[3][4] It was founded by Dr. George W. Galvin, who served as the hospital's superintendent and chief surgeon.
[4] The hospital was located in an annex of the United States Hotel at 144 Kingston Street, where Galvin had an existing accident practice.
[3][4] The building was located in the city's business district, where a frequent number of industrial and railroad accidents occurred.
Galvin believed that a small emergency hospital located near the site of most of the city's industrial accident would save lives by providing quicker treatment.
[4] The Boston Emergency Hospital did not receive support from any existing hospital and was funded by Boston businesses and businessmen, including the Old Colony Railroad, New York and New England Railroad, West End Street Railway, Thomson-Houston Electric Company, Walter M. Lowney, the Boston Reds, William Claflin, and The Youth's Companion and its publishing company, the Perry Mason Company.
A patient would pay $1 a year for membership in the hospital association, which would grant them access to medical and surgical services as well as filling of prescriptions at wholesale price.
[8] Galvin discontinued it in 1903 due to alleged interference from the Boston Police Department, which had its own ambulance service.
[10] The hospital regularly faced financial difficulties and unsuccessfully appealed to the city and state for funds.
John Malcolm Forbes, one of the representatives who spoke against the appropriation, called the Emergency Hospital a "small and poorly equipped general hospital...that the medical profession in Boston has no confidence in...and thinks not to be encouraged".
[13] The renovation allowed for all departments to be enlarged and three new ones (optical, dental, and surgical supplies) were added.