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Ohio Hospitals' United Voice Since 1915 feature image OHA commemorated the 100th anniversary of our founding by placing a historical marker outside the Hotel Breakers in August 2015.

Ohio Hospitals' United Voice Since 1915

Ohio's hospital community dates back to 1819. OHA is the country’s first state-level hospital association and was founded by a group of 60 hospital leaders at the Hotel Breakers on Aug. 25, 1915.
 
Discussions of formation began in 1914. Eli R. Crew, MD, superintendent of Dayton’s Miami Valley Hospital, was unanimously elected president at the founding meeting. OHA focused on social and legislative matters critical to hospitals and health care.

OHA returned to Hotel Breakers in August 2015 to celebrate our centennial. Click here to view the highlight video.
 

Our History

During the founding meeting in August 1915, Ohio hospital leaders examined the effects of the Harrison Narcotic Act, a federal statute that became effective the year before. The Act required hospitals to keep records of opium and coca leaf compounds given to patients, register the drugs with the federal government and pay taxes accordingly. OHA developed the logistical and accounting tools hospitals used to comply with the Act.
 
Since its founding, OHA has represented hospitals’ common interests, crafted health care policies, secured reimbursement for patient care, implemented patient safety and quality improvement initiatives, offered workforce staffing solutions, implemented an unemployment payroll tax program, championed energy efficiency and environmental programs, offered educational events for health care workers and served as the united voice for Ohio’s hospitals and health systems.

Centennial Celebration



OHA celebrated the 100th anniversary of our founding in 2015 by collecting stories and images of the history of our member hospitals. Check out the video.

Learn more about Ohio Hospital History

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Can you name the first hospital in Ohio?

Hint, the doors opened in 1823 in Cincinnati.

Read more here about the history of Ohio's hospital community and learn about many firsts achieved by the medical professionals in Ohio.