Howard University Hospital, previously known as Freedmen's Hospital, has served the black community in the District of Columbia for over 150 years, having been established in 1862 to cater for the medical needs of the thousands of African Americans who came to Washington during the Civil War, seeking their freedom. The first hospital of its kind to provide medical treatment for former slaves, it later became the major hospital for the area's African-American community. Following the closure of D.C. General Hospital, As of 2016, the hospital has the highest rate of wrongful death lawsuits of any health facility in Washington D.C. over the previous decade.OverviewHoward University Hospital is a private, nonprofit institution in Washington, D.C., affiliated with Howard University. HUH is the nation's only teaching hospital on the campus of a historically black university. It offers medical students opportunities to observe and participate in clinical and research work with professionals.Physicians and other health professionals are engaged weekly in activities and services in the local community, including medical presentations, free health screenings, educational workshops, and health fairs. HUH’s community-based programs include the Diabetes Treatment Center, a facility that service the medical needs of diabetic patients through a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. Specialized services include endocrinology, ophthalmology, podiatry, diabetes education, pharmacy services and nutrition services. Counseling is tailored to the patient's goals, education and lifestyle.HUH functions as a DC Level 1 Trauma Center under the Division of Trauma and Critical Care. It handles more than 1,300 admissions annually and became the primary trauma center for District residents after the closure of District of Columbia General Hospital.
