Friends Hospital

Friends Hospital
The Scattergood Building
Established	April 14, 1813
Construction Began	November 11, 1813
Construction Ended	May 15, 1817
Opened	1817
Current Status	Active
Building Style	Pre-1854 Plans
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Architecture Style	Pre-Georgian
Peak Patient Population	192, current
Alternate Names	Frankford Asylum, The Asylum for Persons Deprived of the Use of Their Reason

Friends Hospital, founded as 'The Asylum for Persons Deprived of the Use of Their Reason' by the Society of Friends in 1813. It is the United States' first private psychiatric hospital employed exclusively for the treatment of the mentally ill. It has been continuously operating since it first opened its doors, albeit in different buildings. Friends Hospital continues to enjoy a reputation as an excellent inpatient facility, and maintains renown in the national and international psychiatric community for the quality of care received, as well as the various academic lecture held on site.

History

Construction

In the yearly meeting of the Society of Friends (Quakers) in Philadelphia in 1811, they mandated that a facility should be purchased and maintained for those members who had lost their sensibilities and proper judgment. Much like the Quaker York Retreat, asylum was sought in a country atmosphere. The location that was selected was, at the time, ten miles outside of the city of Philadelphia, and offered a peaceful rural refuge for those afflicted. The Quakers officially established their asylum in 1813, drawing on a belief that all persons could "moral, ordered existence if treated with kindness, dignity, and respect", despite disabilities. The influential Quaker minister, Thomas Scattergood, decried what he considered the harsh conditions faced by patients in mental asylums; Scattergood instead called for the "moral treatment" of patients, which was also advocated by Dr. Benjamin Rush, a physician at Pennsylvania Hospital. This model served as an inspiration for the establishment of the Friends Asylum for Persons Deprived of the Use of Their Reason.

The design and oversight of this project was undertaken by seven primary members: Thomas Scattergood, Emmor Kimber, Jonathan Evans, Thomas Wistar, Ellis Yarnall, Samuel Griffitts and Isaac Bonsall. These original members composed the original mission statement and charter of the asylum; and further divided their clinical intention into six primary points. In their own words they are as follows:

• 1) That, if proper encouragement be given, a sufficient quantity of land be purchased near Philadelphia and a building erected thereon, which may accommodate at least fifty persons.
• 2) That the institution be established and supported by legacies, donations and subscriptions, to be promoted amongst Friends.
• 3) That any monthly meeting belonging to the Philadelphia yearly meeting contributing $200, and every individual $10 per annum, or $50 at one time, being and continuing a member of this religious society , shall be considered members of the association.
• 4) That all annual subscriptions under $10 or sums contributed under $50 shall be considered donations.
• 5) That members shall meet annually in Philadelphia on the fourth day preceding the third sixth day of the week; in the third month, and choose from among the subscribers , members of the yearly meeting, twenty persons as a committee to manage all of the affairs of the institution. At these annual meeting a report of last year's proceedings shall be produced by the committee. Every monthly meeting contributing as above shall have the right to appointing an agent, who may appear and act on behalf at these meetings.
• 6) That every monthly meeting which has contributed $200 and every individual who has contributed $50 whilst continuing a member of this religious society may recommend one poor patient, at one time, for the lowest terms of admission.

A 52-acre farm located in Frankford was allocated by the Society of Friends for the new asylum. $6,764 was paid for this lot, which was deemed an exceedingly large amount of money to be paid by a number of members of the committee. Six additional acres were added to this site shortly thereafter. Delegates were also selected from the committee to consult with the Quaker York Retreat in England, which was only founded two decades prior. The Friends Asylum opened its doors on May 15, 1817, and within the month had accepted two patients, of different sexes, for inpatient care. During the first year of operations nineteen patients were received, many of whom were deemed cured, and returned to their day-to-day life in Philadelphia.

1813 Mission Statement

To provide for the suitable accommodation of persons who are or may be deprived of the use of their reason and the maintenance of an asylum for their reception, which is intended to furnish, besides requisite medical aid, such tender, sympathetic attention as may soothe their agitated minds, and under the Divine Blessing, facilitate their recovery.

Early Years

The asylum was originally purposed for the care and treatment for members of the Society of Friends exclusively. However, with a change in Pennsylvania law, the Board of Managers put it to a vote and elected to remove the sectarian restrictions in 1834. Dr. Thomas Kirkbride, the father of American Psychiatry is record as having done his medical residency at Friends Asylum, before going on to found the Institute of the Pennsylvania Hospital in 1841.

Current Hospital

A leader in behavioral health care, Friends offers a system of comprehensive programs and services to people suffering from behavioral and emotional health problems. With 192 beds, Friends is the Delaware Valley's largest provider of inpatient behavioral health services, providing individualized programs for adolescents, adults, older adults and eating disorders. We have specialized programs for Women's Issues and Dual Diagnosis (mental health/substance abuse). Friends Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Friends Hospital is currently owned by: United Healthcare Services, which also locally operated: Brooke Glen Hospital and the Horsham Clinic. Friends Hospital is contracted through the County of Philadelphia, as well as Community Behavioral Health, to accept 302 commitment petitions.

The many surviving historic buildings at Friends Hospital are sited on a large campus located off Roosevelt Boulevard just below Oxford Circle. Despite the growth of the city of Philadelphia, the campus represents a rural oasis in otherwise urban Northeast Philadelphia. Extensive historical landscaping, including renowned azalea gardens (open to the public), are also included in the "National Historic Landmark" designation of Friends Hospital.

Greystone Program at Friends Hospital

Located on the grounds of the Friends Hospital, the Greystone Program is a long-term community residence designed to meet the special needs for individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses. Consisting of two houses, Greystone House and Hillside House, the program is dedicated to helping its residents move toward recovery, greater independence, and an enhanced quality of life. The Greystone Program emphasizes the development of skills of daily living, socialization, purposeful activity, and recovery enables residents to realize their dignity, worth and highest individual potential. Many residents have chosen to make the Greystone Program their permanent home while other will successfully transition to a less structured environment.

Adjacent Hospitals

• Pennsylvania Hospital
• Philadelphia State Hospital
• Horsham Clinic
• Brooke Glen Hospital
• Norristown State Hospital
• Episcopal Hospital
• Institute of the Pennsylvania Hospital

Images of Friends Hospital

Main Image Gallery: Friends Hospital

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Links & Additional Information

• A detailed history of the hospital
• Official Friends Hospital Website