Bellevue Hospital is not just the oldest active hospital in New York City, it is also the oldest hospital in the territory of the USA. Its history dates back to the distant 18th century when a small infirmary was opened on the second floor of the local shelter. Learn more on i-new-york.com.
Founding and development of the New York Hospital
The history of the oldest hospital in New York originates in 1736. It all started with a small shelter on the second floor of which a department with six beds was opened. But soon, there were massive yellow fever outbreaks in New York and the only hospital with six beds was simply not enough. Then the government of New York bought the Belle Vue farm. A department was founded there, which was used for quarantine during multiple outbreaks of yellow fever.
At the end of the 18th century, the first U.S. maternity ward was opened here. Since then, pregnant New Yorkers have had the choice of giving birth at home or in a hospital.
Also, faculty and students from the local medical university were directed to the New York hospital to perform restructuring and reform. Over the years, the hospital was transformed, new departments appeared and training and other things were provided.
The hospital was named Bellevue only in 1824. It was given in honor of the farm where the hospital was opened.
The 19th century was a period of real breakthrough and tremendous growth for the New York hospital. In particular, here:
· clinical training of future doctors was conducted
· a surgical department was opened
· the Medical College at the hospital was established
· a nursing school was opened
· the first US children’s clinic was opened
· the first U.S. emergency department was opened
· a revolutionary department for the mentally ill was opened
· a residency training program was conducted
· the first US laboratory of pathology and bacteriology was opened
· the first U.S. nursing school was opened
· an alcoholism department was opened.
Furthermore, during the 19th century, the hospital performed many medical procedures that had never been performed anywhere else in the world before. In particular, in the 1800s, the world’s first femoral artery ligation was done in the New York hospital. Over the years, another revolutionary ligation of the innominate artery was made.
Bellevue’s doctors were also among the first to ensure that the dissection of corpses for further anatomical study were legalized. The doctors of the oldest hospital in New York also succeeded in developing a sanitary code in the city. It became the world’s first sanitary code.
During outbreaks of various epidemics, it was Bellevue doctors who initiated a national vaccination campaign. It has led to a reduction in epidemic outbreaks over time.
New York’s oldest hospital in the 19th and 21st centuries
The end of the 19th century was no less revolutionary for the oldest hospital in New York. Specifically, in 1899, doctors proved that a disease such as tuberculosis was not only curable but also preventable.
At the same time, the 20th century was a revolutionary for the hospital in the field of surgery. It was here that the first successful operation to remove a bullet from a human’s body was performed. Mitral valve replacement and kidney transplant operations were also effectively done here.
Moreover, in the early 20th century, doctors at the oldest hospital in New York discovered a drug that could eliminate the acute symptoms of myocardial infarction. This is where the first vaccine against hepatitis B was developed and a real breakthrough was made in the treatment of AIDS patients.
Even in the 21st century, New York’s Bellevue Hospital remains one of the most modern hospitals in the territory of the USA. It is considered not only the oldest hospital in America but also one of the largest hospitals. There are more than 800 beds here.