Comments on: Kaiser Permanente’s Historical Role in Rehabilitation Medicine

By: AJ Laverty

AJ Laverty — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:04:43 +0000

Reply to Judy Weston; I was in Kabat Kaiser Institute, Santa Monica, CA from August 1950 to just before Christmas the same year. At 10, I was transferred by ambulance from LA County Hospital where I had been in isolation for 2 weeks. Except for the upstairs wards, the lobby was quite lush to my eyes. Velvet drapes, thick carpeting, a baby grand piano, overstuffed furniture, and an enclosed swimming pool were on the ground level. It was close enough to the beach and a group of us were walked (or wheeled) there once.
I was put in the girl’s ward which was open on one side and don’t remember how many beds there were, but there were several of us and I think I was one of the oldest. The boy’s ward was across from us, semi separated by large columns. I remember most of the treatments; hot wool cloths, physical therapy, gym, hot tanks, wet stretch, dry stretch, water therapy in the pool, etc.
There was an auditorium where one class school for all ages, crafts, holiday parties were held. Hollywood stars occasionally visited.

By: Joyce Dannemiller

Joyce Dannemiller — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:34:57 +0000

I am looking for information about Kabat Kaiser Institute in 16th Street in Washingtion, D. C. I was a patient there for 6 months in 1951 1952.

By: Bert Rush

Bert Rush — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 22:12:04 +0000

Reply to Judy Weston: I was in rehab there in 1952, when I was five. I remember the hot baths and being wrapped in itchy woolen towels. Have since learned the building was known as the Edgewater Beach Hotel (or Club), before being acquired by Kaiser. I found images of it on the internet, and a postcard view on eBay. There was a movie filmed there in 1949 that shows quite a bit of the interior and exterior. It was Ida Lupino’s first as a director, called “Never Fear.” I bought it in DVD format a few years ago. Seeing the movie brought back memories.

By: Judy Weston

Judy Weston — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 20:25:34 +0000

Does anyone have any personal information on the Kabat-Kaiser Institute in Santa Monica? I would be very interested in any info., pictures or remembrances anyone may have of the place from the early to middle fifties.

By: Tweets that mention Kaiser Permanente’s Historical Role in Rehabilitation Medicine « A History of Total Health | Kaiser Permanente History Blog -- Topsy.com

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 09:44:13 +0000

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