Willard Psychiatric Center Restraint and Seclusion Reports

A 1952 directive from Newton Bigelow, Commissioner of the Department of Mental Hygiene, required all mental health facilities to record daily the number of patients in each type of seclusion or restraint. The department used these figures to provide each facility director with a monthly record showing where his or her institution stood with respect to the average for other institutions in the department.

These files consist of physicians' orders for individual patients to undergo protective restraint or seclusion, and of regular statistical reports detailing the use of the practice at Willard. Orders include patient name, number, form of restraint, reason for action, date, and duration of treatment, as well as instructions for staff in regard to the practice. Reports generally include the number of episodes for each action and the aggregated duration of restraint or seclusion.

Restricted in accordance with Section 33.13, Mental Hygiene Law, relating to confidentiality of clinical records. Access permitted under certain conditions upon application to and approval by the Office of Mental Health.