At National Jewish Health, we provide patient care that is thorough, multidisciplinary and tailored to the needs of each patient. Our staff takes the time to know our patients and really understand their conditions and concerns. Over a course of days or weeks, our doctors may spend hours with each patient, which is quite different from today’s average 15 minute office visit. As a leader in the treatment of respiratory, cardiac and immune diseases, our focus is to: Develop and provide innovative clinical programs for treating and rehabilitating patients of all ages and for preventing disease. National Jewish Health began serving patients in 1899 in response to the great number of destitute individuals suffering from tuberculosis (then known as consumption) who flocked to Denver for the climate's supposed beneficial effect on respiratory diseases.