Why Hospitals on a Hill

MooseRiverMan · 10-31-2004, 04:12 PM

I had to take my niece to the Lakes Region Hospital emergency room the other day. Everything turned out fine but she had an interesting question:

Why are hospitals always built on a hill? I said I didn't know for sure but I knew where to go to get some answers.

Help me be a smart uncle again!

lacey · 10-31-2004, 05:25 PM

Not all hospitals in MA are built on a hill so I would say that it just happens to be where there was free land at the time of construction.

trfour · 10-31-2004, 06:37 PM

Somthing to think about,... if you make it to a hill, in time of need, I think that it is easyer to transend!... Also,... Here in The Lakes Region, there are so many healing qualities for everyone....
God Bless!

pmj · 10-31-2004, 06:55 PM

When I was a kid, my mother would tell me that the hospitals are on a hills because if you die in the hospital you will be closer to heaven and thus, not have to travel as far

Of course there are hospitals at sea level too...I guess those poor souls had a longer trip.

pmj

KBoater · 10-31-2004, 07:32 PM

I was told as a child that hospitals were on hills because the air is clearer there and easier to breath.

Waterbaby · 10-31-2004, 08:25 PM

if the hospital is on a hill it is probably an older hospital (i.e. Lakes Region, the old Pportsmouth Hospital) and there was no air conditioning then.......... plus the windows used to open in the old hospitals so they could get a breeze in to cool the patients and clear the air of germs. just my guess.

Skipper of the Sea Que · 10-31-2004, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MooseRiverMan

Why are hospitals always built on a hill? I said I didn't know for sure but I knew where to go to get some answers.
Help me be a smart uncle again!

My answer might depend in part on the age of your niece. You could bring her down to Longwood Ave area in Boston to see hospitals that are not on hills

.

Many hospitals are built on hills. In addition to the benefits mentioned above, hills were quieter locations.

Maybe it is to make it equally distant for the people in the surrounding valleys?

Of course it could be to provide a better landing spot for Med Flight 'copters.

glennsteely · 11-01-2004, 05:44 AM

here in New Jersey it is flat, no hospitals on hills, no hills at all.....longing for the Lake!!!!!!

Lady Di · 11-01-2004, 08:54 AM

is not on a hill, but in my opinion, if ANY hospital needs to be nearer to Heaven, that would be it!!

Frdxplorer · 11-01-2004, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Di

is not on a hill, but in my opinion, if ANY hospital needs to be nearer to Heaven, that would be it!!

Why would Huggins need to be any closer to heaven than any other hospital?

Silver Duck · 11-01-2004, 07:59 PM

Waterbaby's guess is correct. In the old days, pre-airconditioning, hospitals were built at the top of a hill where possible because the air was "fresher" and cooling breezes were more available.

Silver Duck

Lin · 11-01-2004, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLboater

I was told as a child that hospitals were on hills because the air is clearer there and easier to breath.

I had always been told basically the same thing. I'd heard many hospitals were built on hills for treatment of Tuburculosis and other respitory problems.

Mr Port Jefferson · 11-02-2004, 08:31 AM

The same is here in Port Jefferson, Long Island.

We have two hospitals and they are both on hills.
They make for great landmarks when coming into the harbor - but the older one - St Charles was originally built as a TB and Polio rehab center; so that would coincide with what was mentioned about clean and cooler air.

Interesting question!

Lady Di · 11-02-2004, 01:38 PM

It's a long story.

Many years ago, my daughter was suffering from a digestive disease,(which we did not know at the time) and was in fact about 2 weeks from death, and the Drs. there had not a clue, nor did they listen to me when I told them certain things about her symptoms. Her Dr. was Dr. Frank Allen, who has a bench in Cate Park, I noticed. In fact, I was told it was "too expensive" to send cultures to Concord!! After taking a ride around the Lake one day, from Wolfeboro,(husband, daughter and I) when we were in the Weirs, her eyes glazed over and she was cold and clammy. We hot footed it back to Huggins. Her Dr. was on vacation, and one Dr. said to me, "I don't know what's wrong with her, but if she were MY kid, I would have her admitted." After another month or so of seeing her wither away, I took her to North Shore Babies and Childrens' Hospital in Mass, and within 4 days she was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, or Sprue. I was told that if she hadn't been diagnosed, we would have lost her within 2 weeks. I am happy to say she is now a Junior Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Dept. of State.
She still can't eat gluten.

I could go on, but that is why I said what I did about Huggins.

madrasahs · 11-04-2004, 08:26 AM

Building hospitals on hills may go WAY back when there wasn't much in the way of flood controls.

Most buildings could take a flood in better ways than a hospital.

Big-city hospitals are the places to go to get well, IMO.

Old Chris Craft · 11-05-2004, 07:55 AM

The story Ladi Di wrote about Huggins Hospital reminds me of many I've been told about LRGH, and of ones we have personally experienced there. It would seem that most people have an LRGH story and that concerns me since it is the first place you will be taken if you have no choice (such as being in an accident). I have wondered if there is a website where hospitals are "rated" on performance, malpractice suits, accidents and so on.

Lady Di · 11-05-2004, 09:00 AM

If you find one, let me know.

madrasahs · 11-05-2004, 10:04 AM

U.S. News & World Report has published an "America's Best Hospitals" issue every spring for 17 years.

You can check up on what's offered at your favorite hospital at: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/.../alpha_dir.htm

glennsteely · 11-05-2004, 06:13 PM

in my doctors office, 2 years ago, pretty large magazine style eddition, if it is what you mean.....

Gilligan · 11-05-2004, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skipper of the Sea Que

Of course it could be to provide a better landing spot for Med Flight 'copters.

I wondered what those helicopters looked like but never saw one close up. Is there a web site or on-line story with more pictures to go along with that med flight helicopter picture?

Hospitals on hills are like airports. You get a ride to the place. Up the hill to a hospital when you are ill. To the upper level at the airport with all your baggage. When it is time to leave the hospital you could walk and walking down is easier than up. After your trip you leave the airport at the ground level. Your luggage is already at ground level and you can get to transportation or walk away easier.

JED · 11-07-2004, 03:16 PM

Hospitals were usually always built on a hill for better ventilation/air for both the patients and also to keep "germs and disease" away from the rest of the population

Skipper of the Sea Que · 11-19-2004, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilligan

I wondered what those helicopters looked like but never saw one close up. Is there a web site or on-line story with more pictures to go along with that med flight helicopter picture?

I took that shot in September at an auto roll-over with injuries. Channels 5 and 7 had TV crews there but I did not see anything on their archives with pictures or the story. Here are some other shots I took from the accident. The car on it's side. A look inside the med-flight copter. And a few other shots. Note the TV crew. They missed the car roll over and arrived at the med-flight scene before I did. But they chose to take their pictures standing up against my mini-van.

madrasahs · 12-14-2004, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glennsteely

in my doctors office, 2 years ago, pretty large magazine style eddition, if it is what you mean.....

Sounds right -- kind of a "chubby" magazine edition.

"America's Best Hospitals" is available as a reprint from U.S. News & World Report at reprints@parsinti.com

(Or 212-221-9595 X210).

10-31-2004, 04:12 PM	#1
MooseRiverMan Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 29 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Why Hospitals on a Hill I had to take my niece to the Lakes Region Hospital emergency room the other day. Everything turned out fine but she had an interesting question: Why are hospitals always built on a hill? I said I didn't know for sure but I knew where to go to get some answers. Help me be a smart uncle again!

10-31-2004, 06:37 PM	#3
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,069 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	Somthing to think about,... if you make it to a hill, in time of need, I think that it is easyer to transend!... Also,... Here in The Lakes Region, there are so many healing qualities for everyone.... God Bless! __________________ *trfour* Always Remember, The Best Safety Device In The Boat, or on a PWC Snowmobile etc., Is YOU! Safe sledding tips and much more; http://www.snowmobile.org/snowmobiling-safety.html

10-31-2004, 06:55 PM	#4
pmj Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 240 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	this is what my mother told me... When I was a kid, my mother would tell me that the hospitals are on a hills because if you die in the hospital you will be closer to heaven and thus, not have to travel as far Of course there are hospitals at sea level too...I guess those poor souls had a longer trip. pmj

10-31-2004, 08:25 PM	#6
Waterbaby Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kensington, NH and Paugus Bay Marina Posts: 656 Thanks: 323 Thanked 17 Times in 13 Posts	hospitals on a hill if the hospital is on a hill it is probably an older hospital (i.e. Lakes Region, the old Pportsmouth Hospital) and there was no air conditioning then.......... plus the windows used to open in the old hospitals so they could get a breeze in to cool the patients and clear the air of germs. just my guess.

11-01-2004, 05:44 AM	#8
glennsteely Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Mantua, N.J. Posts: 472 Thanks: 90 Thanked 111 Times in 38 Posts	here in New Jersey it is flat, no hospitals on hills, no hills at all.....longing for the Lake!!!!!! __________________ You have to go out on a limb sometimes, cause that is where the fruit is. You can't get to the fruit from that nice safe spot, clinging to the trunk of the tree......

10-31-2004, 05:25 PM	#2
lacey Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: MA Posts: 33 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Not all hospitals in MA are built on a hill so I would say that it just happens to be where there was free land at the time of construction.

10-31-2004, 07:32 PM	#5
KBoater Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 521 Thanks: 10 Thanked 29 Times in 15 Posts	I was told as a child that hospitals were on hills because the air is clearer there and easier to breath.

11-01-2004, 08:54 AM	#9
Lady Di Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 185 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Huggins Hospital is not on a hill, but in my opinion, if ANY hospital needs to be nearer to Heaven, that would be it!!

11-01-2004, 07:59 PM	#11
Silver Duck Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Billerica, MA Posts: 364 Thanks: 40 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Waterbaby's guess is correct. In the old days, pre-airconditioning, hospitals were built at the top of a hill where possible because the air was "fresher" and cooling breezes were more available. Silver Duck

11-02-2004, 08:31 AM	#13
Mr Port Jefferson Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Port Jefferson, Long Island, NY Posts: 42 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hospital and Hills The same is here in Port Jefferson, Long Island. We have two hospitals and they are both on hills. They make for great landmarks when coming into the harbor - but the older one - St Charles was originally built as a TB and Polio rehab center; so that would coincide with what was mentioned about clean and cooler air. Interesting question!

11-02-2004, 01:38 PM	#14
Lady Di Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 185 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Frdexplr It's a long story. Many years ago, my daughter was suffering from a digestive disease,(which we did not know at the time) and was in fact about 2 weeks from death, and the Drs. there had not a clue, nor did they listen to me when I told them certain things about her symptoms. Her Dr. was Dr. Frank Allen, who has a bench in Cate Park, I noticed. In fact, I was told it was "too expensive" to send cultures to Concord!! After taking a ride around the Lake one day, from Wolfeboro,(husband, daughter and I) when we were in the Weirs, her eyes glazed over and she was cold and clammy. We hot footed it back to Huggins. Her Dr. was on vacation, and one Dr. said to me, "I don't know what's wrong with her, but if she were MY kid, I would have her admitted." After another month or so of seeing her wither away, I took her to North Shore Babies and Childrens' Hospital in Mass, and within 4 days she was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, or Sprue. I was told that if she hadn't been diagnosed, we would have lost her within 2 weeks. I am happy to say she is now a Junior Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Dept. of State. She still can't eat gluten. I could go on, but that is why I said what I did about Huggins.

11-04-2004, 08:26 AM	#15
madrasahs Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 381 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Keep from getting wet? Building hospitals on hills may go WAY back when there wasn't much in the way of flood controls. Most buildings could take a flood in better ways than a hospital. Big-city hospitals are the places to go to get well, IMO. Last edited by madrasahs; 11-04-2004 at 08:31 AM. Reason: Huggins comment

11-05-2004, 07:55 AM	#16
Old Chris Craft Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 25 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The story Ladi Di wrote about Huggins Hospital reminds me of many I've been told about LRGH, and of ones we have personally experienced there. It would seem that most people have an LRGH story and that concerns me since it is the first place you will be taken if you have no choice (such as being in an accident). I have wondered if there is a website where hospitals are "rated" on performance, malpractice suits, accidents and so on.

11-05-2004, 09:00 AM	#17
Lady Di Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 185 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Old Chris If you find one, let me know.

11-05-2004, 10:04 AM	#18
madrasahs Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 381 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	U.S. News & World Report has published an "America's Best Hospitals" issue every spring for 17 years. You can check up on what's offered at your favorite hospital at: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/.../alpha_dir.htm

11-05-2004, 06:13 PM	#19
glennsteely Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Mantua, N.J. Posts: 472 Thanks: 90 Thanked 111 Times in 38 Posts	I have seen that... in my doctors office, 2 years ago, pretty large magazine style eddition, if it is what you mean..... __________________ You have to go out on a limb sometimes, cause that is where the fruit is. You can't get to the fruit from that nice safe spot, clinging to the trunk of the tree......

11-07-2004, 03:16 PM	#21
JED Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	hospitals Hospitals were usually always built on a hill for better ventilation/air for both the patients and also to keep "germs and disease" away from the rest of the population