University of Virginia Library

About Ten-to-one

Across the way from Western State is a
private hospital, De Jarnette; expenditures at
the private institution average about $15 per
patient per day, while at Western State with
state funds they average around $1.50 per
patient per day.

Very little attention can be given patients
with such small funding, which is why the
Volunteer Programs sponsored by Madison Hall
are so valuable. Many patients have no contact
with people besides their attendants, fellow
patients, and the volunteers.

Currently there are carloads of volunteers
going to the hospital every day except Sunday,
totaling about 55 people. Last year there were
never more than 25-30 going at any one time,
totalling 75 for both semesters.

Perhaps the most important task being done
this year is the instigation of a behavior
modification-token system in two of the wards.
Instead of being merely passive recipients,
patients in these wards are paid tokens for
doing chores and other positive behavior, and
are fined when they do not behave
satisfactorily.

With the tokens that they accumulate, the
patients can eat at special facilities and receive
other benefits within the hospital system.