervisors, 43 charge attendants and 242 attendants. They were responsible for keeping a 24 vigil over the 3,550 patients. The pharmacy was capable of supplying any medication to the staff. There was also a pathological laboratory that was staffed by 2 technicians that operated under the direction of 2 part-time Pathologists.
Psychology: The psychology department was comprised of 4 psychologists. About 15-20% of the departments time was spent on therapy. Research also played a key role in this department in order to come up with the newest methods of evaluation and treatment.
Social Services: The social services department had tow jobs to make sure that everything within the facility ran smoothly. The first of which was to make preadmission visits to the patients homes and all parties concerned. They were also responsible for the patients that were released. They would make routine visits with the patients in order to record their progress or regression.
Revenue: The revenue department was responsible for determining the amount in which the patient’s families had to pay for their family members to reside at Pennhurst.
Accounting: This department was responsible for the budget control as well as all monies coming in and out of the facility. They were also responsible for all the money in the patient’s accounts.
Personnel-Payroll: The personnel section of this department was responsible for all interviews and either to approve or disapprove the application. The payroll was prepared every ½ month. With 575 employees on salary and 18 on a Per Diem.
Purchasing: The purchasing agent handled all requisitions for supplies, contacts, vendors, and processed all purchase requests.
Institutional Secretaries: They were responsible for maintaining the records of each and every patient. The also maintained the visiting files, on which was listed the date, names of the person visiting, and their relationship to the patient.
Information: 5 operators maintained a 24-hour telephone service for the institution.
Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapy was the treatment that was directed towards the need and interests of the individual. The department was directed by the Chief Occupational therapist who was assisted by 11 other employees. 5 departments made up the occupational therapy ward they were upholstering, mending, weaving, printing, and sewing.
School: The school was run by the director of education who was assisted by 14 teachers all of who were certified in public instruction. The school extended from kindergarten to the seventh grade.
Music: The music department was run by a female music instructor who was in charge of the vocal music. And the instrumental music was under the supervision of a band master.
Religious Services: The institute made provisions for every religion. The auditorium was used as a meeting place for all denominations.
Physical Education and Recreation: This department played a very important role in the life of the institution. It was run by a trained physical director who was aided by assistant and 4 additional personnel during the summer months.
Dietary: The dietary department was operated by the dietician and assisted by 40 employees and approximately 125 working patients. Their function was to prepare healthy meals for 3,550 patients.
Plant Operation: The plant operations were run by 10 employees and 17 working male patients made up the operating crew under the Construction and Maintenance Engineer.
Maintenance: This crew was responsible for the upkeep of the Grounds and Buildings. The activities of this department were supervised by an Assistant Construction and Maintenance Engineer who was assisted by the help of 35 technicians and 36 working patients.
Housekeeping: This department was in charge of keeping the living quarters clean. It was supervised by the Housekeeper. The Housekeeper was assisted by 7 other employees, 14 male patients and 13 female patients.
Garage: 5 employees and 15 non-operating patients under the supervision of the Garage Manager were responsible for the maintenance of the institutions 18 vehicles.
Storeroom: The storeroom was run by 2 employees and a Store Manager with the help of 6 male patients. They were in charge of dispensing commodities to the patients on written authorization.
Laundry: The laundry was run by 5 employees who assisted the Laundry Manager to supervise and direct the work. The work was done by 58 female patients and 24 male patients.
The Farm: There were 360 acres of farm on the institution. The majority of the food severed at the institution was grown on the grounds, by the Farm Manager with the help of his assistant, 10 employees and the help of 85 male patients.
Boy Scouts Of America: On the grounds of the institute was troop 61. They were active in almost all phases of Scouting.
Canteens: The canteen was open daily from 8am to 4pm. This was to provide the patients with ice cream, candy and beverages.
To contact Abandoned But Not Forgotten please e-mail us at abnfco@gmail.com with any questions or submissions you may want to contribute to the site.
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