1940s: Stories from National Jewish Health

The 1940s saw a significant drop in the number of tuberculosis victims.  There must have been a fear that both National Jewish Hospital and National Home for Jewish Children would be forced to close.  However, the idea of "parentectomy" gave birth to a new clientele: asthmatic children.

What follows are three true stories sent to me from these patients.  Keep in mind names will be changed to protect the identity of the patients, although they did submit these stories and would probably love that I'm sharing them here.

National Home for Jewish Children in Denver:
National Home for Asthmatic Children:

From a patient from Huntington Beach, CA (1943-1944)

When I was 12.5 I was sent to Denver for my asthma by the Social Services of Beth Israel hospital in New York.  It happened to be in 1943, in July or August.  It was either called the national Home for Jewish Children in Denver, or the Jewish National home for Asthmatic Children in Denver.  I remember it was a large facility opposite Lake Junior high School which I attended when school started.

I came from New York with another girl named Ellie.  My name was Nina.  I was very lonesome and homesick, but I made friends and was aught up in the daily schedule of making my bed, eating in a large dining room, giving my clothes to be washed  (I think the number they gave me for the laundry was 22.)  I have used that lucky number ever since when I go to Las Vegas!

I remember Sunday School, which I had never gone to before.  Since I played piano, I found a piano teacher close by to go to for lessons.  I remember going down town with a lot of kids to see a movie.  I also remember seeing the Brown Palace hotel from a distance.  I remember trudging through high snow banks to Lake Junior high across the street.

Some of my friends were...  I believe Mr. Cohen was the Superintendent at the time.

I was there when VE Day was declared and everyone was happy.  That was the summer of 1944.  I left the next month in July to go back home

I have fond memories of the Home even though I was very homesick.  Though the years, I have been in touch with some of the kids I met there, and they are very special to me.

National Jewish Hospital:

From a wife of a patient from Tarpon Springs, FL (1943-4):   From a wife whose husband was a resident (1945-47) but is too ornery to share sentimental memories!

By the time I met and married my husband, Tim, he was an active, successful, fun-loving man with little evidence of illness.  It took months of dating before I even realized he used an inhaler.  He eventually explained what asthma was and how it had impacted his early years.  he told me how his time (nearly two years) at the National Jewish Hospital altered his life immeasurably.

He said at that Home he learned how to be "normal" and participate fully in life.  It was there that he became an outstanding athlete.  This was a gift that enhanced his life from high school, where he was a star basketball player, through adulthood, which has included years of organized softball, basketball, touch football, and vigorous racquetball along with years of coaching kid's sports.

Although he never really shared many memories of being sickly, my mother-in-law related to me the anguish of having a child so ill she sometimes thought he would never grow up.  She talked about a neighbor's asthmatic child who had died and the impact that had upon her -- the enduring sadness and fear.  She said she was told that the only chance her son had for living a normal and relatively healthy life was to send him to Denver.  She said it was a very difficult decision to make.

Living in the Bronx, New York, they were working people who couldn't afford to move, therefore sending their nine-year-old to the National Jewish Hospital was their only hope for his future.

The thought of sending her child so far away tormented her.  She said that in order to prepare her -- and Tim -- for this ordeal, they visited a psychiatrist several times who focused on the ensuing separation, (Tim has no recollection at all of seeing a psychiatrist or therapist. I surmise that he was so young, that these visits never registered as therapy sessions.)

Tim recalls leaving his mother, father and little brother and boarding a train for a very long ride to Denver.  (And returning two years later to discover a baby sister, born while he was away!)

He recalls arriving at the hospital and at some point being asked to relinquish his inhaler.  He remembers being overwhelmed by the number of inhalers in this particular room -- shelves, filled with hundreds of inhalers in all shapes, colors, and sizes.

Tim has mentioned fondly a room with a piano, the school he attended, and the wonderful times he had there, better than any other times in his life up until then!  He talks of how he learned to deal with his illness, how he was encouraged to do everything, how he was taught to handle emotions and to take care of himself in nearly every situation he would face.

As a rule, Irving speaks very little of his asthma or of his time in Denver.  He prefers to function as a healthy, ordinary man who had an ordinary childhood.

I personally thank the people at National Jewish who made it possible for me to have a healthy, active, loving, supportive husband who was the absolute best father any children could have!

From a patient from Ft. Collins, CO. (1949-51):  Remembering Mr. G., the many friends and fond memories of my time at the National Home for Jewish Children in Denver.  Hello to all:  (She lists names here).  I once had the nickname, Mousey, in those days.  I remember sneaking out at nights to Bears Stadium, swimming at Washington Park, Elitch's, and of course, Sloan's Lake and Lake Jr. High.

From a patient from Ft. Collins, CO (1941-1945):  Some o fmy memories.  I remember vividly the huge amounts of food available, having just arrived from Germany (no mat, no milk there -- mostly cabbage.)  I gained 20 or 30 pounds in the first month!

I was among the first to receive a phrenic crush with pneumoperiteum (note: phrenic crush is where a nerve supplying the diaphragm is cut off.  Pneumoperiteum is gas in the abdominal cavity.  I am not sure the connection here to asthma, although there were some questionable procedures performed to treat asthma).

I fondly remember Dr. Japha, also Dr. Rosenbloom, and Dr. Kaufman, Medical Director.

First I was in the big B'nai B'rith Building, later the Guggenheim Building, and finally, as the sort of caretaker, in the Nurses' Building on the corner of Colorado Blvd. And 14th Ave.

I remember other young patients. (She names three).

References: 

1. "Our Memories," National Jewish Medical and Research Center Patient and Resident Reunion," July 30-August 1, 1999, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, Colorado, Memories is a packet put together for former patients who visited the institution for the reunion.  Note:  I would be more than happy to send a copy of this little booklet to anyone who requests one.  

1920s and 30s: Memories from National Jewish

 B'nai B'rith Building.  This was the east part of the campus on the opposite
side of Colorado Boulevard as the 7-Goodman Building that I was in.  This
building was for the most severe asthmatic kids during the 1930s.  By the
1980s when I was a patient, this building stood empty.  It appears,
however, that it is no longer empty.  I'm surprised it still stands. And, a
part of me is happy it still stands.
1

Between 1899 and 1999 there were thousands of children with a chronic breathing disease, mainly tuberculosis and asthma, who benefited from a prolonged stay at the Jewish Hospital in Denver.  In 1999 they were all invited back for a reunion. I was among them. However, due to my place in life, was unable to attend. 

As part of the reunion we were all asked to tell our stories and mail them in. I did not do this, but many others did. They were since compiled into a little booklet that I was able to get my hands on.

I would like here to share some of these stories.  Even though these stories were submitted for the public, I will not share any names here.  My only goal is to give you an idea of what it was like to live in a sanatorium or asthma institution for several months, or years, away from your family and friends. 

Fannie E. Lorber Breaking Ground at the Denver Sheltering Home for Jewish Children

1920s:  Denver Sheltering Home for Jewish Children

I have a story from a lady who's family members suffered from tuberculosis, and she and her three siblings were staying at the shelter because her family couldn't take care of her for a time.  Her father paid $40 a month "for the keep of us four children in our family."  Her recollection was taking dancing lessons.  She adds:  "In sharing these notes I can say 'Thanks' for the shelter and the care I was given while my mother laid in a bed in the hospital with tuberculosis."  I would imagine the hospital she's referring to was National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives.  

Mending clothes was one of the routine chores preformed by the girls.

1930s:  National home for Jewish Children

It was just a simple name change, although the home was the same as the one mentioned during the 1920s.  One guy talked of he and his group of friends having boxing matches "because we had gloves our dad gave us.  He writes how some of the guys "hitch hiked -- got a ride on a cement truck," and one of the kids fell off and was run over and killed.  He remembered running through the tunnels under the hospital -- "especially to escape from Mr. Cohen!  Or hiding in the engine room or the locker room.  And various of us getting beaten up in the locker room by the Boss.'

1930s:  National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives

An unidentified woman reads a story to a group of children in
the nursery at the National Home for Jewish Children at Denver. 
 On back of photograph: ''Story hour in the nursery National
Home for Jewish Children at Denver 1931 (2)

(Resident August 1934-January 1936)  At the time of my admission to National Jewish I had been living in Colorado Springs.  My family had moved from Ohio because of my father's health.  He was tubercular and eventually was a patient at National Jewish also.

At a very early age I had typhoid fever,which left me in a weakened condition from which I never fully recovered.  As I grew older, I failed to recover satisfactorily.  Because my father was tubercular, our family doctor thought it best that i be admitted to National Jewish.

A friend of a friend arranged to have me driven to Denver.  I arrived and was admitted to National Jewish on the 23rd of August 1934.  I was 12 years old.  I was assigned to the Heinemen building for a short time and then transferred to the Hofheimer Preventorium.  I was discharged in late January 1936.  

Dance Recital (2)

I remember the names of many of my fellow patients.  During the school year we went to one of the other buildings on the grounds for our classes.  Our teacher was Miss Mayme Smith.  She taught eight grades in one classroom.  She was taskmaster and a strict disciplinarian.  However, she was always fair. 

the doctors I recall are Drs Black and Cohen.  the nurses I remember are Miss Gresharn, Mrs. Sharam, Miss Elsie and Miss Nickey.  Miss Nickey was the night nurse.  

In addition to attending class, we went on many field trips.  Mostly we walked to the playground at City Park.  Once we walked to Cheesman park where we waded in the pool and I believe we had picnic supper there.  We also went to Elitch Gardens and rode all the rides and to the Schoenberg Farm where we spent the day roaming around the area and having a picnic lunch  At Christmas time the ladies of the Eastern Star took us around to see some of the houses that were very well decorated and lit up.

A group of children sit on an outside deck at the National Home for 
Jewish Children.Each child has a plate of food and an unidentified woman serves them.
 Most of the children are unidentified, however, Bertha Katzson, Doris
Greenstein and Reuben Levine are part of the group. The children
 are in the care of the National Home for Jewish Children
at Denver in Denver, Colorado. (2)

We had students from Denver university visit one afternoon each week.  We called them Club Ladies, one for the boys arranged a trip for a few of the older boys to attend a football game at DU Stadium.  

We used to get our hair cut at regular intervals.  A stool was set up in the nurses' station upstairs, we all lined up and had our hair cut.  All the boys looked the same and all the girls looked alike when the barber was through.  We each climbed on the stool in our turn and zip zip and you were through.  We left our dime for the barber and went our way.

As I recall, we were given some candy on Thursday and Sunday nights.  In the evening we used the dining room as a study hall.  On Sunday nights, while studying, we listened to Eddie Cantor, Ed Wynn, and Fred Allen's radio programs.  At some time a few of us discovered where the candy was kept.  We used to raid it once in a while.

(Resident 1936-1940) "50 Years Ago, They Gave me Back My Life."  Looking at the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, the observers sees a campus composed of both time-honored and modernistic buildings uniquely set off from the busy intersection of Colorado Blvd. and Colfax Avenue.  In 1936, however, National Jewish was a very different place.  Ruth lived at National Jewish for four years during her struggle with tuberculosis between 1936-1940.

As Ruth looks back on her stay, she reflects, "They gave me back my life."  Ruth continued to tell us more about the Center as it was 50 years ago.  "The campus was divided into two parts by the Colorado Blvd.  I lived on the east side of the campus in the B'nai B'rith Building, and on the west side of Colorado Blvd. was the research building, the Pisko building for ambulatory patients, and a few other buildings.  The B'nai B'rith Building was for very ill patients.  After three-and-a-half years, when my tuberculosis was at last brought under control, I was able to move to the west side of the campus into the Pisko building.  In this new setting there was an air of triumph and a sense of camaraderie for we were able to dress and walk to the communal dining room and share meals together.  Also, we could take part in the activities and entertainment wisely planned for our benefit."

Ruth came to the National Jewish Hospital from Arkansas in 1936 after struggling for six years with tuberculosis while living in an Arkansas sanatorium.  she described the mood she prepared for her trip to Denver.  "My father explained to me that I was so ill, the doctors were not sure I would survive the trip to Denver and perhaps I should just stay in Arkansas."

However, Rush is indeed a fighter, and in her heart she felt that the doctors in Denver could help her.  She was prepared to take the risk.  She traveled by ambulance to the train, by train to Denver, and again by ambulance to National Jewish.  The trip required a total of 36 hours.

After being released from National Jewish in 1940, Ruth decided to make Denver her home.  She married soon after her release.  Her battle with tuberculosis had lasted ten long years, and had robbed her of her twenties, yet added a new dimension of perseverance, patience, and compassion to her life.  With the help of the wonderful staff at National Jewish, in particular, Dr. Gugenheim, she was victorious.  Since the, her health has remained stable, and her life has been fulfilling and productive.

In July of 1986, on the 50th anniversary of her entry into National Jewish, Ruth came back to the Center.  It was indeed a  very emotional visit as she toured a different, yet familiar, campus.  today the National Jewish Medical and Research Center is world renowned for only for work with tuberculosis, but for research in respiratory and immune system disease, model patient care programs, and excellent educational training for doctors and patients nationwide.

Rush acknowledged the fifty year anniversary of her admittance into National Jewish my making a gift to the Center in the form of a National Jewish Gift Annuity.  This very special gift from the heart, given with deep thanksgiving, will help National Jewish to progress and grow during the next 50 years.

Compliments of National Jewish Health Facebook Page. Opened in 1899. 

References:

1. "Our Memories," National Jewish Medical and Research Center Patient and Resident Reunion," July 30-August 1, 1999, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, Colorado, Memories is a packet put together for former patients who visited the institution for the reunion.  
2. "Jewish Story at the National Home for Jewish Children at Denver," Penrose Presents, University of Denver, accessed 11/8/12

1899: National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives

Figure 1 -- National Jewish Health for Consumptives (5, page 16)

By the 1880's a whopping 25% of Denver's residents were suffering from lung diseases -- mainly tuberculosis, and many were literally dying in the streets.  This inspired the Jewish community to coalesce and donate funds to build a home for them. 

In 1899 the doors to the National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives opened with the motto  (1): 

"None may enter who can pay -- none can pay who enter."  

It was built by the Jewish Community, and it was funded mainly with the financial assistance of the International Order of B'nai B'rith. The hospital "adopted a program that emphasized the benefits of fresh air, good nutrition and rest." (6)

Figure 2 -- Patients at National Jewish Hospital getting sun treatment

Regardless of where the funds came from, anyone was allowed to enter who needed help, so long as they couldn't afford to attend one of other sanatoriums.  (2)

The following rules were listed for those desiring admission: 

"The National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives at Denver is intended for the treatment of tubercular diseases only, among the indigent, in whom the disease is not sufficiently advanced to preclude the possibility of recovery or the arrest of the disease within the time, assigned for the treatment." (3, page 156)

Figure 3 -- National Jewish Hospital circa 1920s

The neat thing about the hospital is the it was under the control of a National Board of Directors consisting of 35 members from principle cities around the United States.  When a patient wanted to be admitted, he'd have to have the endorsement of the local director, plus "be examined by a properly authorized physician of the city in which he lives." (3, page 156)

The examination form and the application were then submitted to the"Denver Board for action. Upon arrival in Denver, he (the patient) is at once admitted to the hospital, and re-examined by the admitting physician." The patients are then examined on a weekly basis. (3, page 156)

Compliments of National Jewish Health Facebook Page. 

322) and accepted both male and female patients of all ages. Patients may be married or single. Patients were generally admitted for six months, and examined every two months by their general physician.  Patients could stay longer than six months per recommendation by the medial advisory board.  No patient could stay longer than one full year.
The hospital had a capacity for up to 65 patients, (4, page

The patients in the first three years admitted were of a variety of occupations, including six school children, many tailors, salesmen, and clerks.  Eight were cigar makers, and many more were laborers or worked in sweat shops in New York and Chicago.  (3, page 157)

Compliments of National Jewish Health Facebook Page. 

Of these patients, 83% were admitted after an exacerbation caused by a cold picked up at work. Thus it was based on these statistics that poor hygiene was blamed for many cases, and hygienic rules for certain occupations, particularly tailors and sweat ships, were recommended to and passed by the New York Legislature.  (3, page 157)

Once a patient is admitted treatment is based on a per patient assessment, with one of the more common treatments being open air treatment.  For this reason many of the rooms are made so that they have windows for absorbing sun rays.  Patients have their sputum assessed upon admission and discharge, and weekly.  Patients are also weighed weekly.  (3, page 156)

Other treatments include:

"The climate, nutritious food, and personal hygiene, were mainly relied upon. Patients are encouraged to keep out of doors as much as possible, and to further this purpose, games are provided for their amusement, upon the porches and grounds surrounding the hospital. The food provided is the best the market affords, and is properly prepared. There are a number of special diets upon which the patients may be placed, as directed by the attending physicians, besides numerous extras, which may be ordered for the patients. It has been the aim of the staff to give particular attention to the quality and preparation of the food provided for the patients, and in this it has found the ready cooperation of the Board of Managers.

"All patients are instructed in the danger that lies in communicating the disease through the sputa, and paper spit-boxes are provided for them, which they are required to carry with them in and around the hospital. They are not allowed to expectorate in or use handkerchiefs. Pieces of cheese-cloth, which can be cremated, are provided for their use. Various other measures to secure personal cleanliness are enforced. In regard to medication, no systematic attempt has as yet been made to use true specific medicines. Patients are treated symptomatically, and the majority of the attending physicians avoid the use of large numbers of drugs." (3, page 158)

When the hospital was first opened any patient with consumption was admitted, but this resulted in a high number of deaths in the first year.  This also  resulted in a tightening up of the admitting rules.  After the initial year, "only those in the early stages of pulmonary tuberculosis, who are likely, in the opinion of the admitting physician, to be improved by hospital treatment, have been admitted." (3, page 156)

Figure 4 -- National Jewish Hospital today

According to the Denver Chamber of Commerce, by 1912, it is reported that about 75 percent of consumptive patients staying at the hospital benefit from the treatment provided. Of that 75 percent, up to 25 percent "regain permanent health." (5, page 16)

The Chamber advertised the hospital as benefiting consumptives due to the...

"high, dry altitude, with the maximum of sunshine, is the great remedial agent goes without saying. Situated one mile above sea level, protected by the Rocky Mountain range from cold winds in a latitude nearly parallel with Washington, D. C, Denver and vicinity offers almost unequalled attractions to the invalid; more specially those suffering from lung and throat trouble. The summers are delightful, hot in midday, but with remarkablv cool nights, and always cool in the shade, even in midday. Sunstroke is a thing never known, because of the dryness of the air. There is no dewfall at night; therefore, one can live out of doors in comfort all through the season from May 15th to October 15th. Indeed many invalids live in tents in winter as well as summer." (5, page 16)

Figure 5--
National Jewish wasn't the only tuberculosis sanatorium in Denver.
There were many others in the area, some of which were tent farms.
Tent farms were preferred by some because they were less expensive.
Plus, many also allowed accommodations for "invalids,"
or those victims in the end stages of disease. (5, page 16)
There were many others located around the U.S. and Europe.
Pictured here is the Nordach Sanatorium,
Austin Bluffs, Colorado in 1906
Compliments of Wikepedia. 

As I sit here typing this up I wonder how helpful these sanatoriums were at treating lung diseases, considering the limitations of the era. However, I would imagine they offered solace to those victims of lung diseases who otherwise had little or no home, and especially those who were weak and disabled and left to the streets.

While it was not the only sanatorium in Denver, let alone the west, what made National Jewish stand out were efforts in 1914 to open the first building outside a university with the specific goal of researching a cure for disease.

It was also special for opening a ward during the 1920's specifically for children suffering from lung diseases. By the 1930's the hospital had the capacity to hold hundreds of children of all ages with a disease called tuberculosis. So, this made it one of the few such institutions to provide a home and hope for people of all ages suffering from tuberculosis. By this time it was also a leader in its attempts to find better treatment and a cure for tuberculosis and other lung diseases that plagued society at the time.

References:

1. Gurock, Jeffrey S., ed., "American Jewish History," 1998, New York, vol. 3, part 3, pages 1095-6
2. "The History of National Jewish," NationalJewish.org, http://www.nationaljewish.org/about/whynjh/history/
3. Saling, Simon, "Report of Cases Examined for the National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives, at Denver, Colorado," The Philadelphia Medical Journal, July 27, 1901, Volume III, July to December, 1901, Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Medical Publishing Company, page 156
4. Solis-Colon, Solomon, "A system of physiologic therapeutics," volume IV, Book II, 1901, Philadelphia, P. blakiston
5. "Denver and Vicinity as a Health Resort," Denver Today: Denver Chamber of Commerce, 1912, Denver, Colorado, Compiled and Published by the Denver Chamber of Commerce
6. "National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives, University of Denver, Special Collections & Archives (Beck Archives), 
7. another good reference

1950s: Asthma at national Jewish Hospital

Figure 1 -- National Jewish Hospital today.  You can see the Goodman bulding
on the right.  It was there, on the 7th floor, where I was a patient in 1985.
The boy's ward looked out in this direction.  On the 7th floor was where kids
12-18 lived, and on the 8th floor was home to younger kids.  I stayed
on 7 Goodman for 3 months, andthen I was a patient of 2-May for 3 months
(another building not seen here).  The treatment greatly helped me.

So by the 1880s about 1 in 4 residents of Denver were patients with lung diseases, and many of them were literally dying in the streets.  It was for this reason the Jewish community came together and donated money to open the doors of National Jewish Hospital for the Treatment of Consumptives.  

It was not the only such sanatorium in the area, nor was it the only one in the United States.  In fact, many had opened both in the U.S. and in Europe, and all had about equal success.  What made National Jewish stand out over time was it's effort in 1914 to open the first building outside of a university with the specific goal of researching a cure for a disease.  

It also became the first such institution to open a ward specifically to treat children with a disease in the 1920s. So by the 1930s National Jewish had the capacity to take care of hundreds of tuberculosis patients of all ages, plus it was a leader in the attempt to find a better treatment and a possible cure.  

And partially through the efforts of this hospital, the number of people getting tuberculosis saw a steady decline beginning at the turn of the 20th century, and then a steep drop off after the discovery of an effective treatment in the 1940s and 1950s. So while the goal of the hospital was to treat consumptives, consumptive patients were slowly disappearing.

When the hospital was opened in 1899 the president of the institution said, "that its doors may never close again until the terrible scourge is driven from the earth." It probably appeared that was exactly what was going to happen. The disease was never driven from the earth, although it's one that is readily controlled, for the most part, in modernized nations of the world, particularly in the United States and Europe.

Yet there were other respiratory disease that continued to plague the west, and we must not forget that these patients were also welcome at National Jewish. So as tuberculosis declined as a leading cause of death, and is now at the bottom of the yearly list, other disease saw a steady rise and deserved the attention of the world's leading lung experts, particularly those at National Jewish Hospital.

Due the the rise of people smoking cigarettes following WWI the incidence of chronic bronchitis and emphysema was on the rise. Likewise, with the modernization of the west, asthma was also on the rise. These folks, mainly adults with COPD and children with asthma, needed a place where they could find help. And that place was National Jewish.

During the 1940s various centers for asthma were opened in the United States, yet National Jewish was already an option for them. Yet the 1940s saw a rise in the number of asthma patients at the hospital. Many asthmatics were taken away from the stress of their home lives, with their parents and doctors that had little knowledge of the disease, and admitting them to these asthma and research centers. (2, page 29)

During the 1960s various discoveries, such as the IgE antibody and cortisone, allowed for better methods of treating asthmatics. Although cortisone worked to trmeat asthma, there were some pretty significant side effects to taking it long term. So this brought about the corticosteroid inhaler, although the fear of side effects prevented physicians from using it as a daily preventative medicine. This fear persisted until the 1980s when studies proved the benefits far outweighed the side effects.

When I was a child in the 1970s with asthma my physicians treated me only when I was symptomatic with rescue medicine like Alupent solution via a nebulizer or epinephrine or susphrine, both when I was admitted to the emergency room. I have discharge papers telling me to use my inhaled corticosteroid inhaler (Vanceril) only until I felt better, and then to only use it when I was having trouble.

But this was the normal accepted means of treating asthmatics back then, so it wasn't that my doctors were not good doctors. Yet the physicians at hospitals like National Jewish were participating in the research, and were privy to the latest techniques in treating the disease. And it's for this reason kids like me with "high risk" asthma were being admitted for long-term treatment, control, and education to hospitals like National Asthma Center/ National Jewish Hospital.

So as the medical needs of society changed through the years, so to did the name of the hospital.  

• 1899 — National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives
• 1925 — National Jewish Hospital at Denver
• 1965 — National Jewish Hospital and Research Center
• 1978 — National Jewish Hospital / National Asthma Center
• 1985 — National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine
• 1997 — National Jewish Medical and Research Center
• 2008 — National Jewish Health

I was a patient of the hospital in 1985, and was there when the name was changed. That was also the year the address was changed from Kolfax Avenue to Jackson Street. I think the main reason for the name change at that time was to show that the hospital wasn't just for asthma and COPD patients.

In 1990 it was proven that inhaled corticosteroids were safe for asthmatics, or at least the benefits outweighed the side effects. It was also proven that all asthmatics have a certain degree of inflammation always in their lungs. This proved that asthma was a chronic disease that should be treated on a daily basis to prevent symptoms, as opposed to treating only acute symptoms.

By 1997 the children's wards that I lived in were closed mainly because asthma had run its course. Surely there still exists the disease, although back in 1985 regional doctors weren't privy to the latest asthma treatment and the physicians at National Jewish were.

Today, however, partially thanks to the various asthma guidelines, and even while asthma rates continue to rise, asthma is much easier to control. Part of the reason is better medicine, but another reason is the efforts of National Jewish Health physicians making an effort to better educate regional physicians.

Today, under the name National Jewish Health, the hospital's doors are still open. I would imagine COPD patients are still treated on the 2nd or 3rd floors of the Goodman Building as they were back in 1985. Yet asthmatics are no longer living there.

Floors like 7-Goodman, where I stayed for three months, and 2-May, where I stayed for 3 months, and 8 Goodman, where younger kids stayed, are now closed. Replacing this type of long term treatment are very effective outpatient programs.

Why did the hospital wards end? Well, I would imagine homesickness and dealing with teenage boys was a major problem. Yet I think another main reason was that physicians at National Jewish Health, along with other asthma experts, made a major initiative to educate regional doctors to focus on asthma control and prevention, as opposed to simply treating acute symptoms.

Another major reason for the change was the initiative to create asthma guidelines in the late 1990s. These guidelines are created by the worlds most prolific asthma physicians and experts. The goal is to provide a guide for asthmatics all over the world, and the physicians treating them.

So the need to use a hospital like National Jewish Health has greatly diminished for both the tuberculosis and asthmatic patient. However, both those diseases are still present, asthma more so than tuberculosis.

And, when needed, the hospital is still around, and still looking for better ways of treating, and, perhaps more important, curing these disease. Plus, when needed, hospitals like National Jewish provide a way to help hardluck asthmatics gain better control of their disease, so that they can live life more like a normal person.  (3)

References:

1. Dobozin, Bruce S, Stuart H. Young, "Allergies: The complete Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Daily Management," 2011
2. Bjorklund, Ruth, "Asthma," 2005, China, Marshall Cavendish Corporation0
3. In 2008 I interviewed the Public Relations Representative for National Jewish Health and she provided me with an interview where I obtained up to date information about the NJH children's asthma program.