Amigos which made room for many mentally ill children to be admitted in. Due to many residents being unable to work this brought upon the end of Rancho Los Amigo's farming operations. after World War 2 the facility's population doubled partially due to the 1944 polio outbreak. Rancho Los Amigos became known for its polio care and in 1950 general ward 50 was remodeled to treat polio patients specifically. In 1952 superintendent Harriman retired and was replaced by Robert Thomas. 1952-present In 1952 Thomas had the respiratory center constructed on the northern campus and had the staff reorganized into the professional service department, nursing department, and dietary department. During this time home care, orthopedic, rehabilitation, and social services departments were also added. After Thomas's departure in 1956 Ranch Los Amigos continued to grow in the northern campus throughout the 20th century leaving the southern campus vacated. Today Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center is one of the largest comprehensive medical rehabilitation centers in the U.S. providing services to a wide range of individuals with catastrophic illnesses and injuries. Rancho specializes in helping patients with disabilities regain skills and learn techniques to accomplish the basic activities of daily living, and returning to work or school if possible. For more than two decades, Rancho has been ranked among "America's Best Hospitals" in Rehabilitation Medicine by U.S. News & World Report. In 2011, U.S. News ranked the Downey, California-based hospital 7th among the 138 hospitals rated in the Greater Los Angeles area. Rancho is licensed for 207 beds. It cares for approximately 4,000 inpatients and conducts 78,000 outpatient visits annually. The hospital provides rehabilitation services in stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, pediatrics, orthopedics and diabetes care, pressure ulcer management, limb preservation and post- amputation care. These services help patients to obtain as much independence as they are able, so they may return to their family, school or a job if feasible. As the rehabilitation arm of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services healthcare system, Rancho is becoming an enhanced medical home for stroke and spinal cord injury, providing lifetime care for seniors and persons with disabilities. Rancho continues to pioneer creative programs that promote recovery, community reintegration and independence for persons recovering from or living with physical disability, including such programs as: Day Rehabilitation Program Rancho Wellness Center KnowBarriers Patient Achievement Program Acute Stroke Services Advanced Robotics Center Virtual Reality