Princeton
Content
Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital
Ignorance is BlissThanksgiving at PPTH
The hospital lobby, decorated for the holidays
"Omnes te moriturum amant"
―Hospital motto
Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital (or PPTH) is the fictitious teaching hospital
where House is set. It is located in Princeton, New Jersey on Prospect Street (as seen
on Chase's GPS when he rushes to the hospital in After Hours) The hospital
presumably is located near the neighboring township of Plainsboro. Princeton
University's Frist Campus Center is used in the aerial screen shots. It was apparently
based on a hospital near where series co-creator Bryan Singer grew up.
Organization
PPTH appears to be a non-profit entity, essentially run as a charity with no
shareholders. It is a teaching hospital, which means it is affiliated with a university
medical school (although it has never been revealed which one, and Princeton
University has no medical school) and is responsible for training medical students,
interns, residents and fellows.
The hospital's highest authority is the Board of Directors, which is primarily made up
of department heads, together with important donors. Generally, the Chairman of
the Board is one of the donors rather than one of the doctors. The current chairman
of the board is Sanford Wells, the owner of a large corporation. The board generally
does not involve itself in the day-to-day running of the hospital. Its chief duty
appears to be to approve the hiring of chief administrative officers and approving
contracts for major expenses, such as those with the hospital's insurers. The Board
also determines which doctors are entitled to tenure in the hospital's role as a
medical educator. The Board elects and dismisses its own members by majority
vote of the remainder of the members.
Doctor Lisa Cuddy was the Hospital's Dean of Medicine and head administrator. She
is responsible for all the day-to-day functions of the hospital, including supervising
the department heads, overseeing medical training, disciplining students, making
personnel decisions about non-tenured staff, determining who may have hospital
privileges, and meeting the hospital's ongoing regulatory requirements. She reports
directly to the Board but she later resigned after her former boyfriend, Gregory
House crashed his car into her living-room. House's former fellow, Dr. Eric Foreman
has since replaced Cuddy and continues overseeing the day-to-day running of the
hospital.
Each department of the hospital has a department head, who is responsible for
personnel decisions within the department and ensuring interns, residents and
fellows are properly supervised during their medical training.
Princeton-Plainsboro's Head Nurse is Brenda Previn who is responsible for allocation
of patient rooms and diagnostic facilities.
Physical Plan
While being a fairly modern hospital with wide open plan areas, it is clear that it has
been expanded and upgraded over time by the appearance of several older areas
(such as the lecture hall where Dr House held the game for fellowship doctors).
The hospital includes a free clinic where members of the public can come for free
treatment. All doctors employed at the hospital must serve in the clinic for a certain
amount of hours (generally two) every week. Department heads are expected to
work in the clinic, and even Dr. Cuddy has been known to take a turn with House
going to great lengths to avoid it.
The hospital's equipment is state-of-the-art, and it is so well equipped that almost
all of its testing can be done within the hospital and does not have to be sent out to
an outside laboratory.
Revenue
PPTH's main source of revenue is insurance payments. Its number one insurer is
Atlantic Net, which insures over 89% of the hospital's patients. The hospital also
seeks out major donors and foundations, primarily to fund capital improvements.
Departments
Oncology- Formerly headed by James Wilson who later resigned for good after being
diagnosed with inoperable and terminal cancer/replacement unknown.
Diagnostics - Formerly headed by Gregory House. Robert Chase has become the
permanent replacement.
Emergency Room
Surgery- Headed by Dr. Dave Thomas, Chief Surgeon
Obstetrics
Pediatrics
Cardiology
Nephrology
Radiology
Rheumatology
Internal Medicine - Headed by Dr. Kaufman
Isolation room
ICU
Burn unit
Sleep lab and labs
Transplantation - Headed by Dr. Hourani
Wings
Some of the wings of the hospital are named after people who are significant to
Princeton, New Jersey and Princeton University. Witherspoon is likely named after
John Witherspoon, a New Jersey representative to the Continental Congress and
signer of the Declaration of Independence. There is also a street in Princeton named
after him. Mathey was a major donor to Princeton University and the man
responsible for steering the university's endowment through the first great
depression of the United States. There is also a residential college named after him.
Cuyler is also the name of a residence hall. Carnegie is likely named after Andrew
Carnegie who was very generous to the university and created the man-made Lake
Carnegie. A popular local brand of scotch is called "Loch Carnegie."
Carnegie
Cuyler
Lucas
Mathey
McCormick
Witherspoon
Floors
The hospital has four floors and a basement. This is a list of what is located on each
floor, based on the directory beside the elevators, signs on the walls, and
statements made by characters. It is by no means complete, and sometimes
changes occur (for example, the main lobby balcony was added during the period
between the end of season two and the beginning of season three), or mistakes are
made (in several episodes of season one, House's office and the pathology lab
appear to both be on the second floor, despite the directory listing the department
of diagnostics as on the fourth floor). A question mark beside an entry indicates that
the location is unclear, but probably as listed.
However, in one of the episodes involving Detective Tritter and House's drug
addiction, House leaves his office and says he is going upstairs to the drug
rehabilitation center at the hospital, implying that there are more than the four
floors listed here. There is a fifth floor, at least. In Season 1 episode Maternity, the
fifth floor is referenced as where they moved the healthy babies. Also, in Season 7
episode A Pox on Our House, it is mentioned there is an isolation room on the fifth
floor. In Season 7 and 8, the directory says that Oncology and the Oncology ICU are
on the fifth floor. The Buttons in the lifts indicate that there is a sixth and seventh
floor.
Basement
Radiology (Diagnostic Imaging): MRI & CT Scan
Records Office
Morgue
Sleep Lab
Forensic Medicine
Emergency Room (?)
First Floor
Main Lobby
Cafeteria
Chapel
Clinic
Pharmacy
Foreman's Office
Urgent Care
Lecture Halls
Conference Room
Second Floor
Pediatrics
Ultrasound
Pulmonary Laboratory
OB/GYN
Nursery
Patient Rooms
Administration
Intensive Care Unit
Surgery
Pathology Laboratory
Third Floor
Psych Ward (East Wing)
Patient Rooms
Senior Services
Same Day Admission Unit
Maternity Ward
Pediatrics (Pediatrics ICU and Pediatrics OR)
Mammography
Rheumatology
Fourth Floor
Nephrology
Anesthesia Office
Cardiology
Diagnostics (House's Office & Diagnostic Conference Room) Rm: 4191
Oncology (Wilson's Office)
Motto
"Omnes te moriturum amant"
Ironically, the hospital's motto has a classical meaning and a euphemistic meaning.
The more literal translation that fits with the hospital's purpose is "Everyone loves
you, about to die(modifying you)." However, the more sarcastic meaning is
"Everyone loves you when you're on your deathbed", a cynical twist worthy of
House himself to the effect that you treat people better when they are about to die.
Trivia
On May 22, 2012 in Plainsboro, New Jersey University Medical Center of Princeton at
Plainsboro officially opened, thus creating a real life Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital.
[1]
Robert Chase
Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital Chris Taub
Ignorance is BlissThanksgiving at PPTH
The hospital lobby, decorated for the holidays
"Omnes te moriturum amant"
―Hospital motto
Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital (or PPTH) is the fictitious teaching hospital
where House is set. It is located in Princeton, New Jersey on Prospect Street (as seen
on Chase's GPS when he rushes to the hospital in After Hours) The hospital
presumably is located near the neighboring township of Plainsboro. Princeton
University's Frist Campus Center is used in the aerial screen shots. It was apparently
based on a hospital near where series co-creator Bryan Singer grew up.
Organization
PPTH appears to be a non-profit entity, essentially run as a charity with no
shareholders. It is a teaching hospital, which means it is affiliated with a university
medical school (although it has never been revealed which one, and Princeton
University has no medical school) and is responsible for training medical students,
interns, residents and fellows.
The hospital's highest authority is the Board of Directors, which is primarily made up
of department heads, together with important donors. Generally, the Chairman of
the Board is one of the donors rather than one of the doctors. The current chairman
of the board is Sanford Wells, the owner of a large corporation. The board generally
does not involve itself in the day-to-day running of the hospital. Its chief duty
appears to be to approve the hiring of chief administrative officers and approving
contracts for major expenses, such as those with the hospital's insurers. The Board
also determines which doctors are entitled to tenure in the hospital's role as a
medical educator. The Board elects and dismisses its own members by majority
vote of the remainder of the members.
Doctor Lisa Cuddy was the Hospital's Dean of Medicine and head administrator. She
is responsible for all the day-to-day functions of the hospital, including supervising
the department heads, overseeing medical training, disciplining students, making
personnel decisions about non-tenured staff, determining who may have hospital
privileges, and meeting the hospital's ongoing regulatory requirements. She reports
directly to the Board but she later resigned after her former boyfriend, Gregory
House crashed his car into her living-room. House's former fellow, Dr. Eric Foreman
has since replaced Cuddy and continues overseeing the day-to-day running of the
hospital.
Each department of the hospital has a department head, who is responsible for
personnel decisions within the department and ensuring interns, residents and
fellows are properly supervised during their medical training.
Princeton-Plainsboro's Head Nurse is Brenda Previn who is responsible for allocation
of patient rooms and diagnostic facilities.
Physical Plan
While being a fairly modern hospital with wide open plan areas, it is clear that it has
been expanded and upgraded over time by the appearance of several older areas
(such as the lecture hall where Dr House held the game for fellowship doctors).
The hospital includes a free clinic where members of the public can come for free
treatment. All doctors employed at the hospital must serve in the clinic for a certain
amount of hours (generally two) every week. Department heads are expected to
work in the clinic, and even Dr. Cuddy has been known to take a turn with House
going to great lengths to avoid it.
The hospital's equipment is state-of-the-art, and it is so well equipped that almost
all of its testing can be done within the hospital and does not have to be sent out to
an outside laboratory.
Revenue
PPTH's main source of revenue is insurance payments. Its number one insurer is
Atlantic Net, which insures over 89% of the hospital's patients. The hospital also
seeks out major donors and foundations, primarily to fund capital improvements.
Departments
Oncology- Formerly headed by James Wilson who later resigned for good after being
diagnosed with inoperable and terminal cancer/replacement unknown.
Diagnostics - Formerly headed by Gregory House. Robert Chase has become the
permanent replacement.
Emergency Room
Surgery- Headed by Dr. Dave Thomas, Chief Surgeon
Obstetrics
Pediatrics
Cardiology
Nephrology
Radiology
Rheumatology
Internal Medicine - Headed by Dr. Kaufman
Isolation room
ICU
Burn unit
Sleep lab and labs
Transplantation - Headed by Dr. Hourani
Wings
Some of the wings of the hospital are named after people who are significant to
Princeton, New Jersey and Princeton University. Witherspoon is likely named after
John Witherspoon, a New Jersey representative to the Continental Congress and
signer of the Declaration of Independence. There is also a street in Princeton named
after him. Mathey was a major donor to Princeton University and the man
responsible for steering the university's endowment through the first great
depression of the United States. There is also a residential college named after him.
Cuyler is also the name of a residence hall. Carnegie is likely named after Andrew
Carnegie who was very generous to the university and created the man-made Lake
Carnegie. A popular local brand of scotch is called "Loch Carnegie."
Carnegie
Cuyler
Lucas
Mathey
McCormick
Witherspoon
Floors
The hospital has four floors and a basement. This is a list of what is located on each
floor, based on the directory beside the elevators, signs on the walls, and
statements made by characters. It is by no means complete, and sometimes
changes occur (for example, the main lobby balcony was added during the period
between the end of season two and the beginning of season three), or mistakes are
made (in several episodes of season one, House's office and the pathology lab
appear to both be on the second floor, despite the directory listing the department
of diagnostics as on the fourth floor). A question mark beside an entry indicates that
the location is unclear, but probably as listed.
However, in one of the episodes involving Detective Tritter and House's drug
addiction, House leaves his office and says he is going upstairs to the drug
rehabilitation center at the hospital, implying that there are more than the four
floors listed here. There is a fifth floor, at least. In Season 1 episode Maternity, the
fifth floor is referenced as where they moved the healthy babies. Also, in Season 7
episode A Pox on Our House, it is mentioned there is an isolation room on the fifth
floor. In Season 7 and 8, the directory says that Oncology and the Oncology ICU are
on the fifth floor. The Buttons in the lifts indicate that there is a sixth and seventh
floor.
Basement
Radiology (Diagnostic Imaging): MRI & CT Scan
Records Office
Morgue
Sleep Lab
Forensic Medicine
Emergency Room (?)
First Floor
Main Lobby
Cafeteria
Chapel
Clinic
Pharmacy
Foreman's Office
Urgent Care
Lecture Halls
Conference Room
Second Floor
Pediatrics
Ultrasound
Pulmonary Laboratory
OB/GYN
Nursery
Patient Rooms
Administration
Intensive Care Unit
Surgery
Pathology Laboratory
Third Floor
Psych Ward (East Wing)
Patient Rooms
Senior Services
Same Day Admission Unit
Maternity Ward
Pediatrics (Pediatrics ICU and Pediatrics OR)
Mammography
Rheumatology
Fourth Floor
Nephrology
Anesthesia Office
Cardiology
Diagnostics (House's Office & Diagnostic Conference Room) Rm: 4191
Oncology (Wilson's Office)
Motto
"Omnes te moriturum amant"
Ironically, the hospital's motto has a classical meaning and a euphemistic meaning.
The more literal translation that fits with the hospital's purpose is "Everyone loves
you, about to die(modifying you)." However, the more sarcastic meaning is
"Everyone loves you when you're on your deathbed", a cynical twist worthy of
House himself to the effect that you treat people better when they are about to die.
Trivia
On May 22, 2012 in Plainsboro, New Jersey University Medical Center of Princeton at
Plainsboro officially opened, thus creating a real life Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital.
[1]
Robert Chase
Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital Chris Taub
