
Bellevue Hospital, officially NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, is the oldest public hospital in the United States, located in Manhattan, New York City. The hospital has a long history of innovation, including the opening of the first maternity ward in the US in 1799 and the world's first ligation of the femoral artery for an aneurysm in 1808. Bellevue has one of the country's largest emergency rooms and is a Level I Trauma Center, delivering 24/7 care in various specialties. With a high volume of patients, Bellevue is known for serving medically underserved populations and has achieved several medical firsts. The hospital has a state-of-the-art emergency room, providing advanced care in cardiology, neurology, toxicology, and neonatology.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | 462 First Avenue in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City |
| Type | Public hospital |
| Year founded | 1771 |
| Number of beds | One of the largest in the US |
| Annual non-ER outpatient clinic visits | 460,000 |
| Annual emergency visits | 106,000 |
| Annual inpatients | 30,000 |
| Specialty clinic services | Geriatric ambulatory care, perinatal care, cardiovascular program, psychiatric care |
| Awards and recognition | U.S. News & World Report ranking (2014), recognition from American Diabetes Association and National Committee for Quality Assurance |
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What You'll Learn

Bellevue Hospital is the oldest public hospital in the US
Bellevue Hospital, officially NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and formerly known as Bellevue Hospital Center, is the oldest public hospital in the United States. It is located at 462 First Avenue in the Kips Bay neighbourhood of Manhattan, New York City.
Bellevue Hospital was founded in the 1730s, nearly 40 years before the American Revolution. Its historical beginnings can be traced back to the 1660s when it was a small infirmary for soldiers with infectious diseases. Under British rule, the hospital's predecessor, the City Almshouse, opened to the public.
Bellevue has a long history of serving vulnerable populations, including the homeless, immigrants, and minorities. It has been at the forefront of comprehensive patient care and medical education, delivering care to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. The hospital has been recognised for its commitment to serving New York City's medically underserved populations.
Bellevue has been a pioneer in many medical advancements. It opened the first maternity ward in the United States in 1799 and established the world's first ligation of the femoral artery for an aneurysm in 1808. In the 1850s, Bellevue physicians promoted the "Bone Bill", which legalised the dissection of cadavers for anatomical studies, and popularised the use of the hypodermic syringe. In 1867, Bellevue doctors played a crucial role in developing New York City's sanitary code, the first of its kind globally. The hospital established the nation's first ambulatory cardiac clinic in 1911 and the Western Hemisphere's inaugural ward for metabolic disorders in 1917.
Today, Bellevue Hospital continues to be a leader in healthcare, offering state-of-the-art emergency, inpatient, specialty, and skilled nursing care. It is one of the largest hospitals in the United States in terms of bed numbers and handles a significant volume of outpatient clinic visits, emergency cases, and inpatients annually.
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It is also one of the largest hospitals in the US by number of beds
Bellevue Hospital, officially NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and formerly known as Bellevue Hospital Center, is one of the largest hospitals in the United States by bed number. Located at 462 First Avenue in the Kips Bay neighbourhood of Manhattan, New York City, it is also the oldest public hospital in the country.
Bellevue has a long history of innovation and firsts. In 1799, it opened the first maternity ward in the United States. In 1808, the world's first ligation of the femoral artery for an aneurysm was performed at the hospital, and just ten years later, the first ligation of the innominate artery was carried out. Bellevue physician Stephen Smith became the first commissioner of public health in New York City in 1868 and initiated a national campaign for health vaccinations. The following year, Bellevue established the second hospital-based emergency ambulance service in the US.
The hospital has a state-of-the-art emergency room, one of the largest in New York City, and is a Level I Trauma Centre. It provides 24/7 care in adult, paediatric, psychiatric, and paediatric psychiatric emergencies, as well as in nationally designated categories such as cardiology, neurology, toxicology, and neonatology. Bellevue has one of the top cardiovascular programmes in the state, with a "door to STEMI" time that far exceeds national recommendations.
Bellevue handles a large volume of patients, with nearly 460,000 non-ER outpatient clinic visits, almost 106,000 emergency visits, and approximately 30,000 inpatients each year. Over 80% of these patients come from the city's medically underserved populations. The hospital's efficient and modern emergency department has the highest-level designation for trauma, neurological trauma, amputations requiring reimplantation, paediatric cardio-cooling, and poisonings.
Bellevue's Geriatric Ambulatory Care Program is one of the largest in the nation, caring for over 5,000 seniors annually. In perinatal care, the hospital is the Regional Perinatal Centre for the 11 hospitals within its health system. It provides the latest, cutting-edge medical technology and compassionate care.
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The hospital has a state-of-the-art Emergency Room
Bellevue Hospital, officially NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, is the oldest public hospital in the United States. It is located in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, and is one of the largest hospitals in the country by the number of beds. The hospital handles a high volume of patients, with nearly 460,000 non-ER outpatient clinic visits, nearly 106,000 emergency visits, and approximately 30,000 inpatients each year.
Bellevue has a long history of innovation and has pioneered many medical firsts. In 1799, it opened the first maternity ward in the United States, and in 1808, the world's first ligation of the femoral artery for an aneurysm was performed there. The hospital has continued to be a leader in medical care and was ranked 40th overall best hospital in the New York metro area and 29th in New York City by U.S. News & World Report in 2014.
In addition to its state-of-the-art Emergency Room, Bellevue offers a range of specialty clinic services, including a top-ranked cardiovascular program, a Geriatric Ambulatory Care Program, and a Diabetes Team recognized for delivering high-quality diabetes care. The hospital's Adult Medicine Clinic has also received the highest rating from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
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Bellevue has one of the top cardiovascular programs in the state
Bellevue Hospital, officially NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, is the oldest public hospital in the United States. Located in Manhattan, New York City, it is one of the largest hospitals in the country by number of beds. Bellevue has long been a pioneer in healthcare, with a history of firsts, including the opening of the first maternity ward in the US in 1799 and the world's first ligation of the femoral artery for an aneurysm in 1808.
Bellevue's state-of-the-art Emergency Room delivers around-the-clock care in adult, pediatric, psychiatric, and pediatric psychiatric emergencies. The hospital's specialty clinic services include coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, and resuscitation. Bellevue's Diabetes Team has been recognized by the American Diabetes Association and the National Committee for Quality Assurance for delivering high-quality diabetes care.
Bellevue serves a diverse patient population, with more than 80% of its patients coming from the city's medically underserved communities. The hospital handles a high volume of patients, with nearly 460,000 non-ER outpatient clinic visits, almost 106,000 emergency visits, and approximately 30,000 inpatients each year. Bellevue has a long history of serving the city's poorest and most vulnerable residents, often acting as a refuge for immigrants living in the slums of lower Manhattan.
Bellevue Hospital continues to be a leader in healthcare, offering innovative treatments and compassionate care to its patients. Its reputation as one of the top hospitals in the state is well-deserved, and its cardiovascular program is a key contributor to its excellence in healthcare delivery.
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It was once known for its psychiatric care
Bellevue Hospital in New York City is the oldest public hospital in the United States. It was once known for its psychiatric care, which was considered a byword for the horrors of medical treatment. However, the hospital has also been a pioneer in identifying and categorizing mental illnesses and training psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses.
Bellevue was built in 1771 on Broadway, Manhattan, and originally catered to high society. However, it soon became a refuge for the city's poorest, particularly immigrants living in the slums of Lower Manhattan. Bellevue has entered popular consciousness as a major hospital in the largest city in the US. It is one of the largest hospitals in the country by the number of beds and handles nearly 460,000 non-ER outpatient clinic visits, nearly 106,000 emergency visits, and some 30,000 inpatients each year.
Bellevue has achieved several medical firsts throughout its history. In 1799, it opened the first maternity ward in the US, and in 1808, the world's first ligation of the femoral artery for an aneurysm was performed there. In 1868, Bellevue physician Stephen Smith became the first commissioner of public health in New York City, initiating a national campaign for health vaccinations. The following year, Bellevue established the second hospital-based emergency ambulance service in the US.
Today, Bellevue continues to offer state-of-the-art care and is a city-wide medical specialty referral source. Its emergency room is one of the largest in New York City and delivers around-the-clock care in adult, pediatric, psychiatric, and pediatric psychiatric emergencies. The hospital has one of the top cardiovascular programs in the state and has been recognised for delivering high-quality diabetes care.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Bellevue Hospital is state-of-the-art. It provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care and is a city-wide medical specialty referral source. The hospital has one of the top cardiovascular programs in the state and is a pioneer in identifying and categorizing mental illness.
Bellevue Hospital is the oldest public hospital in the United States and one of the largest hospitals in the country by number of beds. It has one of the city's largest emergency rooms and is a Level I Trauma Center. The hospital also has one of the largest Geriatric Ambulatory Care Programs in the nation, caring for over 5,000 seniors annually.
Bellevue Hospital was built in 1771 on Broadway in New York City. While it was initially catered to high society, it soon became a refuge for the city's poorest, particularly immigrants living in the slums of lower Manhattan. Bellevue has been a pioneer in the medical field, opening the first maternity ward in the United States in 1799 and performing multiple other medical firsts throughout its history.






















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