A leader in the field of physical rehabilitation and research since its founding in 1900, Helen Hayes Hospital is widely recognized as one of the nations premier physical rehabilitation hospitals. We provide innovative and compassionate care to individuals following catastrophic injuries and disabling surgeries or illnesses, enabling them to resume their highest level of independence and achieve active, fulfilling lives.

Founded in 1900 by Dr. Newton Shaffer, Helen Hayes Hospital is the nations first free-standing, state operated hospital dedicated to the treatment of individuals with physical disabilities. The hospital was initially established in response to a public health epidemic, providing treatment to children suffering from the ravages of tuberculosis. The facility was conceived not only to improve the physical health of the children, but also to offer vocational and educational services that would enable them to lead productive, independent lives.

In the early years, the majority of patients were treated for tuberculosis of the bone and joint. By 1920, polio was the leading cause of hospitalization, accounting for nearly one third of the hospitals admissions. The years 1944-45 saw the hospital face acute shortages of personnel because of the ongoing war effort, coupled with the worst polio epidemic yet experienced.

The hospital and its staff were severely taxed, and many volunteer organizations and individuals gave considerable assistance during this emergency. At this time, the legal restrictions for the admissions of patients over the age of 21 were lifted and adults were admitted for the first time.

By the end of the 1960s, the prevalent conditions among children admitted to the hospital were congenital abnormalities and cerebral palsy. Major causes for adult admission were stroke, spinal cord injury, amputation, and orthopedic problems.

Through the years, the hospital has grown into a facility that is capable of caring for patients with the most complex and challenging disabilities. It is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and has 155 inpatient beds and an active outpatient care service.

Mrs. MacArthur was appointed to the hospitals Board of Visitors in 1944 by Governor Thomas E. Dewey and served for 49 years until her death in 1993. Mrs. MacArthur was a tireless advocate for the hospital. She successfully led a fight to keep the hospital in West Haverstraw during the 1960s when a proposal was made to move the facility to Albanys Empire State Plaza.

Mrs. MacArthur contributed her enthusiastic support to hospital events and fund-raising efforts, including faithful attendance at the hospitals annual Classic Race and the use of her home Pretty Penny for a dinner to launch the hospitals endowment fund. Known as the First Lady of the American Theater, Helen Hayes MacArthur endowed the hospital with not only her name, but her enduring spirit and legacy of hope.

Our multi-disciplinary team of doctors, therapists, nurses, and other rehab professionals is renowned for their incredible expertise and boundless compassion. They are respected leaders in the rehabilitation field who are certified in a wide array of specialties. They are published authors, members of prestigious medical organizations, and trailblazers in research and outreach aimed at improving the lives of our patients.

We are a team dedicated to providing our patients with the highest level of care and consideration from admission, to discharge, and beyond. At Helen Hayes Hospital, our patients gain access not only to expert providers and services available only at a specialty physical rehabilitation hospitalthey become a part of our extended hospital family.

The ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation is a nation-wide initiative that provides tailored injury prevention education for children in grades K-12 with age-appropriate focus on the brain and spinal cord. Since becoming a chapter in 2014, the ThinkFirst Helen Hayes Hospital Chapter has provided free, injury prevention assemblies for thousands of students at local schools and groups in Rockland and Orange counties and beyond.

During ThinkFirst presentations, a physical therapist and former Helen Hayes Hospital patients visit with students to discuss making wise choices for injury prevention and teaches them about the unique functions of the brain and spinal cord. The program also gives young people the chance to talk with a person who has suffered a traumatic injury, allowing them to ask candid questions about safety, life after injury, and overcoming obstacles.