San Diego's Scripps Mercy Hospital turns 125 years old
On July 9, 1890, the first patient was admitted to Mercy Hospital in San Diego; this year, the medical institution is celebrating its 125th year.
The hospital’s first patient was John O'Connell, who was suffering from malaria. He was treated by the Sisters of Mercy, who ran a medical facility comprising of five beds. The tiny hospital was known as St. Joseph's Dispensary, and was located above a men's clothing store in San Diego's downtown, at what is today the corner of Market Street and Sixth Avenue. According to Scripps Health, O'Connell survived and was discharged after a 13 day stay.
A woman patient who was admitted during the hospital's first year of operation underwent the West Coast's first-ever Cesarean section.
Today, the Sisters' dispensary has grown into a full-service, modern facility, located in Hillcrest, where it first moved in 1891. In 1924, a new facility, Mercy Hospital, opened at Washington Street and Fifth Avenue, and joined the Scripps system in 1995. Today, Scripps Mercy Hospital has a facility in Chula Vista as well as the one in Hillcrest.
According to the hospital’s CEO, Tom Gammiere, the hospital served about 100 patients in 1890, its first year of operation; today more than 32,000 people are treated there every year.
Hospital officials could work with a banner printing company to devise a colorful banner for the lobby, to celebrate the anniversary.
The hospital’s first patient was John O'Connell, who was suffering from malaria. He was treated by the Sisters of Mercy, who ran a medical facility comprising of five beds. The tiny hospital was known as St. Joseph's Dispensary, and was located above a men's clothing store in San Diego's downtown, at what is today the corner of Market Street and Sixth Avenue. According to Scripps Health, O'Connell survived and was discharged after a 13 day stay.
A woman patient who was admitted during the hospital's first year of operation underwent the West Coast's first-ever Cesarean section.
Today, the Sisters' dispensary has grown into a full-service, modern facility, located in Hillcrest, where it first moved in 1891. In 1924, a new facility, Mercy Hospital, opened at Washington Street and Fifth Avenue, and joined the Scripps system in 1995. Today, Scripps Mercy Hospital has a facility in Chula Vista as well as the one in Hillcrest.
According to the hospital’s CEO, Tom Gammiere, the hospital served about 100 patients in 1890, its first year of operation; today more than 32,000 people are treated there every year.
Hospital officials could work with a banner printing company to devise a colorful banner for the lobby, to celebrate the anniversary.