N.C. State Government Internship Program participants on stairway at Broughton Hospital.

(Note: Earlier this month, 23 students participating in the N.C. State Government Internship Program visited Morganton to tour parts of Broughton Hospital and the J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center. The following are edited reports and observations from the interns.)

Broughton Hospital

One of the oldest and best maintained state psychiatric hospitals in the country, Broughton is something for the eye to behold. It is massive, grandiose and magnificent. Our group entered through two oversized, ornate, oak doors into a foyer with a two story ceiling and double spiral staircases.

CEO Vivian Streater, Dixon Byrd, assistant chief medical officer, accompanied by Scott Sain, director of volunteer services and supervisor of Olivia Horton, 2014 intern, welcomed our group to Broughton and shared some of the hospital history, current treatment practices and answered questions about their careers in public health.

The understanding and treatment of mental illness has evolved since Broughton opened its doors in 1883. In its early years, Broughton’s daily population averaged 3,000 patients. Currently it’s about 250 and the hospital’s bed capacity is 297.

Providing care for an in-patient population of 3,000 required extensive resources. In the early years, patients worked on the hospital farm raising crops and livestock. Some patients lived most of their lives at the hospital and were buried in the on-site cemetery. Today, the average length of stay is 52 days.

“The tour of Broughton Hospital made me realize how far the United States has come in treating mental health since society first saw the problem,” said one of the interns participating in the tour.

Interns meet one of the residents in the horse barn.

J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center

A quick drive through the country brought us to beautiful J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center. For many, this was a first experience with residential treatment facilities and the unique needs of the North Carolina citizens who rely on the excellent care provided there.

The group absorbed the scenic expanse of green lawns that surround the cluster of buildings where residents live, work and exercise. Large shade trees line many of the roads and paths, making it comfortable for residents to spend time outside. Residents have full access to a gym, pool, work areas and a full art facility that includes clay, drawing, painting and more. Residents’ artwork is available for purchase by the public at an on-site retail store that is partly staffed by residents.

JIRDC opened in 1963 and provides residential care to full-time residents who are diagnosed with profound or severe retardation or a related developmental disability. A handful of residents living at JIRDC were admitted as children when the center first opened. Currently, most residents are admitted as adults, and once admitted, many will spend their entire life here. Today, most residents are in their forties.

The center’s staff does everything to make this a comfortable home for the residents, and it quickly became evident that this was considered home by the staff as well.

Inclusive recreation activities include horseback riding or water skiing. An on-site machine shop builds custom wheelchairs, beds and even a chair water ski to help residents to be comfortable and active.

One intern shared, “The tour made me realize that there is more to state government than most people realize.”