Howard University Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Howard University Hospital |
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| Howard University Healthcare | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | 2041 Georgia Ave., NW 20060, Washington Metropolitan Area, Washington, D.C., United States |
| Coordinates | 38°55′03″N 77°01′12″W / 38.9175°N 77.02°W |
| Organization | |
| Hospital type | Private, nonprofit |
| Affiliated university | Howard University College of Medicine |
| Services | |
| Emergency department | Level I trauma center |
| Beds | 300 |
| History | |
| Founded | 1862 |
Howard University Hospital, once called Freedmen's Hospital, is a big hospital in Washington, D.C.. It was built where the old Griffith Stadium used to be.
For over 150 years, this hospital has helped the African-American community. It started in 1862 during the Civil War. Many African Americans came to Washington seeking freedom. This hospital was the first of its kind to offer medical care to former slaves. Later, it became the main hospital for the area's African-American community.
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What Howard University Hospital Does
Howard University Hospital (HUH) is a private, non-profit hospital in Washington, D.C. It is connected with Howard University. HUH is the only teaching hospital located on the campus of a historically black university.
This means medical students can watch and join in real patient care and research. In 2020, Adventist HealthCare started managing the hospital. This brought new help and chances for students to train in other hospitals.
Helping the Community
Doctors and other health experts from HUH often work in the local community. They give health talks and offer free health checks. They also hold workshops and health fairs.
One special program is the Diabetes Treatment Center. It helps people with diabetes in many ways. The Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP) is also based here. It was started by transplant surgeon Clive O. Callender.
HUH offers many special services. These include care for hormone problems, eye care, and foot care. They also offer diabetes education, pharmacy help, and nutrition advice.
Trauma Care and Research
HUH is a top-level trauma center in D.C. This means it treats very serious injuries and emergencies. It handles over 1,300 patients each year. It became a main trauma center after another hospital, D.C. General Hospital, closed.
Dr. Edward E. Cornwell, III, leads the trauma team. He is a trauma surgeon, writer, and community helper. He focuses on helping people in city areas. His work with patients and outreach to Black men has been featured in magazines and on TV.
The trauma team is also known for its research. Their surgeons have published more than 50 articles in medical journals recently. HUH also publishes a health newsletter called The Check Up.
Hospital History
The First Hospital: Freedmen's Hospital
Freedmen's Hospital and Asylum first opened in 1862. It was located at Camp Barker, on 13th and R Streets, NW. It cared for Black people who were freed, disabled, or elderly.
In 1863, Dr. Alexander Augusta became its head. He was the first African American to lead a hospital in the United States. After the Civil War, it became the teaching hospital for Howard University Medical School, which started in 1868.
The hospital was managed by different government groups over the years. In 1881, President Chester Arthur chose Charles Burleigh Purvis to lead the hospital. Purvis was the first Black person to lead a hospital under civilian control.
In the early 1900s, a new hospital building was approved. It was finished in 1909 on Bryant Street, NW. When a man named Abraham Flexner visited that year, he was impressed by the new Freedmen's Hospital. He thought Howard University Medical School had a bright future.
In 1967, Freedmen's Hospital was given to Howard University. It was used as a hospital until 1975. The old Freedmen's building on Bryant Street is still there. Today, it is home to Howard University's John H. Johnson School of Communications.
There is also a museum called Freedmen's Hall at the University Hospital. It tells the story of medical education and health care at Howard University.
The Modern Hospital Today
The University Hospital is now in a new, modern building. It is located at 2041 Georgia Avenue, NW. This spot used to be Griffith Stadium, where famous sports teams played.
In February 2020, Howard University Hospital and Adventist HealthCare made an agreement. Adventist HealthCare would manage the hospital for three years. Anita L. A. Jenkins became the new chief executive of Howard University Hospital.
Hospital Departments
Howard University Hospital has many departments that help patients. Here are some of them:
- Anesthesiology - This department helps patients with pain during surgery or other procedures.
- Community Health and Family Medicine - This department provides care for the whole family, from adults to children.
- Dentistry - Dentists here offer special services like check-ups, oral cancer screenings, and surgery.
- Dermatology - This department treats skin, hair, and nail diseases. They specialize in skin conditions common in African Americans and other groups with darker skin.
- Emergency Medicine - This department provides urgent care for emergencies. They see over 60,000 patients each year.
- Internal Medicine - This department focuses on preventing, finding, and treating diseases in adults.
- Neurology - This department provides care for brain and nerve problems. They focus on disorders that affect African Americans and other minority groups.
- Obstetrics and Gynecology - This department provides care for women, especially during pregnancy and childbirth.
- Ophthalmology - This department offers eye care services for people of all ages.
- Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation - This department treats injuries and diseases of bones, joints, and muscles. They offer both surgery and other treatments.
- Pathology - This department tests samples to help doctors diagnose diseases. This includes many types of cancer.
- Pediatrics and Child Health - This department cares for children and teenagers. They offer services like newborn care, immunizations, and school health checks.
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences - This department helps people with mental health issues. They also help those with addiction problems.
- Radiology - This department uses imaging like X-rays to help diagnose patients. They help patients of all ages.
- Surgery - This department offers many types of surgeries. This includes cancer surgery, heart surgery, and trauma surgery.
- The New Freedmen's Clinic - In 2009, Howard University Hospital opened a new clinic. It offers free medical care to low-income patients who do not have insurance. Medical students run and staff this clinic. They are overseen by experienced doctors.
