Pennsylvania Hospital
Pennsylvania Hospital is a private, non-profit, 515-bed teaching hospital located at 800 Spruce Street in Center City Philadelphia, The hospital was founded on May 11, 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond, and was the second established public hospital (first was Bellevue) but had the first surgical ampitheatre in the United States.[2][3][a][6] and its first medical library.[7] It is part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
Pennsylvania Hospital
800 Spruce Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Private
Yes
515[1]
1751[2]
December 17, 1756
Colonial and Federal (Pine Building)
October 15, 1966
June 22, 1965
December 17, 1954[5]
The hospital's main building, dating to 1756, is a National Historic Landmark.[3]
History[edit]
18th century[edit]
Pennsylvania Hospital was originally conceived in 1751 by Thomas Bond as an institution "for the reception and cure of the sick poor...free of charge. It was funded by "matching grant" to donations of the people of Philadelphia by a bill, which the House passed unanimously on February 7, 1750. Franklin later wrote that, "I do not remember any of my political Manoeuvres, the Success of which gave me at the time more Pleasure." On September 2, 1751, Mathias Koplin donated the first plot of ground for the new hospital.[8]
The first building at the hospital was opened on February 6, 1752, on High Street[9] (now Market Street). Elizabeth Gardner, a Quaker widow, was appointed Matron of the hospital. As the hospital received support of the leading families in Philadelphia, its permanence was secured, and Samuel Rhoads was appointed architect of the new building.
Thomas Stretch was among the leading citizens of Philadelphia and one of the founders of Pennsylvania Hospital. He was a member of the Union Fire Company, also known as Benjamin Franklin's Bucket Brigade and a founder of the social club known as Schuylkill Fishing Company, and the club's first governor in 1732, re-elected annually until his death in 1765.[10] Stretch was a director of the Philadelphia Contributionship (Hand-in-Hand fire mark) from 1758 to 1761.[11][12]
In the Pennsylvania Gazette of May 29, 1755, Thomas Stretch appears as one of the largest subscribers with Benjamin Franklin and others to the fund for the Pennsylvania Hospital. The Stretch family and Benjamin Franklin each provided half of the original capital to fund the hospital. The list of subscribers reads:
Reputation[edit]
According to US News & World Report Pennsylvania Hospital is ranked 12th among hospitals in the state of Pennsylvania and 6th among 12 hospitals ranked in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.[17] It also achieved a high-performing status across five subspecialties.[17] The 2018 Becker's Hospital Review listed the internal medicine residency program at Pennsylvania Hospital 19th in the country.[18] According to the Doximity residency internal medicine rankings, in the category "Reputation" Pennsylvania Hospital is 28th in the country of 620 programs.[19] According to the Doximity residency Obstetrics & Gynecology rankings, in the category "Reputation" Pennsylvania Hospital is 48th in the country of 298 programs.[20]