Logan Reid
UAB Hospital, established in 1945 as the teaching hospital for the University of Alabama School of Medicine, has experienced several changes and expansions over the years. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, the hospital has grown to encompass around 20 surrounding medical buildings, including clinics and an eye hospital. Notably, the hospital's Women & Infants Center has drawn attention due to the absence of a fourth floor, with similar patterns observed in other newer buildings. This peculiarity has been attributed to cultural considerations and the need for additional vertical height on each floor to accommodate modern regulations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of floors | 10 |
| Number of beds | 1,207 |
| Location | Birmingham, Alabama |
| Nursing staff | Highly trained and caring |
| Drop-off and pick-up locations | North Pavilion entrance, Spain Wallace entrance, Women & Infants Center entrance |
| Parking | 4th Avenue Deck |
| Entrance floor from parking | 2nd floor |
| Wheelchaire assistance | Available on the second floor in the Sky Lobby |
| Services | Powerful Wi-Fi, meals and snacks, full-service food court, coffee, pastry, and sandwich shop options |
| No. of physicians included in the "Best Doctors in America" list | 234 |
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What You'll Learn
The absence of a fourth floor
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital is a large and well-regarded teaching hospital with 1,207 beds. It is located in Birmingham, Alabama, and was established in 1945 as the teaching hospital for the University of Alabama School of Medicine. The hospital has expanded over the years and now includes 20 surrounding medical buildings.
Interestingly, none of the newer UAB hospital buildings have a fourth floor. This is not due to the need for additional space for mechanical or storage purposes, but rather cultural and historical reasons. The number four is considered unlucky in many Asian languages as the word for four sounds very similar to the word for death. This superstition is not unique to Asian cultures, as evidenced by the absence of a 13th floor in older buildings like Jefferson Tower.
The UAB Hospital is not the only medical facility to omit certain floor numbers. For example, the Berlin Army Hospital in Germany also only uses odd-numbered floors, possibly due to extra capacity considerations in the event of a war.
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The hospital's size
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital is a large hospital with 1,207 licensed beds. It is located in Birmingham, Alabama, in the city's Medical District, and is the flagship property of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. UAB Hospital is among the 20 largest and best-equipped hospitals in the US. It is also the largest employer in Birmingham, with a staff of over 20,000.
The hospital was established in 1945 as the teaching hospital for the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Since then, it has expanded into around 20 surrounding medical buildings, including clinics and an eye hospital. The hospital's main parking deck for patients and guests is the 4th Avenue Deck.
The hospital has at least 10 floors, with floor numbers 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. There is no fourth floor in any of the newer UAB hospital buildings. This is because the word for the number four in many Asian languages sounds similar to the word for death. Similarly, older buildings like Jefferson Tower do not have a 13th floor.
The reason for the absence of a fourth floor in newer hospitals is related to the increased vertical height required for each floor due to new regulations. In newer hospitals, four new floors occupy the same vertical space as five older floors. This design provides extra capacity and flexibility, allowing for the addition of hardware, HVAC systems, pipes, and cables.
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Its establishment and history
UAB Hospital, also known as University Hospital, was established in 1945 as the teaching hospital for the University of Alabama School of Medicine. It was originally located in the Jefferson and Hillman Hospitals, which were acquired by the University of Alabama Board of Trustees from Jefferson County. The hospital was moved from the University of Alabama's main campus in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to Birmingham due to the rapid growth of the Greater Birmingham area. This expansion led to the hospital's continued growth, eventually spreading to about 20 surrounding medical buildings.
UAB Hospital is a 1,207-bed tertiary hospital and academic health science center located in Birmingham, Alabama's Medical District. It is the flagship property of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the UAB Health System, which is part of the University of Alabama System. The hospital includes clinics, an eye hospital, and affiliations with other healthcare facilities throughout Alabama.
As the primary teaching hospital for the UAB School of Medicine, UAB Hospital has seven of its specialty programs ranked among the top 50 in the United States. Five of these seven ranked programs were in the top 25, making UAB Hospital one of only 176 institutions nationwide recognised by the magazine's "Best Hospitals" list. In 2005-2006, 234 physicians from UAB Hospital were included in the list of "Best Doctors in America," compiled by Best Doctors, an independent medical referral service.
The hospital provides patients with a full range of primary and specialty care services, offering the latest treatments and innovations in healthcare. It is also a major center for clinical research, allowing patients access to treatments that may not be available elsewhere in the area. UAB Hospital has been recognised for its excellence, receiving the Consumer Choice Award from the National Research Corporation (NRC) in 2005-2006.
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Parking and accessibility
UAB Hospital, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is a large and well-equipped academic health science centre with 1,207 beds. It is Birmingham's largest employer, with a staff of over 20,000. As such, it is a busy site with a constant stream of patients, visitors, and staff coming and going. The hospital's parking and drop-off facilities are designed to accommodate this high volume of traffic.
The 4th Avenue Deck is the main parking deck for guests and patients at UAB Hospital. The entrance to the deck is located at the corner of 4th Avenue South and 18th Street South. From there, visitors can enter the North Pavilion on the 2nd floor of the parking deck. It is important to note that there are parking rates associated with the 4th Avenue Deck, and visitors are encouraged to refer to the hospital's website for more information on these charges.
For those with walking limitations, there are several convenient drop-off and pick-up locations at the hospital. The North Pavilion entrance, located on 6th Avenue South between 18th and 19th Streets South, is one such option. Another is the Spain Wallace entrance on 19th Street South between 6th and 7th Avenues South. Additionally, there is the Women & Infants Center entrance on 6th Avenue South between 17th and 18th Streets South. It is worth noting that this particular entrance does not have a 4th floor, as it needs to match the floor plan of older buildings like the North Pavilion.
UAB Hospital is committed to providing accessible options for all. Persons requiring wheelchair assistance can notify staff stationed on the second floor in the Sky Lobby upon arrival. Furthermore, powerful Wi-Fi is available throughout the hospital, ensuring that visitors and patients can easily access information or stay connected during their time on-site.
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Its reputation and awards
UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, has a strong reputation as a leading academic health science centre and tertiary hospital. With 1,207 licensed beds, it is among the 20 largest hospitals in the nation and is well-equipped with modern amenities, powerful Wi-Fi, and a range of dining options. The hospital is known for its highly trained and caring nursing staff, as indicated by its consecutive designations as a Magnet Hospital.
UAB Hospital has received numerous awards and recognitions for its excellence in healthcare. In 2005-2006, 234 physicians from the hospital were included in the prestigious list of "Best Doctors in America" by Best Doctors, an independent medical referral service. This list is compiled through surveys of peer physicians, and only 3-5% of all specialists worldwide are included. The hospital itself also achieved the Consumer Choice Award by the National Research Corp (NRC) in the same period, placing it among the top hospitals in the state and the country.
UAB Hospital is the only ACS-verified Level I Trauma Centre in Alabama and serves as the primary teaching hospital for the UAB School of Medicine. According to U.S. News & World Report in 2006, seven of its speciality programs were ranked among the top 50 in the United States, with five of those programs in the top 25. This made UAB Hospital one of only 176 institutions nationwide to be recognised by the magazine's "Best Hospitals" list and the sole hospital in Alabama to receive this honour.
The hospital's reputation extends beyond its medical expertise. It is Birmingham's largest employer, with a staff of over 20,000, and it plays a crucial role in the city's economy. UAB Hospital has also been recognised for its commitment to patient satisfaction and safety. Its designations as a Magnet Hospital reflect its dedication to providing outstanding patient care and nursing excellence.
Overall, UAB Hospital's reputation and awards reflect its standing as a leading healthcare institution, not just in Alabama but across the United States. Its combination of medical expertise, innovative treatments, and patient-centred care has earned it recognition from renowned organisations and publications, solidifying its place as a top healthcare provider.
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Frequently asked questions
The UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, has 10 floors.
The fourth floor is absent from the newer UAB Hospital buildings due to cultural beliefs. The word for the number four in many Asian languages sounds similar to the word for death.
Yes, the older buildings such as Jefferson Tower also do not have a fourth floor. Instead, they often omit the 13th floor.
Yes, a user on Reddit recalled that when they were a child, they noticed that only the odd-numbered floors of the Berlin Army Hospital were in use.
The 4th Avenue Deck is the main parking deck for visitors and patients. The entrance is located at the corner of 4th Avenue South and 18th Street South.
