One of the most significant characteristics of any city is its quality of medicine and medical treatment. This point (in priority) is frequently used to guide people when choosing a city to live in. Continue reading on i-houston.
Due to the high cost of healthcare in America, the majority of individuals get insurance to save money, ensure their continued health and cover unforeseen expenses.
Although Houston is not among the most significant cities for receiving the best medical treatment, there are still many centers, hospitals and clinics where people may get aid.
You’re probably wondering which Houston hospital was one of the first and oldest? What level of health care do they provide to Houston residents?
From an infirmary to a prestigious hospital
St. Joseph Medical Center is one of Houston’s first and oldest hospitals. Initially, though, it was just a regular infirmary.
This hospital was established in the late nineteenth century, in 1887. Initially, it positioned itself as Houston’s first hospital to assist underprivileged patients. It was founded by one of the city’s Catholic orders.
When the hospital was reconstructed in 1894, the structure was made of brick and looked better as a whole. However, the hospital burned down owing to an accident (a fire in a nearby boarding house). The founding sisters, who belonged to the Order died in the fire, although none of the patients were hurt. The hospital was restored thanks to donations from local citizens.
The new structure had been constructed by 1905. The three-story hospital could receive 350 patients at once (since that was the number of beds), and it became able to give surgical care as well as general medical care.
The popularity of the medical institution began to grow and was often mentioned in newspapers and magazines. The Texas Journal of Medicine, for example, remarked that there is a highly qualified nursing staff here.
In 1921, the hospital was visited by the greatest American surgeons for an inspection. Following such a visit, St. Joseph Medical Center was included in a list of 12 infirmaries in Texas that had more than 100 beds. The hospital was also marked “approved,” which also increased its status.
In 1938, thanks to the financial assistance of sponsors, a maternity unit was added to the medical institution, and two years later the structure was expanded even more. Since then, Houston has become regarded as the city with the highest number of births.
The hospital employed a large number of medical professionals regarded as some of the greatest in America, including surgeons, plastic surgeons, pediatricians, gynecologists, etc.
XXI century
Between 1995 and 1998, St. Joseph’s Hospital was at its peak of popularity, with attendance more than doubled.
The hospital began to grow again in 1998, and three years later, a new outpatient treatment department was completed.
In 1999, due to the merging of two major medical systems, St. Joseph Medical Center was subordinated to a new corporation, CHRISTUS Health. The Medical Center has undergone numerous changes since that time.
In 2005, the hospital was put up for sale. It was purchased by a firm known as Hospital Partners of America (HPA). Then there were rumors that St. Joseph owed creditors a substantial sum, which called into question the trusting relationship and cooperation with the hospital. Despite this, the HPA insisted that there were no financial issues.
However, the hospital continued to grow: in 2012, another building at a different address was erected, and in 2015, two cancer centers with high-quality patient care were opened.
In 2017, St. Joseph was bought out by Center Steward Health Care. The medical center is still in operation today. As of 2023, the hospital is positioned as a first and emergency aid facility. There are approximately 800 beds and patients are accepted around the clock.