Massachusetts General Hospital, Teaching hospital in West End, Boston, US
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital in West End, Boston, that stretches across several buildings and combines emergency rooms, operating theaters, and research labs under one roof. The entrances lead to wide hallways with waiting areas, elevators, and signs that guide patients and visitors through the whole campus.
The hospital opened its doors in 1811 as the third general hospital in the United States and admitted its first patient ten years later. The surgeons performed the first public operation with ether anesthesia in 1846, which made surgery more bearable for patients.
The hospital has a large elevator that brings helicopters to the roof so emergency patients from far away can arrive quickly. Doctors and nurses often speak with students who walk through the hallways and learn how to treat people.
The main entrance is on Fruit Street and stays open all day, while other entrances have different hours depending on the department. Visitors should expect security checks and watch for directional signs, as the hallways can be long and have many turns.
The operating room where the first ether anesthesia took place in 1846 still stands today and is sometimes shown to visitors. The building also has a medical museum that displays old instruments and documents from the early days of surgery.
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