Hospitals of America
The first dedicated hospital in the United States opened in 1751 in Philadelphia. Started by the Quakers, and headed by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond, Pennsylvania Hospital’s mission was to care for the sick who lacked proper home care. Today, there are about 7000 hospitals in the United States delivering general and specialized health care. Half of these hospitals have less than 100 beds. In addition to this primary mission, many hospitals offer education and training for medical personnel, and conduct vital medical research.
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Johns Hopkins Hospital
Started by a gift from Quaker merchant Johns Hopkins, the hospital
opened in 1889 followed by the medical school in 1893. Under the
direction of Dr. William Halsted it offered the first formal
training program specifically for surgeons. Dr. Halsted introduced
the use of surgical gloves to the operating room and popularized sterile
technique. Dr. Harvey Cushing, one of Dr. Halsted’s residents, is considered the father of modern neurosurgery. Dr. William Osler, its first physician-in-chief, started a system of medical clinics and was a noted teacher of medical students using the bedside as a classroom.
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Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania
Recognizing the special needs of sick children, The Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania opened in 1855. This followed the groundwork of Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and Professor of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania: 1789-1813. Dr. Rush had a special interest in “Diseases peculiar to children” and is considered one of the founders of the specialty of Pediatrics.
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Bellevue Hospital
The first health clinic started in New Amsterdam as a infirmary for soldiers and slaves. It was established in 1658 by Jacob Varrenvanger. In 1794, the original facilities were inadequate to deal with a yellow fever epidemic so a new hospital was built. An estate was purchased about three miles from town, to isolate these patients. The “Belle Vue” mansion was used as a pesthouse and its name was given to the hospital built on this site.
The staff of Bellevue Hospital introduced small pox vaccine to New York and performed some of the first vascular surgery cases in America. The hospital was also the site of the first hospital-based ambulance service. Hospital based horse and buggy teams were sent to area disasters. The first school of nursing in America was started at Bellevue in 1873.
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