In November 1867, physicians with the Reading Medical Association and 16 local business leaders developed plans for the area's first hospital.

Public demand for hospital care led to constant expansion, resulting in the 1926 relocation to the present 36-acre (15-hectare) site in West Reading.

[9] In 2017, Reading Hospital treated more than 133,000 people in its emergency room, delivered 3,500 babies, provided more than 750,000 outpatient services and 33,000 inpatient admissions.

Students at the Drexel College of Medicine at Tower Health have the opportunity to complete all 4 years of the MD program at Reading Hospital.

[10] Reading Hospital operates a number of residency training programs for newly graduated physicians.