The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-05-03

South, Middle and North hospitals,
the North Wing and Center cot
taGe. The Main Cottage which
nov houses approximately 4J0
working patients is to be remod-
eled SO as to offer facilities iol a
gymnasium, libraries, and can
teen.
Other items for which plans are
still in the tentative stage caIi for
the construction of a medical and
surgery building where patients Will
received specialized care fol phJ steal
ills. The building will also in
clude separate unit for the care
and treatment of physically i'll en-
ployes. Remodeling of present
kitchen and cafeteria is planned %
provide better facilities and new
cafeteriaS for patients and employees.
The removal of the power house
from its present site to another
location and construction Of a new
employees home are also IN the list
Of projects for which approval Win
be sought.
$500 Patients
In reviewing the hospitals prog
reSS, Dr.. Yerbury remarked that
more than 80 500 cases had been
admitted TO he institution for care
and treatment since its doors were
first opened on April 30, 1868. 1t wa
the first state hospital established
III Connecticut for the care anC
! treatment OF mentally i'll persons
During this period, discharges }.
patients recovered OF improl ed i'd
kept pace with those prevailing II
other state hospitals throughout tlt
| country.
Dr. Yerbury pointed out in this
connection that for the calendar
year ended December 81, 1914, III
patients We're discharged from tn:
hospital while only 694 were ad.
mitted for care and treatment If
the same period Of those discharg.
ed, approximately 81 were con.
sidered as completely recovered. i'm.
proved or free from symptoms O.
mental illness.
Commenting on the dificuItie.
which have faced tie state hospi
tai because Of the critical labor sit
uation, Dr.. Yerbury stated. Tit
present emergency has brough-
ABOUT a serious shortage Of help. no
only in Connecticut institutions. bu
in all states Of the Union as we'll
Because Of the foresightedness O
those in authority Civilian Publ
/ Service Units. stated by conscien.
tlouS DIRECTORS were made available
10 all Of our state hospitals. Thest
men have ben Of great assistance il
caring for our mentally i'll patients
AS soon as there are men availabl
for employment in our hospita.
however, the men in the Civilian
Public Service Unit will be replaced
New Nursing Ideas
ITO keep the nursing on a pa
with medical services" Dr.. Yer
bury continued, plans will be de
veloped TO increase the quota {
qualified registered nurses and de
crease the number of attendant
The war has introduced new IDEA
IN nursign. In our general hospital
nurses aides have been successful
carrying on the less skilIful and rou
tine procedures of care, thereby re
leasing the registered nurses TO
duties in keeping with their skill
With this thought in mind, thu
mental hospitals should follow tn
present progressive trend in nurs
ing Of utilizing the maximum skill
of its nursing staff and thus i'm
prove standards of care"
Dr.. Yerbury reported that at tn,
present time, the state hospital con
siStS Of more than 80 buildings il
which are housed 1850 mentally il
patients. $50 employees the variou
shops. farm activities, laundry. foot
services, stores, and power plant II
all, the hospital spreads over 90
acres and is valued by the statt
at more than S6,300.0OO Annually
the institution costs the taxpayer
Of the state, approximately 81 $50.
900 TO operate