The Auxiliary To Bellevue Hospital Center, Inc.
Over the past 113 years the Auxiliary has provided more than $57 million dollars in support and has piloted numerous new programs. As it was at the time of its founding, all members of the Auxiliary are volunteers; each assigned to interface with a discreet area within the Hospital, keeping a finger on its pulse.
The Auxiliary manages funds for the following departments/programs which are supported through donations and revenue from program activities.
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. Fifty patients and one hundred family members were able to listen to 38 hours of music sessions, creating a soothing atmosphere in a sometimes disruptive hospital environment.
Three 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 received replacement games and supplies, and 2,100 therapy sessions helped 1,450 patients enjoy special activities like holiday celebrations and summer picnics.
Dr. Ross is interested in expanding the research focus of the federally funded addictive disorders laboratory at Bellevue Hospital to address the needs of particularly vulnerable and under-served populations with substance abuse disorders, including adolescents, pregnant women and the elderly. The long term goal of his research is to discover treatments for addictive disorders and for psychological and spiritual distress associated with advanced or terminal cancer.
Patients 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.
These funds are used to support all of our Auxiliary programs and activities
The Cancer Center at Bellevue provides outpatient cancer treatments, including infusions and chemotherapy. Patients can receive these treatments over the course of two to eight hours over several weeks. The Auxiliary previously purchased I-pads with many apps so that patients can spend these hours viewing different forms of entertainment. This includes: movies, games, etc. as well as access to educational information sites. The I-pads need to be serviced and updated on an annual basis to ensure that they are in good working order for the patients to use them during their treatments.
Funds 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.
Funding for the specific needs of Neurosurgery patients, who have undergone brain and spinal surgery, such as assistive devices, transportation, and etc.
The Patient Library provides reading material, including books, newspapers in several languages and periodicals to all patients. Also reading glasses are provided to patients who may need them. There is a Patient Library on the 6th floor of the hospital, as well as a roving cart to bring reading materials to the patient units and waiting rooms.
Emotional 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. Over 10,000 work hours (the equivalent of 285+ work weeks) were provided by approximately 20 patients quarterly. Various hospital departments, such as Human Resources, Environmental Services, Patient Transport, etc. benefited from this extra help.
Enhancement and re-design of the home management treatment areas was done in the Occupational Therapy area in the Rehab Dept. Treatment sessions in these areas address Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), including food preparation, cooking, safety, organization, cleaning and laundry. The Physical Rehab Home Management Program, primarily treats patients with disabilities resulting from traumas, such as: spinal cord injury, paralysis, amputation and stroke. Many patients use wheelchairs and other ambulation assistive devices and need to re-learn the basic life skills which will help them function more independently once they are discharged from the inpatient unit. About 450 inpatients a year, with a range of complex traumas, will benefit from the improvements in these treatment areas.
A “ribbon cutting” event was held on Feb. 20, 2018 to formally open the new area.
The 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 the patients thus ensuring their dignity and ability to be discharged.