Helen Hayes Hospital

Name :

Helen Hayes Hospital

Address  :

51-55 Route 9W

Town  :

West Haverstraw

State  :

New York

Country  :

USA

Post Code:

10993

Phone  :

8457864000

Fax  :

8457864692

Web URL  :

Available

Email  :

info@helenhayeshospital.org

Description

Helen Hayes Hospital where hope has a home
As a leader in the field of physical rehabilitation for over a century our commitment to our patients remains constant to provide the innovative and compassionate care patients need to achieve their highest level of independence and resume active fulfilling lives following catastrophic injuries or disabling illnesses

At Helen Hayes Hospital patients gain access to a comprehensive array of services available only at one of the nations premier physical rehab hospitals Our patients thrive under the care and expertise of a dedicated hospital team that treats them with compassion dignity and the highest level of excellence through all stages of recovery

Read more about our inpatient outpatient and specialty services and learn why patients and doctors have chosen the power of rehabilitation at Helen Hayes Hospital since 1900

History

HISTORY
Founded in 1900 by Dr Newton Schaffer Helen Hayes Hospital is the first freestanding state operated hospital for the treatment of physically disabled persons in the United States The hospital was initially established in response to a public health epidemic providing treatment to children suffering from the ravages of tuberculosis The facility was conceived not only to improve the physical health of the children but also offer vocational and educational services that would enable them to lead productive independent lives

In the early years the majority of patients were treated for tuberculosis of the bone and joint By 1920 polio was the leading cause of hospitalization accounting for nearly one third of the hospitals admissions The years 194445 saw the hospital face acute shortages of personnel because of the ongoing war effort coupled with the worst polio epidemic yet experienced

The hospital and its staff were severely taxed and manyvolunteer organizations and individuals gave considerable assistance during this emergencyAt this time the legal restrictions for the admissions of patients under the age of 21 was lifted and adults were admitted for the first time

Helen Hayes MacArthur became involved with the hospital in the 1940s and in 1944 was appointed to the hospitals Board of Visitors

By the end of the 1960s the prevalent conditions among children admitted to the hospitalwere congenital abnormalities and cerebral palsy Major causes for adult admission were stroke spinal cord injury amputation and orthopaedic problems

Through the years the hospital has grown into a facility that is affiliated with NewYork Presbyterian Healthcare System and is capable of caring for patients with the most complex and challenging disabilities It has 155 inpatient beds an active outpatient care service and a Transitional Rehabilitation Program for individuals recovering from traumatic brain injury

Helen Hayes MacArthur and the Hospital

The hospital was renamed in honor of the famous actress Helen Hayes MacArthur in 1974 Mrs MacArthur was appointed to the hospitals Board of Visitors in 1944 by Governor Thomas E Dewey and served for 49 years until her death in 1993 Mrs MacArthur was a tireless advocate for the hospital She successfully led a fight to keep the hospital in West Haverstraw during the 1960s when a proposal was made to move the facility to Albanys Empire State Plaza

She was also instrumental during the 1970s in lobbying for funding to transform the hospital into a stateof the art facility Her tremendous efforts on behalf of the hospital were rewarded on October 10 1980 when the new 378 million hospital was dedicated

Mrs MacArthur contributed her enthusiastic support to hospital events and fundraising efforts including faithful attendance at the hospitals annual Classic Race and the use of her home Pretty Penny for a dinner to launch the hospitals endowment fund Known as the First Lady of the American Theater Mrs MacArthur endowed the hospital with not only her name but her enduring spirit and legacy of hope