Did you know that the Ospedale Buccheri La Ferla Fatebenefratelli has a history stretching back centuries? This hospital is more than just a place of healing. It embodies dedication and care.
The Ospedale Buccheri La Ferla Fatebenefratelli belongs to the Order of San Giovanni di Dio. They are also known as the Fatebenefratelli. The name comes from the phrase the monks would use when asking for alms. They would say “Fate bene fratelli” which means “Do good, brothers”.
Pope Sixtus V officially recognized the Order in 1586. This gave a formal structure to the religious community. They followed in the footsteps of San Giovanni di Dio. He was born in Portugal around 1495 and died in Granada in 1550.
San Giovanni di Dio’s life took many turns. He was a shepherd, soldier, builder, and book vendor. A dramatic conversion led him to the mental ward of Granada’s Royal Hospital. He saw the poor treatment of the mentally ill. Inspired by San Giovanni d’Avila, he envisioned a hospital where patients received skilled and humane care. Cesare Lombroso called him “the creator of the modern hospital”.
San Giovanni di Dio gathered the poor and sick. He gave them shelter and care. Others joined him. After his death, they continued his work. This led to the formation of the religious Order. Hospitals spread beyond Granada and Spain. They reached America and the Philippines.
The Order includes three saints. San Giovanni Grande reformed healthcare in 16th-century Spain. San Benedetto Menni reformed the Order in Spain. He also founded the Hospitaller Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. San Riccardo Pampuri was a doctor and religious hospitaller. There are also several blessed figures. These include the 94 martyrs of the Spanish Civil War. Olallo Valdés from Cuba is another. A night shelter inside the hospital is dedicated to him.
The Fatebenefratelli had 22 hospitals in Sicily. One was in Palermo. It was called “San Pietro in Vinculis”. It was in the Ballarò district. Today, it is part of a school. The beautiful frescoed ward remains. Pietro Novelli from Monreale painted scenes from the Saint’s life there.
The Fatebenefratelli were known for caring for the sick. They especially cared for the poor regardless of their religion. They played a key role during the cholera epidemic of 1837.
The Order left Palermo in 1866 due to the suppression of religious orders. They returned in 1964. Anna Buccheri, widow of Professor Luigi La Ferla, donated the “Solarium” sanatorium. The religious order gradually transformed it. First, it became a nursing home. Later, it became the modern hospital known as “il Buccheri La Ferla”.
Over time, female religious communities joined the mission. They assisted the religious brothers and lay staff. These included the Ancelle della Sacra Famiglia, the Ancelle del Bell’Amore, the Suore Francescane d’Ognissanti and the Suore Francescane dell’Immacolata Concezione.
The Ospedale Buccheri La Ferla Fatebenefratelli was classified as a general hospital on October 23, 1991. This recognized its shift from a specialized nursing home to a full hospital. New departments were added. These included emergency services, orthopedics, pediatrics, and intensive care. Outpatient services also expanded. More recently, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, neurology, and oncology departments opened. Day surgery and day hospital services were also introduced. The hospital also offers private healthcare services.
The Ospedale Buccheri La Ferla Fatebenefratelli also developed its diagnostic services. These include histopathology, electrophysiology, and prenatal diagnosis labs. Ear, nose, and throat and dermatology clinics were established. An acupuncture clinic for alternative medicine was also created. The hospital is a regional reference center for toxicology.
The Ospedale Buccheri La Ferla Fatebenefratelli continues its mission. It is committed to providing services based on equality, impartiality, and continuous improvement.