Clinical History (1 of 3)
National Jewish Health* has a long and distinguished history in the
treatment of respiratory, immunologic and related disorders. It all
began in the late 19th century with a desire to provide treatment for a
disease that was devastating the nation – tuberculosis (TB), or
consumption as it was more commonly called.
Free Hospital for Indigent TB Victims
Denver’s dry and sunny climate had become famous throughout the
country for its supposed beneficial effect on TB, which
disproportionately affected poverty-stricken individuals. One of the
first people to conceive of a free hospital for these indigent TB
victims in Denver was Frances Wisebart Jacobs. She worked with the
Jewish community to help create and fund National Jewish, which first
opened its doors to patients in 1899. Although it was originally funded
by the Jewish community, from its inception, the hospital’s services
have never been limited to a specific religious denomination.
National Jewish was unique because it was the first institution in
the United States to make treatment of indigent TB victims its primary
goal.
The Early Years
During the first 40 years of its existence, National Jewish was a
tightly regulated institution where proper nourishment, outdoor
exposure and adequate bed rest were staples of the TB treatment
regimen. For the most severe cases, where the body failed to heal
itself, additional treatment included surgery and lung collapse therapy
(pneumothorax).
At the turn of the century, there was a strong belief in the
therapeutic value of fresh air, so in the early years of the hospital,
patients often slept on balconies outside their rooms to take advantage
of the Colorado climate.
Typically, patients lived a quiet, dependent, sanatorium existence
for three to five years. And in the latter part of their
hospitalization, those patients who were getting better had the added
bonus of rehabilitation, social and education programs. The education
programs were intended to equip patients, who often came from lives of
poverty, to function more effectively in the world outside of the
hospital.
Children in the Preventorium
Malnutrition, poverty and overcrowding in city slums were the main
culprits leading to contracting TB. Therefore, when the preventorium
concept gained popularity in the country, National Jewish seemed a
logical place to house well but impoverished children so they could get
medically-supervised food and exercise. (A preventorium was a place
where people who were likely to get sick were sent to receive
preventive care.)
The Hofheimer Preventorium at National Jewish was built and opened
in 1920. The facility, while designated to keep well children healthy,
also treated children with TB of the bone, joints and similar
afflictions. Some of the young patients stayed at the institution for
three or four years. The preventorium was closed in 1942, yet in its 22
years of existence it cared for 730 children.
NEXT: Holistic treatment and Expansion of Services
Page 1, 2, 3
*Over the years, the National Jewish Health name
has evolved to better communicate our mission. However, all names have
included a common component –the words National Jewish. Therefore, the
name National Jewish is used in all references to our institution
throughout this history overview.
