Security Hospital hosts open house on 150th anniversary

ST. PETER — The Minnesota Security Hospital opened its doors Wednesday providing a rare chance for visitors to see inside the campus.

This year marks the state’s 150th anniversary of the oldest and first hospital for the mentally ill as well as the completion of a $56.3 million project consisting of two new buildings on the campus.

Security Hospital houses rehabilitation and treatment programs for Minnesotans determined by the courts to be mentally ill and dangerous. The state’s sex offender program is also on the campus.

The new, yet unoccupied buildings have 48 beds for people transitioning out of the hospital and recreational, dining and therapy spaces, all designed especially for healing and wellness said Carol Olson, executive director of forensic treatment services.

The rooms are nearly soundproof, even in the gymnasium where some echo is expected, and the walls are painted in pastel green or pale taupe. Several of the multipurpose rooms are named after flowers. The bedrooms have regular furniture instead of beds built into the walls. There are more windows and they don't have bars, said Connie Kishel, co-chair of the Partners in Care group that works with families and hospital staff.

"What I've been impressed with is the administration wanting to be more transparent and wanting to let the community know more about that is going on," Kishel said, adding the hospital has reached out to families to talk with them about patient care. She has a family member under the hospital's care.

The new building stands in stark contrast to the older parts of the hospital, partly because the patients who will live there have fewer security needs as they are working toward leaving the hospital, but also because times have changed.

In a speech at the open house, Department of Human Services Commissioner Emily Piper said the hospital’s long, complex history shows great differences in how those suffering from mental illness are treated and the newest parts of the hospital show what they would like the rest of the facility to one day become because it is more conducive to healing.

Piper also thanked the city of St. Peter for its support of the hospital and all of the hospital staff.

She said the hospital expansion is only phase one, and phase two will further what they envision. The updates require funding from the Legislature, some of which was lost when the bonding bill failed this year, she said.

"The windows let in more natural light, and there aren't split levels, which provide employees better visibility," Piper said. "Patients live here on average eight years, and it needs to feel like a home."

State Rep. Clark Johnson, DFL-North Mankato, came to the open house. He said he hopes to work toward increasing funding for more updates to the hospital and staff increases for phase two to the tune of more than $70 million.

"I was glad to hear the commissioner say she was focused on seeing it come to fruition," Johnson said. The hospital has two peer institutions in the U.S. both of which have a greater number of staff per patient than in Minnesota, he said.

The hospital has been plagued by staff injuries and was fined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

At the open house people could wander in and out of the facilities either on guided tours or on their own and learn about volunteer and job opportunities.

Several members of staff from other parts of the campus came up to explore the new buildings as well. Attendees could take a shuttle down to the museum and learn more about the history of the hospital.