Complete Annual Report of the Illinois Department of Mental Health Manteno State Hospital - July 1, 1962 - June 30, 1963 The Manteno State Hospital continues to be the largest menhospital in the State of Illinois. The failure to reduce the resident population can be ascribed to increased admissions over the past several years. Infirm and semi-infirm patients of advanced years continue to be admitted in large numbers. Many have organic disabilities with little prospect of total rehabilitation. Nursing care is correspondingly increased. Forty-five per cent of the patient population is past 60 years of age and approximately 2,400 are past 65. The problems of geriatrics will continue for many years. A high percentage of the voluntary admissions have alcoholism as a predominant feature. Chronic schizophrenics constitute a large part of the long-term residents. A new medical assistant superintendent and a clinical director were employed during the year. All standardized and accepted forms of medical treatment including the use of the various tranquilizing and stimulating for this group are referred by the ward social worker after conference with and approval of the ward physician. In recent months a regular meeting has been conducted on Saturday mornmgs for the relatives of patients to discuss questions about mental illness and emotional disturbances with the hope that by better understanding of these problems, they can help the recovery of the patient as well as the institution in its treatment programs. These meetings have been quite successful. The superintendent and other members of the professional staff participate. During the year, this hospital assumed the responsibility for the mental patients at the outpatient clinic at the Hygienic Institute in LaSalle, Illinois. The psychology staff attended all ward-patient staff meetings and worked closely with the social service staff. Group therapy was instituted for all newly admitted patients during their residence on the male and female receiving wards. Psychodrama was introduced by the staff. The Peoria Pilot Alcoholism Treatment Unit continued to grow. It began with a few selected patients and now is a threeward operation providing treatment for all alcoholic admissions to the hospital. Based on the experiences obtained in the operation of these units, a model program was drafted, accepted by the Advisory Board to the Division of Alcoholism and presented to the Director of the Department of Mental Health for his consideration as a statewide program. At this time 40.3 per cent of the admissions to Peoria State Hospital are alcoholics and the trend is increasing. The unit has received much recognition on both statewide and national levels. The staff of the unit participated in several educational programs throughout the State developed and maintained two fully accredited courses in alcohol: ism at Bradley University, plus a projected in-service training program on a statewide level. The affiliation program in psychiatric nursing underwent some change. There were revisions in the curriculum planned to provide better educational experiences. The period of affiliation was lowered from thirteen to twelve weeks. Six schools in the surrounding area participated. The surgical residency and nurse anesthetist programs continued in affiliation with St. Francis Hospital and contributed considerably to patient care. Eighty-seven major and eighty four minor operations were performed. Approximately 2,400 patients were seen in the various clinics. The in-service training program encompassed training and orientation for a large segment of the staff including psychiatric aides on all levels. Forty-five students of the Peoria School of Practical Nursing completed their psychiatric affiliation here during the year. The in-service training staff assumed the responsibilrty for conducting tours for outside groups as well as for many new employees. It is participating in the orientation of selected patients to serve as patient volunteers. Forty patients are now working in this capacity and it is anticipated that this will become a hospital-wide program. The educational program also includes trainee and intern programs of the social service and psychology staffs. Another innovation was the bi-monthly lectures for psychiatric aides given by a psychology consultant from Bradley University. Arrangements have been made so that all shifts can participate and it is planned to have consultants lecture on other allied subjects affecting the care and treatment of psychiatric patients. A series of lectures has also been established for the benefit of physicians, social workers, psychologists and graduate nurses. Two consultants in psychiatry lecture weekly on various aspects of psychiatry. One lecture per week is scheduled entirely for physicians and is oriented toward psychiatric consultation and supervision for the physician. Lectures are conducted biweekly in psychology and neurology and are intended to review psychology and psychological approaches and methods as well as to teach theoretical and practical neurology. Research efforts of department members centered around an attempt to determine the validity of psychological test procedures and an attempt to predict patient ward adjustment. A Ph.D. thesis project attempts to develop a rigorous analogue of a psychological interview situation. Arrangements were made for one psychology intern with research interests and skills to make monthly visits to participate in the research project initiated at the Alton State Hospital by a university research consultant. Hospital-community relations are at a high level. The community contributed more than ever before to the Forgotten Patients program at Christmas. The hospital employees increased their subscriptions to the United Fund more than 400 per cent over the previous year. Relationships with the various news media have been excellent. Many speeches, tours, conferences and other contacts were made by staff throughout the year, all of which have improved community relations. There was excellent cooperation with the Mental Health Clinic of Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford Counties. Several hundred volunteers, some coming as far as forty miles, provided more than 20,000 hours of service to patients. The Annual Flower and Art Show attracted 2,000 visitors. Many free passes for concerts and other community events gave pleasure to the patients. A very successful volunteer program was conducted with high school groups. The position of personnel officer was established to coordinate various personnel functions and participate in the orientation of new employees. Additional personnel were acquired especially in the nursing, dietary, laundry and clothing services. The summer student work program was quite successful. The farm program was discontinued and a large portion of the land is being transferred to the Peoria Pleasure Driveway and Park District. Plans for a new activity therapy building are underway as well as for remodeling a building presently used for this purpose. Plans for fiscal 1964 include enlarging the educational program and establishing a half-way house. In suitable cases the techniques of a day hospital will be employed. Thought will be given to gradually developing a sheltered workshop through which patients can be profitably occupied and gain a sense of personal value and self-confidence. The social service staff is actively attempting to increase the number of participants in the family care program. A hearing and speech service is being established and a capable person to supervise it has begun work. The hospital hopes to develop a residency in internal medicine.