Jordan Ellis
Pennsylvania Hospital, located at 800 Spruce Street in Center City Philadelphia, is often referred to as America's First Hospital. Founded on May 11, 1751, by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond, it was the second public hospital in the United States, after Bellevue Hospital in New York. Pennsylvania Hospital was the first hospital in the nation to be founded as a hospital, as the other two were initially a poorhouse and a workhouse, respectively. It has a rich history and is known for its contributions to healthcare and medicine, housing many key developments in the field.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Pennsylvania Hospital |
| Location | 800 Spruce Street in Center City Philadelphia |
| Founding Date | May 11, 1751 |
| Founders | Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond |
| Type | Private, non-profit, teaching hospital |
| Number of Beds | 515 |
| Specialty | First surgical amphitheatre in the nation |
| Ranking | Ranked 7th among hospitals in Pennsylvania and 3rd in the Philadelphia metropolitan area |
| Address | 8th and Pine |
| Year Opened to Patients | 1753 |
| Staff | Dr. Benjamin Rush, known as the "Father of American Psychiatry" |
| Merger | Merged with the University of Pennsylvania Health System in 1997 |
| Notable Achievements | First bloodless stem-cell transplant, pioneering work in various medical specialties |
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$25.95
What You'll Learn
Pennsylvania Hospital, founded in 1751, was America's second public hospital
Pennsylvania Hospital, located at 800 Spruce Street in Center City Philadelphia, was founded on May 11, 1751, by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond. It was America's second public hospital, after Bellevue Hospital in New York, which opened in 1736. However, Bellevue was a workhouse, and Pennsylvania Hospital was the first general hospital in the colonies. It was also the first hospital in the colonies to have an apothecary shop.
The hospital was originally conceived as an institution "for the reception and cure of the sick poor...free of charge" by Thomas Bond. It was funded by a "matching grant" from the people of Philadelphia, with Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Stretch each providing half of the original capital. Franklin considered the successful passage of the funding bill by the House in February 1750 as one of his greatest political achievements.
The hospital first opened its doors to patients in 1753 in a temporary location near Independence Hall. The original building, dating back to 1756, still stands and is listed as a National Historic Landmark. It is a prime example of Colonial and Federal architecture. The hospital has an extensive medical library with books dating back to before the invention of printing.
Pennsylvania Hospital gained a reputation as a centre of innovation and medical advancement, particularly in the area of maternity. It was a teaching hospital from its inception, with Bond leading rounds through what is now the east wing of the main building. The hospital was also known for its advanced and humane facilities for mentally ill patients at a time when mental illness was poorly understood.
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It was conceived by Thomas Bond as free care for the poor
Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia was founded on May 11, 1751, by Thomas Bond and Benjamin Franklin. It was the second public hospital in the United States, after Bellevue Hospital. Pennsylvania Hospital was the first hospital to be founded as a hospital, whereas other establishments were almshouses or workhouses.
The hospital was originally conceived by Thomas Bond in 1751 as an institution "for the reception and cure of the sick poor... free of charge". Bond wanted to provide free care for the poor and reduce contagion during a time of frequent epidemics in Philadelphia. The hospital was funded by a "matching grant" to donations from the people of Philadelphia, and the House passed this bill unanimously on February 7, 1750. Benjamin Franklin, who laid the cornerstone of the new hospital, later wrote that he could not "remember any of my political Manoeuvres, the Success of which gave me at the time more Pleasure". The hospital's motto was "Take care of Him and I will repay thee", further emphasising its charitable purpose.
The original building, located at 800 Spruce Street in Center City Philadelphia, still exists and is listed as a National Historic Landmark. It is a prime example of Colonial and Federal architecture. The hospital first opened to patients in 1753 in temporary space near Independence Hall in the former mansion of Judge John Kinsey, a Quaker who had recently died. The site was considered quite rural at the time. The hospital's main building, dating to 1756, features America's first surgical amphitheatre, which was used from 1804 to 1868. Surgeries took place between 11 am and 2 pm to make use of natural daylight. The surgical amphitheatre could seat 180 people, or accommodate 300 standing.
Pennsylvania Hospital gained a reputation as a centre of innovation and medical advancement, particularly in the area of maternity. It was a teaching hospital from its inception, and Bond would lead rounds through what is now the east wing of the main building. The hospital also had the nation's first medical library, with books dating from before the invention of printing. The hospital was integral to the formation of the University of Pennsylvania College of Medicine, founded in 1765 as the colonies' first medical college.
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The hospital was funded by the Stretch family and Benjamin Franklin
Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia was founded on May 11, 1751, by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond. It was the second public hospital in the United States, after Bellevue Hospital in New York, which opened as a six-bed infirmary in 1736. However, Pennsylvania Hospital was the first hospital to be founded as a hospital and not an almshouse or workhouse.
The hospital was funded by a combination of public donations and private contributions. Benjamin Franklin, a renowned polymath and one of the hospital's founders, played a significant role in its funding. Franklin's influence and connections helped secure financial support for the hospital's establishment.
The Stretch family, a prominent family in Philadelphia, also contributed significantly to the funding of Pennsylvania Hospital. Thomas Stretch, Joseph Stretch, and Isaac Stretch, members of the Stretch family, were listed as some of the largest subscribers to the fund for the hospital in The Pennsylvania Gazette on May 29, 1755. The Stretch family provided half of the original capital needed to establish the hospital, with the other half provided by Benjamin Franklin and other donors.
The funding from the Stretch family and Benjamin Franklin was essential to the establishment and early operations of Pennsylvania Hospital. Their contributions enabled the hospital to become a centre of innovation and medical advancement, particularly in the area of maternity care and the treatment of mental illness. The hospital was also known for its advanced and humane facilities for mentally ill patients during a time when mental illness was often misunderstood and patients were treated poorly.
Over the years, Pennsylvania Hospital has continued to receive support and expand its facilities. It has played a pivotal role in medical education and research, with staff members integral to the formation of the University of Pennsylvania College of Medicine, the first medical college in the colonies. Today, Pennsylvania Hospital remains a highly regarded teaching hospital and is recognised as a National Historic Landmark.
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It was a teaching hospital from its inception
Pennsylvania Hospital, founded in 1751, was a teaching hospital from its inception. It was the first hospital in the colonies to have an apothecary shop, and it also featured the nation's first surgical amphitheatre, which opened in 1804. The hospital's original building, dating to 1756, is a National Historic Landmark.
The hospital was founded by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond, with the former laying the cornerstone of the new hospital. The hospital was originally conceived as an institution "for the reception and cure of the sick poor...free of charge." The building included rooms in the basement for the insane, the first floor for men, the second floor for women, and the third floor for servants and isolation areas.
Pennsylvania Hospital gained a reputation as a centre of innovation and medical advancement, particularly in the area of maternity. It was also known for its advanced and humane facilities for mentally ill patients at a time when mental illness was poorly understood. The hospital's staff were integral to the formation of the University of Pennsylvania College of Medicine, founded in 1765 as the first medical college in the colonies.
The hospital has an extensive medical library of over 13,000 books, some dating from before the invention of printing. The library was the first of its kind in the United States. The hospital has been consistently ranked among the top 100 hospitals in the country and is currently ranked 7th among hospitals in Pennsylvania.
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The hospital's surgical amphitheatre opened in 1804
Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia is often referred to as "America's First Hospital". However, two other medical establishments predate it: Philadelphia General Hospital, founded in 1729 or 1834, and Bellevue Hospital in New York, founded in 1736. But as Philadelphia General started as a poorhouse and Bellevue as a workhouse, Pennsylvania Hospital was the first to be founded as a hospital. It was founded on May 11, 1751, by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond. It was the second public hospital in the United States and the nation's first hospital with a surgical amphitheatre.
In this early era of the hospital's history, surgeries often involved amputations, tumour removals, and setting broken bones. These operations were performed on a wooden table over a sawdust-covered floor. The hospital's surgical amphitheatre remained in use from 1804 to 1868.
Pennsylvania Hospital has a long history of innovation and medical advancement, particularly in the area of maternity. It has also been at the forefront of humane treatment for mentally ill patients, even when mental illness was poorly understood, and patients were often treated very badly. The hospital's contributions to medicine have been significant, and it has been designated a National Historic Landmark.
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Frequently asked questions
Pennsylvania Hospital, founded on May 11, 1751, is regarded as America's first hospital. It was founded by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond as an institution "for the reception and cure of the sick poor...free of charge."
It was the first hospital in the colonies to have an apothecary shop. It also had the first surgical amphitheatre in the nation, which opened in 1804. The hospital was also a pioneer in mental health treatment, with dedicated facilities for the insane.
The hospital is ranked highly among hospitals in Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia metropolitan area. It is known for its contributions to medical education and innovation, particularly in the area of maternity.
