Elmcrest Manor
| Elmcrest Manor | |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1938 |
| Closed | 2003 |
| Demolished | Closed |
| Building Style | Cottage Plan |
| Alternate Names |
|
History
The Elmcrest Manor was opened in Portland, Connecticut in 1938 by Dr. Carl Wagner and his wife Magdalena. The 17 acre campus held both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services for both adult and children, as well as a substance abuse treatment program. In 1997, Elmcrest had 26 buildings, with 129 beds, housing more than 150 hospital patients. Another 150 school special education children attended a day program at the facility, and a total of 475 employees worked at the facility in 1997. St. Francis hospital of Hartford, Connecticut purchased the facility from Dr. Louis B. Fierman and Dr. Lane Ameen, who had bought out the California-based National Medical Enterprises in 1994.[1]
After the purchase of the facility by St. Francis, reports of patient mistreatment increased and a number of lawsuits arose from wrongful treatment of former patients. On March 22nd, 1998, 11 year old Andrew McClain, died as a result of suffocation from physical restraint. McClain, who was "mildly retarded and had a history of behavior problems", was killed only four days after being admitted, and cause of death was ruled "traumatic asphyxia,(and) chest compression". After a thorough investigation, state officials determined the death was a result of abuse. Further investigations resulted in several other violations, and the hospital was fined and put under watch by the Department and Children and Families. [2]
The hospital never recovered from the tragic death of McClain. In 2000, "Barbara Beninato, a 30-year-old patient at the facility's adult unit, died from a drug overdose while in seclusion. Investigators later determined Beninato had taken a deadly mix of 12 tranquilizers and other drugs at the hospital, which by then was operated by St. Francis. A number of administrators were fired.
In 2002, state officials began investigating at St. Francis after records showed a significant jump in juvenile arrests and assaults on the campus. Hospital authorities argued the increase had to do with patients staying longer and having more contact with each other and staff." [3]
In 2003 the last remaining patients were moved from the 24-bed Portland property to the Mount Sinai campus in the North End of Hartford. Plans to purchase and demolish the vacant campus have been explored, but no action has been made.
Images of Elmcrest Manor
Main Image Gallery: Elmcrest Manor
References
- ↑ MARTEKA, PETER. "St. Francis Hospital to Buy Elmcrest Facility ." The Hartford Courant, sec. Local News: March 4th 1997. Digital. Accessed October 17th 2013.
- ↑ "Hospital and Employee Are Cited in Death of Boy" The New York Times, sec. Archived: May 8th 1998. Digital. Accessed October 17th 2013.
- ↑ Seay, Gregory. "Former Elmcrest Hospital Moving Patients." The Hartford Courant, sec. Local News: August 2nd 2003. Digital. Accessed October 17th 2013.
