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The Miriam Hospital Milestones
1926—Miriam Hospital opens it doors
on Parade Street
Thanks to the efforts of The Miriam Hospital Women's Association,
a group dedicated women who collected coins door to door, the first
Miriam Hospital opened in 1926 on its original location on Parade
Street with 63 beds and 14 bassinets. The hospital was created to
provide a health care facility that would observe customs of Jewish
patients while treating people of all faiths.
1952—The Miriam Hospital moves to
Summit Avenue
When the need to expand beyond a small, neighborhood hospital became
evident, friends who had been raising money for linens and surgical
supplies came forward to launch a major building fund drive. Although
the drive and search for a suitable building were interrupted by
the war years, an incredible $1.3 million was eventually raised.
The new 150-bed Miriam Hospital opened at 164 Summit Avenue, formerly
the Jewish Orphanage of Rhode Island.
1976—The Division of Behavioral Medicine
is formed
The Division of Behavioral Medicine is formed by Michael Follick,
PhD, with the mission to improve health through behavioral medicine
research. The programs were the first of their kind in the state
of Rhode Island. By 1990, the division was established as the Centers
for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine and consists of three
major research centers that address the leading lifestyle causes
of disease burden and death—weight control and diabetes, physical
activity and nicotine and tobacco.
1981—Miriam's Interventional Cardiology
program begins
The Miriam's interventional cardiology program formed to address
the growing trend of less invasive procedures that can be performed
for individuals with select cardiovascular conditions. A one-year
fellowship for interventional training with Brown Medical School
is instituted as part of the program. The program has grown steadily
and has earned a place in the top 100 interventional programs in
the country. More
about cardiac services at The Miriam Hospital.
1991 -Women's Wellness Workshop debuts
Women's Wellness Workshop debuts as a small gathering held at the
hospital to provide women with information on how to stay healthy,
and evolves into the hospital's trademark event, attracting more
than 500 women from Southeastern New England. Featuring a keynote
speaker, workshops, health screenings, a fashion show and several
other events, Women's Wellness Workshop empowers women and gives
them a day to relax, unwind and take time for themselves.
1994—TMH begins HIV vaccine research
The Miriam Hospital becomes one of the few sites in the world researching
and testing HIV vaccines in the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN).
Michelle Lally, MD, director of the HIV vaccine trials unit, leads
the group of clinicians dedicated to finding a safe and effective
HIV vaccine.
1998—Center For AIDS Research (CFAR)
funded at TMH
As part of a national program begun by the National Institutes of
Health (NIH), The Miriam Hospital is named the primary site for
the Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center
for AIDS Research (CFAR)—a joint research effort between
Tufts and Brown Universities and their affiliated hospitals and
centers. As one of only 21 CFARs located at academic medical centers
throughout the United States, Charles Carpenter, MD, is named principal
investigator of the research center.
1998—Miriam is first in New England
to receive Magnet designation
The Miriam Hospital is the first hospital in New England and ninth
in the country to receive Magnet designation for excellence in nursing.
A Magnet hospital is one that has embarked on an extensive review
and systematic evaluation of its nursing practice by the American
Nurses Credentialing Center.
2001—Comprehensive Cancer Center formed
Rhode Island Hospital, The Miriam Hospital and Newport Hospital
announce that the three hospitals and their medical staffs will
work together to develop multidisciplinary clinics for cancer patients
at each hospital, to be known as the Comprehensive
Cancer Center. In 2002, The Comprehensive Cancer Center at TMH
opens in a new location on the third floor of the Fain building.
2002—Women's Cardiac Center opens
The Women's
Cardiac Center at The Miriam Hospital opens and is the state's
first center dedicated to women's cardiac health needs. Under the
leadership of Barbara Roberts, MD, the Women's Cardiac Center offers
complete diagnostic and clinical cardiology services, cardiovascular
surgery and cardiac rehabilitation to women.
2002—GENESIS program begins
A unique, nurse-driven program GENESIS
(Geriatric-friendly Environment through Nursing Evaluation and Specific
Interventions for Successful healing) is designed and implemented
to address specific issues and concerns that the elderly face while
in the hospital. Nurses are trained to assist patients with sleep,
nutrition, mobility, pain management and delirium. In addition,
beds are placed lower to the floors, hallways are kept clear, patients'
rooms are kept uncluttered and the nurse locator system eliminates
the need for overhead paging, which can be distressing for geriatric
patients who are confused.
2003—Stroke Center formed at TMH
The Miriam Hospital upgrades its stroke services by implementing
new guidelines for diagnosis and treatment to be Rhode Island's
first acute stroke team. Based on recommendations from the Brain
Attack Coalition, the stroke center at TMH includes a team of clinicians
experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of stroke are available
around-the-clock for stroke emergencies. More
about the Stroke Center at The Miriam Hospital.
2004—First HIV Menopause Clinic opens
Susan Cu-Uvin, MD forms the first clinic in the country dedicated
to treating women with HIV going through menopause, at The Miriam
Hospital. Proving the success antiretroviral therapy, women with
HIV were living long enough to go through menopause and were experiencing
interactions with their body's natural response to menopause and
their medications to treat HIV. Dr. Cu-Uvin and her staff work with
patients to address how the HIV and its treatment effects and potentially
further exacerbates bone loss, cardiac risk and depression. More
about the Center for AIDS Research.
2005—Miriam Makeover begins
Construction begins on the Patient Services Center at The Miriam
Hospital—the first phase in the three-phase Project Miriam
Makeover renovation to update the facility. Phase one of the project
is the construction of the new Patient Services Center, which will
house a surgical suite with ten operating rooms, a diagnostic imaging
suite, cafeteria, conference rooms and 36 private patient care rooms.
Phases two and three of Project Miriam Makeover include plans to
renovate the Emergency Department and 72 existing patient care rooms
into private rooms. More
about Project Miriam Makeover.
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