Provident Hospital
Provident Hospital is currently a public hospital in Chicago formed in the late 18th century. It was founded by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams with the help of good wishers in 1891 to helped black women nurses secure a training school and offer medical and surgical support for needy patients with free treatment. During this Century, African American nurses who desired to partake in nursing causes faced difficulties in securing a nursing school due to the racial segregation present back then in Chicago. For instance, in 1889, Emma Reynolds approached her brother Reverend Louis Reynolds for assistance after failing to secure a place. The Reverend approached Dr. Williams, a respected black surgeon, where they agreed to start a hospital.
The foundation of Provident Hospital began in 1890 through the help of well-wishers such as the black community and few whites. Amour Meat packaging company was converted into a 12-bed hospital through the help of Reverend Jenkins Jones, who convinced a down payment method. This was after receiving financial aids, materials, and equipment from rallies. In 1981, Dr. Williams, through a committee, became the chief-of-staff who started the hospital and nursing school roles. His breakthrough came through in 1893 after being the first surgeon ever to have a successful human heart operation. In 1894, he was transferred to Freedmen’s Hospital in Washington DC, and Provident received another leadership.
In 1896, fundraising was done, which brought victory to Provident three years later through an increased number of patients with improved facilities such as 65 beds in a new location. A controversy happened in 1933 when the hospital bought a new building, which was then Chicago lying-in hospital. The 7th story building was renovated that enabled the development of a nursing school and a patient section service. The hospital also received $1,000,000 funds from the University of Chicago to help in research and training of Provident Hospital. As a result of poor management, the hospital encountered a debt crisis that led to the closure of the hospital in 1987.
After failed attempts to reopen the hospital by the surrounding communities, the Cook County Board of Commissioners also advocated for the hospital services in 1991. Provident was reopened in 1993 by the county government of Chicago to help improve health services in the area. Since then, the hospital resumed its services to the community.