The Miriam Hospital: 1984

Posted on November 12, 2024 by David Brussat

The Miriam Hospital, now Brown University Health.

I was planning such a takedown of Miriam Hospital, known as The Miriam Hospital, or, now, Brown University Health. My hospital system was until recently called Lifespan. Lifespan is now out. It is now Brown University Health.

Well, this was going to be such a stitch, riffing on johnnies and all other things medical that have not been updated in two or three centuries.

But then I had second thoughts. The doctors and nurses Miriam, and, equally, those at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island, in North Smithfield (where I was sent next), are so great. Do they deserve this?

No, I decided, they do not.

So I downgraded this post to a notification to readers of this blog of its writer’s officially certified good health after three weeks in two hospitals, including the Miriam (where I was admitted after suffering a small stroke) and the Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island, in North Smithfield, where I was sent after that. Both seemed like a maximum security prisons, with beds alarmed to go off – sirens blaring, klieg lights flashing –  should a patient seek to visit the in-suite bathroom or any other place. Rooms at the Rehabilitation Hospital, or the Fogarty Memorial Hospital, as it was once known, were likewise alarmed, but toned down a notch or two. (“For your own good,” of course, in case you trip and fall on the way.)

In addition to letting readers know I am  now at home and doing fine, I’d like to let my roommate at Miriam Room 351 East know he should email me at dbrussat@gmail.com if he wants to read my manifesto.

Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island, in North Smithfield

Unknown's avatar

About David Brussat

This blog was begun in 2009 as a feature of the Providence Journal, where I was on the editorial board and wrote a weekly column of architecture criticism for three decades. Architecture Here and There fights the style wars for classical architecture and against modern architecture, no holds barred. History Press asked me to write and in August 2017 published my first book, "Lost Providence." I am now writing my second book. My freelance writing on architecture and other topics addresses issues of design and culture locally and globally. I am a member of the board of the New England chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, which bestowed an Arthur Ross Award on me in 2002. I work from Providence, R.I., where I live with my wife Victoria, my son Billy and our cat Gato. If you would like to employ my writing and editing to improve your work, please email me at my consultancy, dbrussat@gmail.com, or call 401.351.0457. Testimonial: "Your work is so wonderful - you now enter my mind and write what I would have written." - Nikos Salingaros, mathematician at the University of Texas, architectural theorist and author of many books.
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11 Responses to The Miriam Hospital: 1984

  1. Unknown's avatar Anonymous says:
    January 4, 2025 at 1:15 pm

    I am totally enjoying your blogs, especially those about Waterfire, at which I am pretty sure I have seen you, based on your photo that is at the end of each posting.

    Like

    Reply
  3. Unknown's avatar Anonymous says:
    November 14, 2024 at 9:30 am

    I am so glad you’re home David and I wish you a speedy recovery. See you soon Buddy.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. stanleyxweiss@gmail.com's avatar stanleyxweiss@gmail.com says:
    November 12, 2024 at 1:54 pm

    dear Dave, sorry to hear all of this… wishing you a speedy recovery , my best StanSent from my iPhone

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Unknown's avatar Anonymous says:
      November 13, 2024 at 10:47 am

      Thank you very much, Stan, for your good wishes. I think I am back to normal, though I must constantly keep in mind that I could suddenly tilt off again, and collapse with a stroke. So I am very deliberate in how I walk at home. And I have a long trail of follow-up visits from doctors and nurses of all stripes.

      Cheers,

      David

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. Liz Mauran's avatar Liz Mauran says:
    November 12, 2024 at 12:07 pm

    Glad you are okay, David. You need to keep writing!

    >

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Unknown's avatar Anonymous says:
      November 13, 2024 at 10:49 am

      Thank you, Liz. I am doing quite well, much better than any of the visiting doctors or nurses think possible. I will be writing more posts over the next few days to make up for what has gone unwritten. – David

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
    • Unknown's avatar Anonymous says:
      November 13, 2024 at 10:52 am

      My reply of appreciation to Liz seems to have disappeared up some fundamental apeture of the Mac II. Sorry! – David

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. Unknown's avatar Anonymous says:
    November 12, 2024 at 11:47 am

    So glad your home and feeling better my friend!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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