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History

Overview

Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, or Rancho, dates back to 1888 when indigent patients from the Los Angeles County Hospital were relocated to what was then known as the Los Angeles County Poor Farm. Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy were started in the late 1920s. The Rancho rapidly expanded after it was designated as a respiratory center for polio patients in 1951. In 1955, Dr. Vernon L. Nickel developed the halo vest, a device which is still in use to immobilize the cervical spine following severe neck injury or certain types of surgery. Drs. Jacquelin Perry and Robert Waters contributed to advances in pathokinesiology and treatment of spinal cord injuries, and other advances in rehabilitation of orthopedic and neurological disorders were made in ensuing years. The Rancho Los Amigos Scale, a widely used scale to determine the cognitive level in brain-injured patients, was developed in the 1970's.^[3]

1887-1907

In 1887, Rancho Los Amigos was established under the original name "The County Poor Farm" originally purposed to provide work, housing, and medical care to the poor. The buildings constructed during this time on the 124.4 acre property were designed by local architect Jacob Friedlander and the architectural firm Kysor, Morgan, and Walls, know for their work on buildings in Los Angeles such as the Pico House and USC's Widney Hall. During this period the oldest building still standing on the south campus, the aviary, was constructed as well as the male and female wards and the refectory. When the facility opened in December 1888 Edwin L. Burdick was appointed as the first superintendent and resident physician. However; In 1901 Burdick resigned due to health issues and his role was divided to T.F. Simpson, who became superintendent, and Dr. F.L. Norton, who became the resident physician. Despite initially positive comments in 1902 by the General Federation of Women's clubs, praising the farm's mix of "charity and industry.." , by 1903 concerns over the farm's overcrowding and lack of sanitation reached newspapers. Problems that would persist until remodeling in 1906 under superintendent George S. Clark, who replaced Simpson in 1903.

1907-1915

In 1907, Clark was replaced as superintendent by Donald Chick , who despite only being superintendent for 9 months established many of the poor farms important facilities such as the first chapel and psychiatric ward, the first building explicitly build for medical purposes. Despite the original wards being gendered, the psychiatric ward housed both men and women. Chick was replaced by Andrew Wade who brought significant growth to the farm and also became the facilities first postmaster. Under Wade the facility grew to 333 acres and received employee housing and it's first power house, built in 1909. By 1910 the facility had begun shifting to it's role as a medical facility due to a large influx in residents with chronic medical disorders. A year later Charles C. Manning replaced Wade and increased the farm's population by 280% to 479 residents. Manning constructed multiple new wards to accommodate the increased population and was briefly replaced in 1915 by Carl P. Talle.

1915-1952

In 1915 superintendent William Ruddy Harriman was appointed and remained superintendent until 1952. Under Harriman much of the farm was rebuilt following a flood in 1914 which brought with it significant improvements including new buildings and an irrigation system. A multitude of new wards were also constructed to accommodate the rising number of mentally ill patients. By 1922 the facility had fully transitioned from a poor farm to a medical facility although farming operations would continue on the grounds for a number of years after. In 1926 the facility's occupational therapy program, which focused on rehabilitation through actions, was established and through it patients learned various crafts and made much the hospital's of the furniture, food, and other necessities. In 1928 the auditorium was created in the place of the refectory. By the end of the 1920's the facility had grown to 540 acres. Following the stock market crash in 1929 the hospital received a cut in funding and an increase in residents. Despite the setbacks of the Great Depression the facility continued to expand and be upgraded including the 1933 addition of the first modern medical building, the Harriman building. During this time the facility officially had it's name changed from "The County Poor Farm" to "Rancho Los Amigos", which it is still known as today, to better reflect it's position as a medical facility. In 1933 the Long Beach earthquake brought with it more rebuilding and more improvements. In 1935 The National Social Security Act enabled many older residents to leave Rancho Los Amigos which made room for many mentally ill children to be admitted in. Due to many residents being unable to work this brought upon the end of Rancho Los Amigo's farming operations. after World War 2 the facility's population doubled partially due to the 1944 polio outbreak. Rancho Los Amigos became know for it's polio care and in 1950 general ward 50 was remodeled to treat polio patients specifically. In 1952 superintendent Harriman retired and was replaced by Robert Thomas.

1952-present

In 1952 Thomas had the respiratory center constructed on the northern campus and had the staff reorganized into the professional service department, nursing department, and dietary department. During this time home care, orthopedic, rehabilitation, and social services departments were also added. After Thomas's departure in 1956 Ranch Los Amigos continued to grow in the northern campus throughout the 20th century leaving the southern campus vacated.