Our History
Courtland Saunders was shot and killed on September 21, 1862 during The Civil War.
Years later his father, The Reverend Dr. Ephraim Saunders spoke at a service which honored him by dedicating land at 39th and Market Streets in Philadelphia for the establishment of Presbyterian Hospital. At the dedication, Rev. Saunders said: “A few days before the battle of Antietam…he [Courtland] passed with me from his tent in the forest. We sat upon a log. In view of the perils of war…he recommended that in the case of his death…the property should all be donated to some prominent…charity.”
In 1871, the original incorporators of the Presbyterian Hospital stated that the object of the corporation was ‘to provide medical and surgical aid and nursing for the sick and disabled, either in the wards of the Hospital or at their homes.’ They established a hospital to provide care and nursing to the indigent of Philadelphia, funded through donations from Presbyterian churches and individuals as part of their Christian mission.
In 1952, the trustees of the Hospital voted not to move to the more affluent suburbs but rather to stay in West Philadelphia and remain committed to providing care to that community. In the 1980s, the President of Presbyterian Hospital, Don Snook, often said that it was Presbyterian’s dedication and commitment to its mission that separated it from other healthcare institutions in Philadelphia. In those years, and through the 1990s, Presbyterian enjoyed great prominence in the City as a tertiary care center and community hospital. But, in the mid 1990s, senior management came to believe that in an era of increased costs and shrinking revenues, an independent hospital the size of Presbyterian might not survive unless it strongly allied with a larger system. On July 1, 1995, Presbyterian Hospital became a part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. This marked the end of one era and the beginning of another.
At the sale of the hospital in 1995, the trustees believed that they could fulfill their original mission of serving those in need in Philadelphia by addressing the aging population living in nursing homes around Philadelphia. At the time, the care received by many was compromised significantly because of poor financial conditions which inevitably led to a break down in operational and clinical standards. NewCourtland, named to honor the Reverend’s slain son, took up the challenge and over the years of dedication and hard work brought their network of nursing homes to a place where they are widely recognized as nurturing, clinically excellent and well run, where residents enjoy a broad array of activities and a high quality of life.
With changing times comes changing demands, and in more recent years NewCourtland has broadened its focus in order to develop housing and community services for seniors who can and wish to remain in the community. These include independent and supportive housing options including domiciliary care, senior centers and adult day centers around the city, NewCourtland LIFE (Living Independently For Elders), Courtland@Home, and Courtland HT, providing innovative technology to promote independent living.
Another demand addressed by NewCourtland is that of the need for highly trained people to support the needs of a growing senior population. Having built the Education Center to provide for the training and educational needs of its staff, in 2009, NewCourtland supported the expansion of the NewCourtland Education Center which will offer much needed certificate and license programs open to those in the city who have or wish to pursue careers in long term care services.
We go to where the greatest need is for the citizens of the city. We believe that Rev. Saunders would embrace this shift.
Font Size 
