Bellevue Hospital Center Inc Auxiliary

TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR VARIOUS RECREATIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES FOR PATIENTS OF BELLEVUE HOPSITAL CENTER IN NEW YORK CITY.

CLOTHING ROOM - SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENTTHE SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT AT BELLEVUE HOSPITAL PROVIDES CLOTHING FOR PATIENTS IN NEED DURING THEIR INPATIENT STAY AND WHEN THEY ARE DISCHARGED. PATIENTS ARE SOMETIMES ADMITTED TO BELLEVUE AND THEIR CLOTHES MUST BE CUT OFF OR DISPOSED OF. THE CLOTHING ROOM IS ABLE TO PROVIDE CLOTHES TO PATIENTS, FROM THE ER, MEDICINE, PSYCHIATRY, ETC., THUS ENSURING THEIR DIGNITY AND ABILITY TO BE DISCHARGED.

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION - WORK DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMEMOTIONAL WELL-BEING IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS PHYSICAL HEALTH. USING AUXILIARY FUNDS, THE WORK DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AT BELLEVUE, PROVIDES A WORK EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE HOSPITAL FOR RECOVERING PSYCHIATRIC AND ADDICTED PATIENTS, RESULTING IN REBUILDING THEIR CONFIDENCE, GAINING LIFE SKILLS AND ENHANCING THEIR VOCATIONAL GOALS. VARIOUS HOSPITAL DEPARTMENTS, SUCH AS HUMAN RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, PATIENT TRANSPORT, ETC. BENEFITTED FROM THIS EXTRA HELP.

GENERAL HOSPITAL PROGRAMSACTIVITY THERAPY MUSIC PROGRAM THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS SMALL CONFIGURATIONS OF MUSICIANS FOR INTIMATE PERFORMANCES. LIVE MUSIC HAS BEEN SHOWN TO ALLEVIATE ANXIETY, FEAR, DEPRESSION AND ISOLATION ASSOCIATED WITH MEDICAL ILLNESS AND DISABILITY. PATIENT REFERRALS, FROM VARIOUS UNITS, ARE MADE BY MEDICAL, NURSING AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM MEMBERS TO THE ACTIVITY THERAPY DIRECTOR, WHO ASSIGNS THE PERFORMERS TO SPECIFIC UNITS AND REFERRED PATIENTS. ACTIVITY THERAPY - PSYCHIATRYTHREE DIFFERENT AREAS ARE SUPPORTED FOR ACTIVITIES THERAPY IN PSYCHIATRY, PROVIDING ACTIVITIES FOR PATIENTS WHICH RELIEVE STRESS AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PATIENT DOWNTIME:(1) RECREATION AND SENSORY SUPPLIES FOR THERAPEUTIC GROUP PROGRAMMING AND INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS SUCH AS JOURNALING MATERIALS, STRESS BALLS, AROMATHERAPY, ETC. DVDS FOR EDUCATIONAL AND INSPIRATIONAL FILMS ARE ALSO SUPPLIED. (2) SPECIAL EVENTS, SUCH AS HOLIDAY AND CULTURAL OCCASIONS ARE FUNDED FOR DANCE PERFORMANCES, PICNICS, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, LATINO HERITAGE MONTH, FESTIVE DECORATIONS, ETC. THESE ACTIVITIES GREATLY ENHANCE THE PATIENT'S TREATMENT AND WELL-BEING.(3) EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR REPLACING BROKEN EQUIPMENT LIKE THE PING PONG TABLE, ETC.ALL NINE ADULT INPATIENT PSYCHIATRY UNITS WERE ABLE TO SUPPLEMENT GROUP THERAPY SESSIONS WITH APPROPRIATE ADJUNCT MATERIALS, AS WELL AS HELPING PATIENTS ENJOY SPECIAL ACTIVITIES LIKE HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS AND SUMMER PICNICS. SOBRIETY GARDENPATIENTS RECEIVING TREATMENT THROUGH THE ALCOHOLISM CLINIC BENEFIT FROM PARTICIPATION IN THE SOBRIETY GARDEN, WHICH BUILDS THEIR SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT AND ACCOMPLISHMENT. THE GARDEN SITS ON A WEDGE OF LAND FLANKED BY THE MAIN HOSPITAL BUILDING AND THE FDR DRIVE. IT COVERS APPROXIMATELY 15,000 SQUARE FEET. PART OF IT IS CULTIVATED IN VEGETABLES, MUCH OF IT IN FLOWERS. ITS PATHS ARE CREATED FROM MOSAICS AND STONES, ACCENTED WITH FOLK SCULPTURES MADE BY THE PATIENTS, CREATING AN INSPIRING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL VISITORS. PHOTOGRAPHY ACTIVITIES ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO THE PATIENTS.CHAPLAINCYFUNDS ARE PROVIDED FOR THE PURCHASE OF RELIGIOUS MATERIAL FOR THE CHAPLAINS TO DISTRIBUTE TO PATIENTS OF ALL FAITHS. SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF PATIENT CARE AND THE AUXILIARY ASSISTS BY PROVIDING THE APPROPRIATE MATERIALS. PATIENTS WERE PROVIDED WITH MATERIALS SUCH AS BIBLES, QURANS, ROSARY BEADS, ETC.DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT (DME) FOR UNDOCUMENTED/UNINSURED PATIENTSFUNDS ARE PROVIDED FOR PATIENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE ANY TYPE OF MEDICAL INSURANCE AND ARE UNABLE TO PURCHASE DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT (IE. WHEELCHAIRS, WALKERS, RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT, ETC.). THIS CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED, UNDOCUMENTED, OF LIMITED INCOME, ETC. BECAUSE IT OFTEN PREVENTS THEM FROM BEING DISCHARGED HOME. THE PURCHASE OF SUCH EQUIPMENT ENABLES PATIENTS TO GO HOME SAFELY. PATIENT DISCHARGE TRAVELPATIENTS FROM ALL OVER NYC, THE US AND THE WORLD ARE TREATED AT BELLEVUE HOSPITAL. IN MANY CASES, A VISIT TO THE HOSPITAL WAS NOT PART OF THEIR ITINERARY OR TRAVEL PLANS. SOME OF THESE PATIENTS REQUIRE ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR TRANSPORT HOME UPON DISCHARGE. THE SOCIAL WORK DEPT. WILL MAKE SUCH ARRANGEMENTS, USUALLY BECAUSE PATIENTS DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES. THE AUXILIARY PURCHASES BUS, TRAIN AND AIRLINE TICKETS TO FACILITATE THEIR RETURN HOME TO ENABLE THEM TO RECEIVE CARE FROM FAMILY MEMBERS AND/OR HEALTHCARE FACILITIES CLOSER TO THEIR RESIDENCE.