Reading Hospital is a 697-bed

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

teaching hospital located in West Reading,

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

. The hospital was established in 1867 and is the anchor institution of Tower Health. Reading Hospital is a

level I trauma center A trauma center, or trauma centre, is a hospital equipped and staffed to provide care for patients suffering from major trauma, major traumatic injuries such as Falling (accident), falls, motor vehicle collisions, or gunshot wounds. The term "tra ...

and certified stroke center. With more than 133,500 annual visits, the

emergency department An emergency department (ED), also known as an accident and emergency department (A&E), emergency room (ER), emergency ward (EW) or casualty department, is a medical treatment facility specializing in emergency medicine, the Acute (medicine), ...

is the single busiest site in Pennsylvania and the 11th busiest nationwide. The hospital operates several residency training programs for newly graduated physicians such as internal medicine, internal medicine osteopathic, transitional year, family medicine, OB/GYN, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, general surgery, neurology, podiatric surgery & psychiatry. One year pharmacy residency is also offered. The residency programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The

internal medicine Internal medicine, also known as general medicine in Commonwealth nations, is a medical specialty for medical doctors focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases in adults. Its namesake stems from "treatment of diseases of ...

residency is also accredited by the

American Osteopathic Association The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) is the representative member organization for the more than 197,000 osteopathic medical doctors ( D.O.s) and osteopathic medical students in the United States. The AOA is headquartered in Chicago, Illi ...

History

In November 1867, physicians with the Reading Medical Association and 16 local business leaders developed plans for the area's first hospital. The Reading Dispensary opened in downtown Reading on Jan. 27, 1868, and moved to northwest Reading in 1886 under its new name, The Reading Hospital. Public demand for hospital care led to constant expansion, resulting in the 1926 relocation to the present site in West Reading. In 2017, Reading hospital introduced Tower Health. This included a purchase of Brandywine Hospital in Coatesville; Chestnut Hill Hospital, in Philadelphia; Jennersville Hospital in West Grove; Phoenixville Hospital in Phoenixville; and Pottstown Hospital in Pottstown; St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia; and 20 urgent care locations across the service area. In 2019, a 16-bed pediatric emergency department was added. In 2017, Reading Hospital treated more than 133,000 people in its emergency room, delivered 3,500 babies, provided more than 750,000 outpatient services and 33,000 inpatient admissions. Reading Hospital operates a level I trauma center. The hospital is certified as an advanced comprehensive stroke center. The campus is a principal teaching site for Drexel University College of Medicine. In 2021, Drexel opened a new 4-year medical campus in West Reading. Students at the Drexel College of Medicine at Tower Health have the opportunity to complete all 4 years of the MD program at Reading Hospital.

Awards and recognition

* In 2022 and 2023, Healthgrades designated Reading Hospital as one of America's 50 Best Hospitals, and one of America's 100 best for stroke care and joint replacement. Individual areas recognized within the top 10% include cardiac surgery, neurosciences, joint replacement, overall pulmonary treatment, and GI medical treatment. It is within the top 5% for treatment of stroke. * U.S. News & World Report recognized Reading Hospital as a 2022-2023 best hospital, and ranked #8 in Pennsylvania. Reading was high performing in 5 specialties including gastroenterology, geriatrics, orthopedics, pulmonary and lung surgery, and urology. The hospital also received high performing marks in COPD, colon cancer surgery, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, hip replacement, kidney failure, knee replacement, pneumonia, and stroke. * Since 2016, Reading Hospital has received the prestigious MAGNET designation for nursing excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Graduate medical education

Reading Hospital operates a number of residency training programs for newly graduated

physicians A physician, medical practitioner (British English), medical doctor, or simply doctor is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the study, diagnosis, prognosis ...

. Programs include Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine,

Internal Medicine Internal medicine, also known as general medicine in Commonwealth nations, is a medical specialty for medical doctors focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases in adults. Its namesake stems from "treatment of diseases of ...

, OB/GYN, Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, and a Transitional Year. All programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The internal medicine program is also dually accredited by the

. There is also a residency programs for pharmacists. In January 2021, Tower Health announced additional residency programs in

neurology Neurology (from , "string, nerve" and the suffix wikt:-logia, -logia, "study of") is the branch of specialty (medicine) , medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of conditions and disease involving the nervous syst ...

and

physical medicine and rehabilitation Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), also known as physiatry, and outside the United States as physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM), is a branch of medicine that aims to enhance and restore functional ability and quality of life ...

, as well as fellowship programs in nephrology, plastic surgery, sleep medicine, and pulmonary disease and critical care medicine.

Accreditation

* Magnet Recognition * Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities Accreditation * Commission on Cancer Accreditation and Gold Rating * Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval * Joint Commission Disease-Specific Certification * Quality Oncology Practice Initiative Certification * Certified Urgent Care Center Category 1 Designation by the Urgent Care Association of America * The Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care Chest Pain Center * Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Society Full Accreditation * Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons Approval with Commendation * American Association of Blood Banks Accreditation

Affiliations

* Academic Centers ** Alvernia University ** Drexel University College of Medicine ** Duke University ** Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University ** The Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Network ** McMasters University ** Penn State Hershey College of Medicine ** Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine ** Temple University School of Medicine **

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

** University of Pennsylvania Health System ** Washington University Medical Center * Medical Research Institutes ** National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute ** National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease ** National Neurological Disorders and Stroke ** Saint Jude Medical

Notable people

* Edward Goljan, MD – a physician and professor of medicine at Oklahoma State University, completed his internship and residency in

pathology Pathology is the study of disease. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in the context of modern medical treatme ...

at Reading Hospital. *

Taylor Swift Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Known for her autobiographical songwriting, artistic versatility, and Cultural impact of Taylor Swift, cultural impact, Swift is one of the Best selling artists, w ...

, international popstar was born here in 1989. * Austin Kingsley Swift, actor was born here in 1992. * John Fetterman, politician was born here in 1969 * Kate Lynn Blatt, Transgender Civil Rights Activist was born here in 1981

References

External links

Reading Hospital - Tower Health Website

St. Christopher's Hospital for Children Specialty Pediatrics
{{authority control 1867 establishments in Pennsylvania Hospitals established in 1867 Teaching hospitals in Pennsylvania Trauma centers