1920

Admissions at Bellevue Hospital increased from 6,546 in 1879 to 45,470 by 1920. Growth signified era of the “private” patients, which began with St. Vincent’s in 1860s; NY Hospital in 1900 opened 10-story bldg. of private rooms. Nineteen twenty four survey of NYC hospitals showed 30% in private or semiprivate rooms (Oshinsky, 188-189). Competition for payments  opens hospitals to family physicians, who admitted their paying patients and decline of charity cases. Public hospitals like Bellevue had to pick up the slack (190).