There does appear to be some discrepancy, but the most reliable sites seem to say that on this date in 1753, the first hospital in the U.S. (Pennsylvania Hospital) began admitting patients. Dr. Thomas Bond was committed to this relatively new idea, and he asked his friend, Benjamin Franklin, to open a hospital in Philadelphia. He worked very hard to raise the necessary funds, and the motto of the hospital was “Take care of him and I will repay thee.”
For more info:
http://patriciahysell.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/pennsylvania-hospital/
http://psychologyshistory.umwblogs.org/hannahs-page/first-mental-institution/
http://www.ushistory.org/tour/pennsylvania-hospital.htm
http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/paharc/features/creation.html
http://famousdaily.com/history/pennsylvania-hospital-1st-hospital-in.html