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Highland Drive Division
In the late 1700’s, people settled on a site with high
elevation overlooking the Allegheny River and named the site “River
Hill.” The hill had 27 natural operating springs and tall pampas
grass.
During
the Revolutionary War, this site also looked down on Old Fort Pitt, giving the
land strategic importance as a lookout post. A distillery was placed in the area, so whiskey and coal could be sent
down the hill on horse-drawn wagons to the banks of the Allegheny and then taken
by boat out to the fort.
In
1790 the large tract of ground was granted to Mr. Thomas Ross by the British. Here Mr. Ross
developed the “Campania Plantation” which he later divided and sold to the
Hartman Family, who operated a large dairy farm, and the Leech Family who also
maintained a large farm.
 On
March 22, 1947, President Harry S. Truman signed authorization for the Veterans
Administration to acquire land for construction of a neuropsychiatric hospital. On December 8, 1948, a deed to land – including a large dairy farm and
a number of individually owned farms and Victory Gardens located on top of
“River Hill” – was acquired through purchase of 34 parcels of land owned
by 31 individuals. The total cost
for this acquisition of land was $1,501,315. This
land would become the Highland Drive VA Medical Center (VAMC).
The
Beginning
VA
Project #2447 was started in the Spring of 1950. The hill on which they were building had an elevation of
1,234.04 feet above mean sea level. The
highpoint of the land, known to the locals as “The Peak,” was about 87 feet
higher than the highest point is now. Much
cutting and filling of earth was required to suit the layout of the
 hospital
buildings. The construction
included a land clearing process which removed over 650,000 cubic yards of
over-burden and 6,000 tons of coal. The
total cost of construction for this hospital was $19,447,176, part of which was
raised with Series E War Bonds sold by Mrs. F.P. Tarnapowicz, and included five
patient treatment buildings, roads, parking lots, sidewalks, and a 500,000
gallon water tower. Mrs. F.P. Tarnapowicz, Mayor David Lawrence, and other
officials took part in the groundbreaking ceremony.
 The
Leech Farm Road Hospital was dedicated on November 29, 1953, under the direction
of Stewart T. Ginsberg, M.D. The
first patient was admitted on November 25, 1953. The original hospital had 951 operating beds and an average daily census
of 900 patients.
The Early Years
In
1954 VA Central Office (VACO) approved plans to commence research activities. The director appointed a research committee at the “ Leech Farm Road
Hospital” and their first meeting was held on March
 17. Early research studies included physiological, psychological, and
sociological aspects of schizophrenia and problems in the area of neurological
disorders.
That
same year a long history of education and affiliation with community education
programs was begun. The American
Medical Association approved a two-year Neurology Residency Training Program. Neurology had been started that year as a separate service, had 120 beds,
and performed neurosurgical procedures.
In
1956 Korean War casualties began arriving in Pittsburgh and 17 Leech Farm
psychologists interviewed, classified, and assigned many of these patients to
the appropriate nursing units. A
decision was made to integrate all the various specialties in psychology. The Surgical Service was also established with one part-time surgeon, six
surgical beds, and four recovery beds.
Evolution
into a Regional Psychiatric Referral Center
In
1965 the Psychiatric Service was reorganized with the installation of the
“Unit System.” One year later
outpatient services were begun as well as a pilot project, an alcohol treatment
program.
Several
new buildings were built and dedicated in the 1960’s.
 On
Thursday, November 29, 1973, the Leech Farm Road Hospital celebrated its
20th Anniversary. In
honor of this, Pittsburgh Mayor Pete Flaherty declared the date “Leech Farm
Veterans Administration Hospital Day” in the City of Pittsburgh. In 1975 another ceremony was held. This
ceremony dedicated the name change of the hospital from Leech Farm Road to
Highland Drive. Three years later all VA hospitals were designated as VA
Medical Centers.
 Many
programs which give the Highland Drive facility its current identity, were
implemented in the late 80’s. In
1986 a regional center for the evaluation and treatment of former POWs was
opened at Highland Drive. The
following year the Compensated Work Therapy Program was established. 1988 brought healthcare for homeless veterans and in 1989 the
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Center was opened. Later, in 1993, the Homeless Domiciliary was established.
 The Human
Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) officially opened its doors
at Highland Drive in the spring of 1994. It became a Center of Excellence for
Wheelchair and Related Technology in July 1999, which is a five-year
appointment. In June of 2004 this
award will be renewed. The center
has also been renamed "VA RR&D Center of Excellence for Wheelchairs and
Associated Rehabilitation Engineering (WARE).”
In October 1999 a Center of Research Excellence for
Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center was established.
The Consolidation and Transition
 On November 1, 1996,
the Highland Drive VAMC consolidated with the University Drive VAMC and the H.
John Heinz III Progressive Care Center to become the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare
System under one management.
The
Highland Drive division provides comprehensive acute and extended psychiatric
treatment, including comprehensive substance abuse, post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, and a comprehensive homeless program. Highland Drive has 210 operating beds which includes a 101 bed homeless
domiciliary. The Highland Drive Division is also a Regional Center for the
Treatment of former Prisoners of War.
The
Highland Drive Medical Service was relocated to the University Drive Division in
1997.
Many
of the Administrative functions of the VAPHS were relocated to the Highland
Drive Division in the late 1990’s including Human Resources, Fiscal, Coding,
and Billing.
 In
conjunction with the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the VAPHS hosted the 18th
National Veterans Wheelchair Games. The
event took place July 7 through 11, 1998. Participants
from 48 states, Puerto Rico, and Britain competed in 16 events. Ex-Steeler Rocky Bleier served as honorary chairman. Planning took over three years.
Read the interesting history of the
H. John Heinz III Progressive Care Center
and the University Drive Division that together
with Highland Drive make up the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.
Click
here to view, Traditions of Caring - History of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare
System 1925 - 2003 (PDF file). This publication requires Acrobat®
Reader®
to print.
Click here to download the appropriate
reader for your operating
system to access. Read the
Disclaimer.
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located on the VAPHS Web site. It is provided as a courtesy
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