Philadelphia Nursing Home history

When the annual election of physicians and surgeons was held on May 12, 1823, the members of the staff were defined separately for the first time in the hospital's history.

In 1839, he organized the Philadelphia Nurse Society, which in part trained women in obstetric nursing.

The Lying-in Charity and the Nurse Society were united as one institution in 1851.

The Sisters began their journey in Hope in the 1860’s under the legacy of their foundress Blessed Mary Angela.

In 1863, the institution became known as the Philadelphia Lying-in Charity and Nurse Society.

He created an endowment to benefit "indigent married women of good character," and the Preston Retreat was founded in 1865 through this bequest.

On March 4, 1890, a Charter of Incorporation was granted to the first Board of Directors.

In 1892, generous donations and income generated through memberships and savings, a second, larger property was purchased at 529 York Avenue for $10,320.

Inglis Children's Home Opens, 1895

In 1898, a generous gift made in memory of Elizabeth Bergdoll, in addition to a $5,000 monetary contribution made by the Volger Estate, enabled the Board to purchase 12.5 acres of land in Lawndale.

But their financial circumstances were dramatically improved when, in 1909, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MLI) established an insurance scheme for home nursing care for their policyholders.

A wing was added in 1915 to accommodate 57 more residents.

Graduates of an Inglis Nursing Program (circa 1920s)

By 1923, its Board of Managers was made up largely of men who were also Managers of Pennsylvania Hospital, and an affiliation was made between the two institutions.

First studied in 1928, this remained an unresolved policy dilemma in the United States.

In 1930, the Maternity Hospital was affiliated with Pennsylvania Hospital and merged with the services in the Spruce Building.

Located in West Philadelphia, St Ignatius Nursing & Rehab Center was founded in the 1950's by Father John Mitchell, pastor of St Ignatius Church, who saw a great need during his pastoral visitations.

1952 - Founded by Father John Mitchell in an effort to help elderly, sick parishioners in need.

1956 - The need became so great that the vacated St Edmonds Home for Crippled Children located at 44th and Haverford Aves. was purchased and Residents were moved in, soon filling the building.

1968 - Ground breaking to start building a new facility.

1971 - The current building was opened.

By 1977, Gateway Manor, the first of our Independent apartment buildings was built.

In 1978, the first antenatal testing unit (ATU) in the region was created to diagnose and evaluate the fetus.

The first laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy in Philadelphia was performed at Pennsylvania Hospital in 1985.

1986 - The sponsorship of St Ignatius Nursing Home was transferred to The Felician Franciscan Sisters, an order of Sisters originating in Poland who dedicate themselves to their sacred mission to care for those in need.

And in 1996, Pennsylvania Hospital opened the first perinatal evaluation and treatment unit (PETU) in the region to assist in the evaluation of high-risk situations which develop during labor, as well as perform procedures such as amniocentesis and fetal surgery.

A 2004 study found that one in five (22.9 million) United States households were involved in caring for a person older than eighteen.

2005 - John Meacham is named Administrator, Sister Agatha becomes Director of Mission Integration.

Our Abramson Hospice program begins serving residents on the Horsham campus and expands to the community at large in 2008.

2012 - St Ignatius Nursing Home changes its name and logo to reflect the addition of the rehab unit being built on the 2nd floor of the Home.

In January of 2013, La Salle University welcomed the Museum of Nursing History to reside in the St Benilde Tower of the former Germantown Dispensary and Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which is now the West Wing of the University.

2014 - Sister Agatha retires as Director of Mission but maintains a presence living in the 5th floor convent.

2016 - Susan McCrary is named President/CEO as John Meacham retires after 34 years of service to STINRC.

Since she moved into PPH in 2017, she has had plots in both […]

2019 - Groundbreaking for Francis House, a personal care facility for low income frail elderly.

2020 Summer - Francis House opened, giving the St Ignatius Nursing & Rehab urban campus an almost full block of elderly services at every level of care for low income West Philadelphia community members.