Provider of Last Resort: The Story of the Closure of the Philadelphia General Hospital
Donna Gentile O’Donnell’s fascinating and detailed history sheds light on the poorly understood motives of the key political players, the role of the media in driving decision-making, and the passions and deep disappointment of the dedicated people—administrators, doctors, nurses and staff—who worked there and who continued to meet annually for more than twenty-five years to keep alive the memories of their beloved PGH.
Dr. Ted Hershberg, professor, Public Policy and History, University of Pennsylvania
Inside the brick and wrought-iron fence that still stands as a poignant reminder, the sprawling complex of the Philadelphia General Hospital (PGH)—“a small city unto itself”—once thrived. Through its imposing gates passed untold numbers of needy patients for whom this public hospital was indeed the provider of last resort. In this meticulously researched account, Donna Gentile O’Donnell skillfully dissects the forces that finally brought this venerable institution down.
About the Author
Donna Gentile O’Donnell is the managing director of the Eastern Technology Council. She lives with her husband in Chestnut Hill.
