Massachusetts General Hospital facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Massachusetts General Hospital
Mass General Brigham
The entrance to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston
Geography
Location	55 Fruit Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Coordinates	42°21′46″N 71°04′08″W / 42.36278°N 71.06889°W / 42.36278; -71.06889
Organization
Funding	Non-profit hospital
Hospital type	Teaching and Research
Affiliated university	Harvard Medical School/Harvard University
Services
Emergency department	Level I Trauma Center and Level I Pediatric Trauma Center
Helipad	(FAA LID: 0MA1)
Beds	999
History
Founded	1811

Massachusetts General Hospital (often called Mass General or MGH) is a very important hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. It's a big teaching hospital, which means it helps train future doctors and nurses. It's also the main place where Harvard Medical School students learn.

Mass General has one of the largest hospital-based research programs in the world. This means scientists at the hospital are always working to find new ways to treat illnesses. It's also one of the oldest hospitals in the United States, founded over 200 years ago! Mass General is part of a larger healthcare group called Mass General Brigham.

A Look Back: History of Mass General

The Bulfinch Building in 1941, showing the famous Ether Dome.
The Bulfinch Building was very modern for its time.

Mass General Hospital was started in 1811. It was designed by a famous architect named Charles Bulfinch. This makes it the third-oldest general hospital in the United States. Only Pennsylvania Hospital (1751) and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (1771) are older.

Doctors John Warren, John Collins Warren, and James Jackson worked hard to get the hospital started. It was first suggested in 1810 by a minister named John Bartlett. Back then, rich people were usually cared for at home. So, Mass General, like many hospitals of its time, was built to help people who didn't have much money. The very first patient was a 30-year-old sailor, admitted on September 3, 1821.

Pioneering X-rays and Computer Systems

A doctor named Walter J. Dodd started the hospital's X-ray department soon after X-rays were discovered in 1895. He was a pioneer in this field. Sadly, he got sick from too much radiation exposure and passed away in 1916.

Mass General also had the first hospital social workers in America. These are people who help patients with problems beyond their medical needs, like finding support or resources.

In the 1960s, the hospital helped create a special computer language called MUMPS. This stands for "Massachusetts General Hospital Utility Multi-Programming System." It's still used today in many hospitals for things like patient records and billing.

The First Painless Surgery: The Ether Dome

This monument in Boston remembers the first public use of ether for surgery.

One of the most famous events in medical history happened at Mass General. In October 1846, a dentist named William Thomas Green Morton showed everyone how to use inhaled ether to make someone feel no pain during surgery. This happened in a special room at the hospital called the Ether Dome.

During the demonstration, the hospital's Chief of Surgery, John Collins Warren, painlessly removed a tumor from a patient's neck. The patient didn't scream or move! Dr. Warren was amazed and said, "Gentlemen, this is no humbug." News of this amazing "anesthesia" spread quickly around the world.

Today, the Ether Dome is still there and you can visit it. Artists have even painted a picture showing what that famous day looked like, using current hospital staff as models for the people from 1846.

Mass General Today: Facilities and Operations

The main Mass General Hospital campus is located at 55 Fruit Street in Boston. It's a very large hospital that handles about 1.5 million patient visits each year. This includes visits to its main campus and its seven smaller locations around Boston. With over 25,000 employees, Mass General is one of the biggest employers in Boston.

The hospital has over 1,000 beds for patients. About 50,000 patients are admitted each year, and surgeons perform over 34,000 operations. The hospital's team also helps with over 3,800 births every year.

Mass General has a top-level Trauma Center. This means it's ready to treat the most serious injuries. In 2004, the Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care opened. It's a huge building for patients who visit the hospital but don't need to stay overnight. In 2011, the Lunder Building opened, adding more operating rooms, a bigger emergency room, and more patient beds.

The hospital is planning to expand even more by 2030. This will add a new building and more beds to help even more patients.

Massachusetts General Hospital for Children

Massachusetts General Hospital for Children
Mass General Brigham
Organisation
Funding	Non-profit hospital
Hospital type	Children's hospital
Affiliated university	Harvard Medical School
Services
Emergency department	Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center

Massachusetts General Hospital for Children (MGHfC) is a special part of Mass General just for kids. It's a children's teaching hospital with about 100 beds for young patients. It's also connected to Harvard Medical School.

MGHfC helps patients from birth up to 21 years old with many different health needs. It's the only children's hospital in the Mass General Brigham network. It also has a special unit for babies who need extra care (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and a unit for critically ill children (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit).

Awards for Children's Care

Mass General Hospital for Children is recognized as one of the best children's hospitals in the country. In 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked it nationally in several pediatric specialties:

The Mass General Research Institute

Mass General Hospital has the largest hospital-based research program in the United States. It's called the Mass General Research Institute. Scientists here work on many different types of research to improve health and find new treatments. In 2019, they had a budget of over $1 billion for research!

The Research Institute was officially started in 2015 to help guide and support all the research happening at the hospital. Research takes place in over 30 different departments and centers. Scientists study everything from the basic building blocks of life to testing new treatments in clinical trials with patients.

Important Discoveries and Scientists

Many famous scientists work at Mass General. Some have even won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, which is one of the highest awards in science. These include Jack W. Szostak, who won in 2009.

Research at Mass General has led to the development of many important medications and treatments, such as:

Getting Around Mass General

The easiest way to get to the main Mass General campus is by using Boston's public transport system, the MBTA. The closest subway stop is Charles/MGH on the Red Line. This station was updated in 2007 to be easy for everyone to use, including those with disabilities.

The hospital has several places where visitors and staff can get food and drinks. These include the Eat Street Cafe, Blossom Street Cafe, Coffee Central, Tea Leaves and Coffee Beans, and Coffee South.

Mass General Cancer Center

The Mass General Cancer Center is a special part of the hospital focused on treating cancer. It was created in 1989 and is still very active today. It's one of only 53 centers in the country recognized as a "National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center." This means it meets very high standards for cancer treatment and research.

The Cancer Center has locations throughout New England, making it easier for patients to get care closer to home. It continues to grow and improve. Recently, it received a large donation to create the Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, which will help scientists find even better ways to fight cancer.

Working with Others: Affiliated Institutions

Mass General Hospital works closely with Harvard Medical School. It's the biggest teaching hospital for Harvard, and together they form a strong team for healthcare and research.

In 2009, the Phillip T. and Susan M. Ragon Institute was started with a huge donation. This institute focuses on finding vaccines and treatments for diseases that affect the immune system, especially AIDS.

Mass General also works with the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute to provide excellent cancer care. They are also part of the Warrior Care Network, which helps veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Learning and Training

Mass General is also home to several educational programs and schools:

• Massachusetts General Hospital Academy
• Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy
• MGH Institute of Health Professions (which works with Harvard University)

Awards and Recognition

Mass General Hospital is known worldwide for its excellent care and research.

Nobel Prize Winners

Thirteen scientists who have worked or trained at Mass General have won the Nobel Prize. This shows how important their discoveries have been for medicine and science. Some of these winners include:

• 1934 George R. Minot, MD
• 1947 Carl F. Cori, PhD
• 1953 Fritz A. Lipmann, MD, PhD
• 1972 Gerald M. Edelman, MD, PhD
• 1985 Michael S. Brown, MD, and Joseph L. Goldstein, MD
• 1989 J. Michael Bishop, MD
• 1990 Joseph Edward Murray, MD and Donnall Thomas, MD
• 1998 Ferid Murad, MD, PhD
• 2009 Jack W. Szostak, PhD
• 2011 Ralph Steinman, MD
• 2012 Robert Lefkowitz, MD

Top Hospital Rankings

Mass General is often ranked as one of the best hospitals in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.

• In 2015, it was named the number one hospital in the U.S.
• In 2012, it was also ranked number one.
• It consistently ranks among the top hospitals for many different medical specialties, like Diabetes & Endocrinology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, and Orthopedics.

In 2003, Mass General was the first hospital in Massachusetts to receive "Magnet" recognition. This is a very high honor for nursing excellence, showing that the hospital has outstanding nurses and patient care.

See also

In Spanish: Hospital General de Massachusetts para niños

• Proto (magazine)
• Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare