Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Encyclopedia
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, known locally as Mass. Eye and Ear, is a specialty hospital providing patient care for disorders of the eye, ear, nose, throat, head and neck. Founded in 1824, MEEI is an international leader in Ophthalmology
and Otolaryngology
research and a teaching partner of Harvard Medical School
.
Located in Boston
, Massachusetts
, Mass. Eye and Ear is a 42-bed independent specialty hospital founded in 1824. The Infirmary has earned an international reputation for its successful treatment of the most difficult diseases and conditions of the eye, ear, nose, throat, head and neck, and for its outstanding contributions to medical research and education. In 2010, MEEI has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report
as the 4th best hospital in the United States for Ophthalmology and 2nd best in the nation for Otolaryngology.
The primary teaching hospital for Harvard Medical School in ophthalmology and otolaryngology, Mass. Eye and Ear trains more than 110 residents and fellows each year in its various sub-specialties, including cornea
, neuro-ophthalmology
, retina, eye pathology, pediatrics, glaucoma
, ocular oncology
, immunology
, head & neck surgery, oncology
, pediatric otolaryngology
, facial plastics, otology
and oto-neurology
.
In addition to ophthalmology and otolarynology, the hospital provides patient services and conducts research and clinical training in audiology (diagnostics, hearing aids and cochlear implant
s), balance (vestibular), facial nerve, thyroid, voice and speech, and vision rehabilitation. The Mass. Eye and Ear is also home to the Norman Knight Hyperbaric Medicine Center, which provides 24-hour emergency treatment for smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning, and diving injuries such as decompression sickness ("the bends"). Treatment for problem-wound healing is also conducted in the Center.
buildings. Despite the common perception that the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary is part of MGH, the two health care facilities are not affiliated. Both are Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals and tend to refer patients to one another due to physical proximity, but are not affiliated aside from the Harvard affiliation. MEEI is a stand-alone institution with its own departments handling areas such as human resources and finances. Maps of the Boston area will often show the entire area shaded and labeled as "Massachusetts General Hospital," including the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.
The transit stop serving the two hospitals is "Charles/MGH
" on the MBTA Red Line
train. The signs at the train station (which was rebuilt and opened in 2007) have smaller printing reading "Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary" in addition to the prominent "Charles/MGH" signs.
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology 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...
and Otolaryngology
Otolaryngology
Otolaryngology 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....
research and a teaching partner of Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
.
Located in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, Mass. Eye and Ear is a 42-bed independent specialty hospital founded in 1824. The Infirmary has earned an international reputation for its successful treatment of the most difficult diseases and conditions of the eye, ear, nose, throat, head and neck, and for its outstanding contributions to medical research and education. In 2010, MEEI has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
as the 4th best hospital in the United States for Ophthalmology and 2nd best in the nation for Otolaryngology.
The primary teaching hospital for Harvard Medical School in ophthalmology and otolaryngology, Mass. Eye and Ear trains more than 110 residents and fellows each year in its various sub-specialties, including cornea
Cornea
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Together with the lens, the cornea refracts light, with the cornea accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. In humans, the refractive power of the cornea is...
, neuro-ophthalmology
Neuro-ophthalmology
Neuro-ophthalmology is the subspecialty of both neurology and ophthalmology concerning visual problems that are related to the nervous system ....
, retina, eye pathology, pediatrics, glaucoma
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently damaging vision in the affected eye and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye...
, ocular oncology
Ocular oncology
Ocular oncology is the branch of medicine dealing with tumors relating to the eye and its adnexa. Eye cancer can affect all parts of the eye.-Origin and location:...
, immunology
Immunology
Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the...
, head & neck surgery, oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
, pediatric otolaryngology
Otolaryngology
Otolaryngology 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....
, facial plastics, otology
Otology
Otology is a branch of biomedicine which studies normal and pathological anatomy and physiology of the ear as well as its diseases, diagnosis and treatment....
and oto-neurology
Neurology
Neurology 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,...
.
In addition to ophthalmology and otolarynology, the hospital provides patient services and conducts research and clinical training in audiology (diagnostics, hearing aids and cochlear implant
Cochlear implant
A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing...
s), balance (vestibular), facial nerve, thyroid, voice and speech, and vision rehabilitation. The Mass. Eye and Ear is also home to the Norman Knight Hyperbaric Medicine Center, which provides 24-hour emergency treatment for smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning, and diving injuries such as decompression sickness ("the bends"). Treatment for problem-wound healing is also conducted in the Center.
Location
The hospital is located in Boston's West End, surrounded by various Massachusetts General HospitalMassachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
buildings. Despite the common perception that the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary is part of MGH, the two health care facilities are not affiliated. Both are Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals and tend to refer patients to one another due to physical proximity, but are not affiliated aside from the Harvard affiliation. MEEI is a stand-alone institution with its own departments handling areas such as human resources and finances. Maps of the Boston area will often show the entire area shaded and labeled as "Massachusetts General Hospital," including the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.
The transit stop serving the two hospitals is "Charles/MGH
Charles/MGH (MBTA station)
Charles/MGH Station also known as Charles or Charles Street, is located at the intersection of Cambridge Street and Charles Street, in Boston, Massachusetts. The rapid transit station is on the MBTA Red Line and is elevated, being located at the Boston side of the Longfellow Bridge, which carries...
" on the MBTA Red Line
Red Line (MBTA)
The Red Line is a rapid transit line operated by the MBTA running roughly north-south through Boston, Massachusetts into neighboring communities. The line begins west of Boston, in Cambridge, Massachusetts at Alewife station, near the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Route 2...
train. The signs at the train station (which was rebuilt and opened in 2007) have smaller printing reading "Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary" in addition to the prominent "Charles/MGH" signs.