Friends Hospital
| Friends Hospital | |
|---|---|
 The Scattergood Building | |
| Established | 1813 |
| Opened | 1813 |
| Current Status | Active |
| Building Style | Pre-1854 Plans |
| Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 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, and is the United States' first private psychiatric hospital employed for the treatment of the mentally ill. It has been continuously operating since it first opened its doors in 1813.
Contents
History
The Quakers established Friends Hospital 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.
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.
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 locally also operated: Brooke Glen Hospital and the Horsham Clinic.
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
