At Pennsylvania Hospital, we are always searching for ways to enhance hospital operations to meet the evolving needs of our community. This mission of providing high-quality care dates back to the founding of the hospital in 1751, which was recently the focus of a KYW Newsradio podcast.
The episode, featuring our curator and lead archivist Stacey Peeples; Chair of Psychiatry Jody Foster, MD; Behavioral Health Service Line Administrator Patty Inacker, DSW, MBA, LCSW; and Chief Medical Officer Daniel Feinberg, MD, highlights the history of PAH and its impact on modern-day medicine in Philadelphia. They detail how the nation’s first hospital paved the way for advanced medical care, particularly in its treatment of patients, referencing Dr. Benjamin Rush’s advocacy for humane treatment of mentally ill patients in the 18th century. While PAH was known for its surgical excellence and education in this time period, it was the simple things that had the most significant impact, such as providing heat for additional comfort in rooms, and allowing patients to participate in activities, like painting and performing music, to have a productive stay.
It’s these simple gestures and ideas that have made a tremendous impact on centuries of patients and staff. We continue to see this impact at PAH today, whether it be a friendly smile or a joke to calm someone’s nerves, a small token to celebrate a patient’s discharge, or even a snuggle from one of our therapy dogs. These experiences, which you can read more about in this month’s issues of What’s New and System News, demonstrate how small acts can make a big difference, and it is all thanks to our staff. It brings me great joy working alongside you all and seeing the ways you continue to raise the bar for care at PAH.