Hundreds of Philadelphians Build New Monument to America’s Failing For-profit Healthcare System at Broad and Vine
Welcome to America’s newest monument, a massive mixed media installation at the soon-to-be former Hahnemann University Hospital located at Broad and Vine streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
A monument dedicated to America’s failing for-profit healthcare system, the piece was created by hundreds of angry Philadelphians and includes heartbreaking farewell messages from the staff of the hospital’s various departments as well as a number of more pointed messages like, “Medicine Was Here!” and “#Greed.”
The installation is on view until the United States joins most of our allies and much of the rest of the world in deciding that healthcare is a human right. Because frankly, a system of healthcare that’s main motivator is profit should fail. And it is here in the U.S. It’s collapsing under its own greed.
Fittingly, I suppose, this new monument sits in the largest population center of arguably the most crucial swing state for the next Presidential Election in 2020. An election, it deserves underscoring, which currently has two of the leading Democratic presidential candidates running on a platform of Medicare for All. Those candidates of course being Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.
Honestly, it’s hard to imagine that this new monument and what it symbolizes won’t have a truly profound effect on the next election. And if it does, it could be remembered as one of the most important works of public art of our century.
Absolutely incredible work all around! Bravo to the folks at Hahnemann who organized this.
Streets Dept 
I am a nurse in labor and delivery, Two nurses I work with, Nichole Crowley and Colleen Kramer, started this with putting up 1848 HUH 2019, after that a few of us put up L&D loves PHILLY MOMS and everyone else followed suit. The best part is there was no organization of this. Everyone just posted up something in their units windows and it turned out so beautiful! It’s bittersweet.
Beth Durso, you and all those healthcare professionals are Citizen Heros!
Fantastic article! And my respect to the nurses and hospital staff who started this. America is failing across the board, except at making billionaires richer.
The residents and fellows along with staff began to put the messages up on Wednesday July 24th after they learned they would be released to pursue their educations elsewhere.