Beth Israel Hospital (Boston, Mass. : 1916-1996)

Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

In 1916, the Jewish community of Boston established Beth Israel Hospital on Townsend Street in Roxbury to provide health care to immigrants in the area. Although accessible to everyone, the hospital provided Yiddish-speaking services for Eastern European Jewish immigrants and served kosher food, as well as conducted Jewish religious services. The 45-bed hospital had several departments, including Medical Services, Surgical Services and Special Services, which encompassed laryngology, neurology, genitourinary surgery, gynecology, ophthalmologic surgery, pathology, serology-bacteriology, dermatology, radiology, anesthesiology and dental surgery. A school of nursing opened in 1918 to encourage Jewish women to enter the profession, and was later followed by a social services department in 1920. The hospital also opened and administered outpatient clinics for the treatment of diabetes and tuberculosis, and care of babies.

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