Reading Hospital

Reading Hospital
Tower Health
Clock tower at Reading Hospital
Geography
Location	420 South 5th Avenue, West Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Organisation
Funding	Non-profit
Type	Teaching
Affiliated university	Drexel University College of Medicine, Alvernia University, Duke University, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, McMasters University, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Washington University Medical Center
Services
Emergency department	Level I Trauma Center
Beds	738
Helipads
Helipad	FAA LID: 9PS5
Number Length Surface ft m H1 42 13 Mats
History
Opened	1867
Links
Website	Reading Hospital

Reading Hospital is a 738-bed non-profit teaching hospital located in West Reading, Pennsylvania. The hospital was established in 1867 and is a part of Tower Health System.

Reading Hospital is a certified stroke center, and the emergency department includes a level I trauma center. 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 residency is also accredited by the American Osteopathic Association.

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 36-acre (15-hectare) site in West Reading. In 2017 the Reading hospital introduced Tower Health. This included a purchase of Brandywine Hospital in Coatesville; Chestnut Hill Hospital, a teaching 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 primary stroke center.

Graduate medical education

Reading Hospital operates a number of residency training programs for newly graduated physicians. Programs include Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, 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 American Osteopathic Association. There is also a residency programs for pharmacists. In January 2021, Tower Health announced additional residency programs in neurology and physical medicine and rehabilitation, 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
  • 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 at Reading Hospital.
• Taylor Swift, international popstar was born here in 1989.
• Austin Kingsley Swift, actor was born here in 1992.
• John Fetterman, politician was born here in 1969

Further reading

• "Reading Hospital & Medical Center: Report of Hospital Quality". Pennsylvania Health Care Quality Alliance.
• Shelly, Susan (2010-09-07). "Healing garden at Reading Hospital allows visitors to reflect". Reading Eagle.
• Staff (July 17, 2012). "Reading Hospital, Wyomissing Area School District reach tax deal". Berks Regional News.

External links

• Reading Hospital - Tower Health Website
• St. Christopher's Hospital for Children Specialty Pediatrics

Coordinates: 40°19′49″N 75°57′02″W / 40.330315°N 75.950553°W / 40.330315; -75.950553