Harbin Clinic
Encyclopedia
With over 141 doctors specializing in 32 different medical specialties, the Harbin Clinic is the largest privately-owned multispecialty medical clinic
in Georgia. and is a significant part of Rome, Georgia
's dominance in the field of medical care in the large triangular area between Chattanooga, Tennessee
, Birmingham, Alabama
, and Atlanta, Georgia
.
The Harbin Clinic was founded in 1948 as the successor to the Harbin Hospital
that was founded in 1908 by Drs. W.P. and R.M. Harbin. The Harbin Clinic now has more than 27 satellite offices throughout Rome, Adairsville
, Bremen
, Calhoun
, Cartersville
, Cedartown
, Summerville
, and Trion
.
in 1888. In 1894, Robert moved to Rome, Georgia
and established his own practice.
Dr. William Pickens Harbin (1872 - 1942) ("Dr. Will"), earned his Medical Doctorate in 1897, also from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College. His brother Robert invited him to join his practice in Rome, where Will first arrived in 1898. However, Will soon accepted a commission as acting assistant surgeon in the United States Army during the Spanish American War.
After the war, in 1901, Will returned to Rome and the Harbin brothers' first practice was located on the second floor at 206 Broad Street, and they employed two horse & buggy drivers to keep buggies ready to race the doctors to the homes of patients with medical emergencies. The fee for an office visit was usually $1, and the fees for home visits were $2 to $3, but payments were often delayed until the cotton crops came in.
Common health problems included smallpox, diphtheria, typhoid, pellagra, tuberculosis and diabetes, with diagnosis depending on active symptoms, physical findings, and sputum
examinations.
In 1908, Robert and Will founded the Harbin Hospital with 12 beds by converting a house at the Southeastern corner of Third Avenue and First Street. In 1911 they established a training program for nurses, and in 1919, a new four-story fire-proof hospital building was constructed next door, and the original hospital was converted to a nurses' dormitory.
Also in 1919, Harbin Hosptial acquired an X-Ray machine and became one of the first hospitals in the country to offer radiation treatment for cancer.
In 1920, three stories were added to the hospital, expanding the bed capacity to 75 and making it the tallest building in Rome at the time. Many modern advances were included, such as steam heating, electrical lights, silent call systems, hot and cold running water in each room, linoleum floors, three complete operating suites, a private telephone exchange, and a safe-gate elevator running from basement to roof. The next year, the hospital was recognized by the American College of Surgeons as one of only four hospitals in Georgia to meet the board's standards of excellence.
In 1925, the Harbin Hospital introduced what was then an innovative orthopedic program of following the treatment of bone fractures with physiotherapy (known today as physical therapy). Other innovations in following years included Dr. Will Harbin performing the first Caesarean section ever done in Floyd County, the first blood matching and blood transfusion in the county, and the first X-ray camera in Rome used for the first bone and dental films.
By the time Robert died in 1939 and buried in Myrtle Hill Cemetery
, many other physicians had been added to the staff, and in the 1930s and 40's, a new generation of Harbin doctors joined, including Robert Jr. and 3 sons of Will: William Jr., Bannester, and Thomas. William died in 1942 and also buried in Myrtle Hill Cemetery.
In 1948, Harbin Hospital
was transformed into the Harbin Clinic
by eliminating overnight care, which was effectively replaced by the expansion of the Floyd County Hospital
to 120 beds. At this time the building was renovated and an air-conditioning system was added, the Harbin Hospital School of Nursing was terminated, and the nurses' dormitory was razed to increase parking space.
The next major change came in 1969, when the medical group purchased 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) from Berry College
on the Southwest corner of Martha Berry Boulevard and Redmond Road, and built a new facility with 34000 square feet (3,158.7 m²) of office space for a staff of 20 doctors, a dentist, and a pharmacy.
Since then the Harbin Clinic has continued to expand, and is Georgia’s largest privately-owned, multi-specialty physician clinic, with an 11-county referral base consisting of Bartow, Chattooga, Cherokee, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Polk, Walker, and Paulding counties in Georgia and Cherokee and DeKalb counties in Alabama. The clinic also has more than 20 satellite offices are throughout Rome, Calhoun, Cartersville, Cedartown, Adairsville, Summerville and Bremen.
Clinic
A clinic is a health care facility that is primarily devoted to the care of outpatients...
in Georgia. and is a significant part of Rome, Georgia
Rome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
's dominance in the field of medical care in the large triangular area between Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
, Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, and Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
The Harbin Clinic was founded in 1948 as the successor to the Harbin Hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
that was founded in 1908 by Drs. W.P. and R.M. Harbin. The Harbin Clinic now has more than 27 satellite offices throughout Rome, Adairsville
Adairsville, Georgia
Adairsville is a city in Bartow County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,542 at the 2000 census. As of 2007 data Adairsville's population was 3,076: 1,414 males and 1,662 females. Adairsville is south of Calhoun, northeast of Rome and north of Atlanta.-Geography:Adairsville is an...
, Bremen
Bremen, Georgia
Bremen is a city in Haralson County and Carroll County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,227.Locally the name of the city is pronounced BREE-muhn...
, Calhoun
Calhoun, Georgia
Calhoun is a city in Gordon County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 15,650. The city is the county seat of Gordon County.-Geography:Calhoun is located at , along the Oostanaula River....
, Cartersville
Cartersville, Georgia
Cartersville is a town in Bartow County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 19,7314. The city is the county seat of Bartow County.-Geography:Cartersville was named for Colonel Farish Carter....
, Cedartown
Cedartown, Georgia
Cedartown is a city in Polk County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,750. The city is the county seat of Polk County...
, Summerville
Summerville, Georgia
Summerville is a city in Chattooga County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,556 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Chattooga County.- Geography :Summerville is located at ....
, and Trion
Trion, Georgia
Trion is a town in Chattooga County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,993 at the 2000 census. The estimated pop. as of 2006 is 2,001. Trion is the second largest incorporation is Chattooga County, which has a population of approximately 27,000...
.
History
Dr. Robert Maxwell Harbin (1864 - 1939) received his medical training at Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York City, and first practiced medicine with his father, Dr. Wylie Reeder Harbin, in Calhoun, GeorgiaCalhoun, Georgia
Calhoun is a city in Gordon County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 15,650. The city is the county seat of Gordon County.-Geography:Calhoun is located at , along the Oostanaula River....
in 1888. In 1894, Robert moved to Rome, Georgia
Rome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
and established his own practice.
Dr. William Pickens Harbin (1872 - 1942) ("Dr. Will"), earned his Medical Doctorate in 1897, also from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College. His brother Robert invited him to join his practice in Rome, where Will first arrived in 1898. However, Will soon accepted a commission as acting assistant surgeon in the United States Army during the Spanish American War.
After the war, in 1901, Will returned to Rome and the Harbin brothers' first practice was located on the second floor at 206 Broad Street, and they employed two horse & buggy drivers to keep buggies ready to race the doctors to the homes of patients with medical emergencies. The fee for an office visit was usually $1, and the fees for home visits were $2 to $3, but payments were often delayed until the cotton crops came in.
Common health problems included smallpox, diphtheria, typhoid, pellagra, tuberculosis and diabetes, with diagnosis depending on active symptoms, physical findings, and sputum
Sputum
Sputum is mucus that is coughed up from the lower airways. It is usually used for microbiological investigations of respiratory infections....
examinations.
In 1908, Robert and Will founded the Harbin Hospital with 12 beds by converting a house at the Southeastern corner of Third Avenue and First Street. In 1911 they established a training program for nurses, and in 1919, a new four-story fire-proof hospital building was constructed next door, and the original hospital was converted to a nurses' dormitory.
Also in 1919, Harbin Hosptial acquired an X-Ray machine and became one of the first hospitals in the country to offer radiation treatment for cancer.
In 1920, three stories were added to the hospital, expanding the bed capacity to 75 and making it the tallest building in Rome at the time. Many modern advances were included, such as steam heating, electrical lights, silent call systems, hot and cold running water in each room, linoleum floors, three complete operating suites, a private telephone exchange, and a safe-gate elevator running from basement to roof. The next year, the hospital was recognized by the American College of Surgeons as one of only four hospitals in Georgia to meet the board's standards of excellence.
In 1925, the Harbin Hospital introduced what was then an innovative orthopedic program of following the treatment of bone fractures with physiotherapy (known today as physical therapy). Other innovations in following years included Dr. Will Harbin performing the first Caesarean section ever done in Floyd County, the first blood matching and blood transfusion in the county, and the first X-ray camera in Rome used for the first bone and dental films.
By the time Robert died in 1939 and buried in Myrtle Hill Cemetery
Myrtle Hill Cemetery
Myrtle Hill Cemetery, also nicknamed "Where Romans Rest", is the second oldest cemetery in the city of Rome, Georgia. The cemetery is at the confluence of the Etowah River and Oostanaula River and to the south of downtown Rome across the South Broad Street bridge. Myrtle Hill is one of the seven...
, many other physicians had been added to the staff, and in the 1930s and 40's, a new generation of Harbin doctors joined, including Robert Jr. and 3 sons of Will: William Jr., Bannester, and Thomas. William died in 1942 and also buried in Myrtle Hill Cemetery.
In 1948, Harbin Hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
was transformed into the Harbin Clinic
Clinic
A clinic is a health care facility that is primarily devoted to the care of outpatients...
by eliminating overnight care, which was effectively replaced by the expansion of the Floyd County Hospital
Floyd Medical Center
Floyd Medical Center is a system of health care providers serving Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama since 1942. Located in Rome, Ga., it is Floyd County’s largest employer with over 2,000 employees....
to 120 beds. At this time the building was renovated and an air-conditioning system was added, the Harbin Hospital School of Nursing was terminated, and the nurses' dormitory was razed to increase parking space.
The next major change came in 1969, when the medical group purchased 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) from Berry College
Berry College
Berry College is an American accredited, private, four-year liberal arts college located in Mount Berry, unincorporated Floyd County, Georgia, north of Rome. It was founded in 1902 by Martha Berry.-Location:Berry College is located on U.S...
on the Southwest corner of Martha Berry Boulevard and Redmond Road, and built a new facility with 34000 square feet (3,158.7 m²) of office space for a staff of 20 doctors, a dentist, and a pharmacy.
Since then the Harbin Clinic has continued to expand, and is Georgia’s largest privately-owned, multi-specialty physician clinic, with an 11-county referral base consisting of Bartow, Chattooga, Cherokee, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Polk, Walker, and Paulding counties in Georgia and Cherokee and DeKalb counties in Alabama. The clinic also has more than 20 satellite offices are throughout Rome, Calhoun, Cartersville, Cedartown, Adairsville, Summerville and Bremen.
Departments
The comprehensive nature of care available at the Harbin Clinic is evidenced by the long list of departments within the Clinic:- AcupunctureAcupunctureAcupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of solid, generally thin needles in the body....
- AudiologyAudiologyAudiology is the branch of science that studies hearing, balance, and related disorders. Its practitioners, who treat those with hearing loss and proactively prevent related damage are audiologists. Employing various testing strategies Audiology (from Latin , "to hear"; and from Greek , -logia) is...
- Bariatric Center
- Behavioral Sciences
- CancerCancerCancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
Center - Cardiac Rehabilitation
- CardiologyCardiologyCardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
- Cardiology-Pediatrics
- Cardiothoracic SurgeryCardiothoracic SurgeryCardiothoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in surgical treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the thorax —generally treatment of conditions of the heart and lungs .-Cardiac / Thoracic:...
- ChiropracticChiropracticChiropractic is a health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on general health. It is generally categorized as complementary and alternative medicine...
Medicine - Clinical ResearchClinical researchClinical research is a branch of medical science that determines the safety and effectiveness of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use...
- DermatologyDermatologyDermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its diseases, a unique specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist takes care of diseases, in the widest sense, and some cosmetic problems of the skin, scalp, hair, and nails....
- Diabetes ManagementDiabetes managementDiabetes is a chronic disease with no proven cures but a lot of research is underway. It is associated with an impaired glucose cycle that alters the patient's metabolism. Management of this disease may include carefully managing diet, exercising, taking oral diabetes medication, using some form...
Center - DialysisDialysisIn medicine, dialysis is a process for removing waste and excess water from the blood, and is primarily used to provide an artificial replacement for lost kidney function in people with renal failure...
Center - EndocrinologyEndocrinologyEndocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions called hormones, the integration of developmental events such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation and the coordination of...
- Family Practice
- GastroenterologyGastroenterologyGastroenterology is the branch of medicine whereby the digestive system and its disorders are studied. The name is a combination of three Ancient Greek words gaster , enteron , and logos...
- General SurgeryGeneral surgeryGeneral surgery, despite its name, is a surgical specialty that focuses on abdominal organs, e.g., intestines including esophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts, and often the thyroid gland . They also deal with diseases involving the skin, breast, soft...
- ImagingMedical imagingMedical imaging is the technique and process used to create images of the human body for clinical purposes or medical science...
Center - Immediate Care
- Infectious Diseases
- Internal MedicineInternal medicineInternal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
- LaboratoryMedical laboratoryA medical laboratory or clinical laboratory is a laboratory where tests are done on clinical specimens in order to get information about the health of a patient as pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.-Departments:...
- Medical OncologyOncologyOncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
- NephrologyNephrologyNephrology is a branch of internal medicine and pediatrics dealing with the study of the function and diseases of the kidney.-Scope of the specialty:...
- NeurologyNeurologyNeurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
- NeurosurgeryNeurosurgeryNeurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spine, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system.-In the United States:In...
- ObstetricsObstetricsObstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
/Gynecology - OphthalmologyOphthalmologyOphthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
- OptometryOptometryOptometry is a health care profession concerned with eyes and related structures, as well as vision, visual systems, and vision information processing in humans. Optometrists, or Doctors of Optometry, are state licensed medical professionals trained to prescribe and fit lenses to improve vision,...
- Orthopaedics
- OtolaryngologyOtolaryngologyOtolaryngology or ENT is the branch of medicine and surgery that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck disorders....
- PediatricsPediatricsPediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
- Pharmatrend InfusionsRoute of administrationA route of administration in pharmacology and toxicology is the path by which a drug, fluid, poison, or other substance is taken into the body.-Classification:Routes of administration are usually classified by application location...
- Plastic SurgeryPlastic surgeryPlastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand...
Center - Pulmonary FunctionSpirometrySpirometry is the most common of the pulmonary function tests , measuring lung function, specifically the measurement of the amount and/or speed of air that can be inhaled and exhaled...
Lab - Pulmonary MedicinePulmonologyIn medicine, pulmonology is the specialty that deals with diseases of the respiratory tract and respiratory disease. It is called chest medicine and respiratory medicine in some countries and areas...
- Radiation Oncology
- Retired Physicians
- RheumatologyRheumatologyRheumatology is a sub-specialty in internal medicine and pediatrics, devoted to diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. Clinicians who specialize in rheumatology are called rheumatologists...
- Sleep DisorderSleep disorderA sleep disorder, or somnipathy, is a medical disorder of the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders are serious enough to interfere with normal physical, mental and emotional functioning...
s Center - SpineSpinal cordThe spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
& PainPain managementPain management is a branch of medicine employing an interdisciplinary approach for easing the suffering and improving the quality of life of those living with pain. The typical pain management team includes medical practitioners, clinical psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists,...
Center - Travel and Tropical MedicineTravel medicineTravel medicine or emporiatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention and management of health problems of international travelers.-Globalization and travel:...
Services - UrologyUrologyUrology is the medical and surgical specialty that focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the reproductive system of males. Medical professionals specializing in the field of urology are called urologists and are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with urological...
- VascularBlood vesselThe blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart; the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and...
Lab - Vascular SurgeryVascular surgeryVascular surgery is a specialty of surgery in which diseases of the vascular system, or arteries and veins, are managed by medical therapy, minimally-invasive catheter procedures, and surgical reconstruction. The specialty evolved from general and cardiac surgery...
& Endovascular InterventionsEndovascular surgeryEndovascular surgery is a form of minimally invasive surgery that was designed to access many regions of the body via major blood vessels.Endovascular techniques were originally designed for diagnostic purposes. Basic techniques involve the introduction of a catheter percutaneously into a large... - VeinVeinIn the circulatory system, veins are blood vessels that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated blood to the heart...
Center - Vitality Fitness CenterHealth clubA health club is a place which houses exercise equipment for the purpose of physical exercise.-Main workout area:...