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St. Vincent Charity Community Health Center

In 2022, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center transitioned from acute care to ambulatory care and is now known as St. Vincent Charity Community Health Center. 

Care Beyond Medicine Since 1865

Cleveland’s first and only downtown hospital, today St. Vincent Charity Community Health Center is the city’s faith-based, high-quality outpatient health care provider. Its distinguished doctors and caregivers are devoted to treating every patient with clinical excellence and compassionate care. Home to the renowned Rosary Hall, St. Vincent Charity Community Health Center has services in primary care, occupational health, behavioral health and addiction medicine, urgent care, and more. Owned by the Sisters of Charity Health System, St. Vincent Charity has provided Care Beyond Medicine since 1865.

Cleveland’s First Private Hospital

Established 1865

The history of Cleveland and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center are not independent of one another. A city is people; a hospital is people—the story of the past century and a half is the story of how these people have helped each other.

In 1851, a handful of pioneering Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine were brought to Cleveland at the request of Bishop Amadeus Rappe, the first bishop of Cleveland.

Against the backdrop of a soul-searing Civil War and a spirit saddened by the assassination of a president, new life was teeming on the streets, avenues, shores, railways and alleys of Cleveland. However, without a hospital the city could not serve the railroad and steamboat disaster victims and returning Civil War soldiers who were requiring immediate medical attention and nursing care.

To meet these needs, St. Vincent Charity Hospital rose above almost insurmountable difficulties to come into existence.

In May 1863, Bishop Rappe had proposed to City Council that Cleveland build a hospital to care for wounded soldiers, with nursing care to be provided by the Sisters. City Council appointed a committee to investigate and immediately dissension occurred. Newspaper editorials opposed a hospital under Catholic auspices since nine-tenths of the taxpayers were Protestants, and proposed instead the establishment of a nonsectarian hospital.

Familiar with failure and discouragement, Bishop Rappe made another attempt. He offered to build a hospital and provide Sisters to care for the patients if the citizens would furnish adequate financial support.

Cleveland citizens agreed and the site—at Perry Street (now East 22nd Street) between Marion and Garden Streets (now Central Avenue)—was purchased for $10,000. The initial hospital cost $72,000 of which $42,000 was raised from the primarily Protestant Cleveland community.

The Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine stated that patients would be received regardless of religious belief and that those unable to pay would have their care paid for by the city. Mother Augustine, a woman of refinement and strength of character, who possessed unusual executive ability, was the first superior of the hospital. She and seven Sisters took up their duties on October 5, 1865. Their practice of always aiding the sick and suffering regardless of creed, race or ability to pay has continued throughout the next century and a half.

Today, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is Cleveland’s faith-based, high-quality healthcare provider. As a teaching hospital, it is home to the renowned Spine and Orthopedic Institute, the Center for Bariatric Surgery, as well as services in  emergency medicine, primary care, behavioral health, occupational health and addiction medicine in a setting that is as caring and comfortable as home.

Everyone at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is devoted to the mission to treat every patient with clinical excellence and compassionate care.

St. Vincent Charity Community Health Center

St. Vincent Charity Community Health Center

2351 EAST 22ND STREET
CLEVELAND, OH 44115
P: 
216 861 6200
WWW.STVINCENTCHARITY.COM

Recent Blog Posts

October 6, 2022

Bishop Edward Malesic celebrates the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center

The Most Reverend Edward C. Malesic, bishop of Cleveland, visited St. Vincent Charity Medical Center on Sept. 27 to celebrate Mass and to observe the operation of the Refresh Food Pantry, a monthly program that operates during lunchtime from June through September.

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, health care

July 19, 2022

St. Vincent Charity medical-legal partnership team's article published in prominent law journal

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center partnered with The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland in 2017 to create one of the nation’s first medical-legal partnerships (MLP) to focus on behavioral health and addiction patients in an environment with a psychiatric emergency department and inpatient psychiatric and detoxification units. The MLP team recently had an article published in a prominent national law journal highlighting the impact of an MLP on patients with chronic mental health conditions during the early stages of the pandemic.

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, health care

July 12, 2022

St. Vincent Charity neurologist celebrates 100th birthday as oldest practicing physician in the country

Born in 1922, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center's Dr. Howard Tucker celebrated his 100th birthday on July 10. He was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2021 as the World's Oldest Practicing Doctor. Dr. Tucker is a member of the St. Vincent Charity medical staff faculty, working with and mentoring medical residents. A neurologist, Dr. Tucker has been practicing medicine for more than 75 years, graduating from The Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1947.

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, health care

June 14, 2022

St. Vincent Charity surgeon writes in Cleveland Jewish News about how exercise can prevent dementia

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Matthew Levy writes a monthly column for the Cleveland Jewish News focusing on health and orthopedic issues, concerns and topics. His latest column focuses on how exercise strengthens what is arguably the most important organ in the body – the brain. A growing body of research points to regular exercise as a means to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and dementia in our later years.

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, health care

March 31, 2022

St. Vincent Charity surgeon offers tips to prevent phone usage from contributing to neck and shoulder pain

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Matthew Levy writes a monthly column for the Cleveland Jewish News focusing on orthopedic issues, concerns and topics. One of his latest columns focuses on how hours spent hunched over a phone or tablet could be contributing to neck, shoulder and even lower back pain - and how to mitigate the impact of "text neck."

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, health care

March 24, 2022

St. Vincent Charity offers advice on shoulder replacement surgery

Shoulder replacement has become one of the fastest growing joint replacement surgeries in the U.S. It has proven to be a safe and effective surgery for treating pain and deterioration caused by age-related wear and tear, different forms of arthritis and shoulder fractures. On its Radiant Blog, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center offers advice about determining if shoulder surgery might be appropriate.

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, health care

February 21, 2022

St. Vincent Charity surgeon writes about how customized knee implants mean less pain, more mobility

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Matthew Levy writes a monthly column for the Cleveland Jewish News focusing on orthopedic issues, concerns and topics. One of his latest columns focuses on how advancements in knee replacement surgery can mean better results for patients. He writes about the process he uses for customized knee implants that can lead to less pain and more mobility.

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, health care