Mount Vernon Hospital, New York

The cornerstone for Mount Vernon Hospital was laid in 1893.^[8]

The hospital was located in Mount Vernon's downtown area, which was about a mile square and densely built. It was described in 1986 as "a major institution;"^[4] in 1996 it was described as "a financially distressed institution."^[9]

They had begun specializing in healing chronic wound cases in 1989.^[10] In 1996, they affiliated with another hospital and specialized more, including focused services for mental-health patients.^[9] They had experience working with other hospitals, such as offering a program for local diabetics, aided by a larger Bronx-based teaching hospital.^[11] In 1999, they closed their maternity unit and redirected expecting mothers to an affiliated hospital that tripled the capacity of its neonatal and maternity wing.^[12]

They were a flagship to prevent the spread of infectious diseases within hospitals and the community. Part of this included reaching out to young children with a 'pledge' to wash their hands.^[13]