The Albert Steiner Memorial Clinic was established through the generosity of an immigrant who sought means to bring medical services to “the poor of Atlanta.” The clinic treats patients suffering primarily from emphysema, a disease marked by the loss of elasticity of the lungs, resulting in shortness of breath.

Medical authorities estimate that over 10,000,000 people in the United States suffer from emphysema and that chronic lung disease is the fastest rising cause of total disability. The Steiner Clinic is a pioneer in the southeast in providing effective means to combat the disease.

The clinic is strictly for out-patient care of those who have been referred by their own doctors. The treatments consist of intermittent positive pressure breathing on a Bird Respirator for 15 minutes repeated three times a day.

During his period of treatment a patient will spend six hours at the clinic to complete his three fifteen minutes breathing processes. The average length of treatment is three weeks. Some patients eventually purchase a respirator for continued home use. The apparatus helps them to breath more easily and helps to clean out the lungs.

The vast majority of the patients are over 50 with most in their 60’s and 70’s.

The clinic is supported primarily by the Albert Steiner Charitable Fund, Medicare, patient and other donations.

Dr. Lester Rumble Jr., is the director of the clinic who also heads the Infirmary’s Department of Medical Education.

During the first year of operation, 151 patients received and benefited from more than 10,000 treatments. The Albert Steiner Charitable Fund was established by the last will and testament of Albert Steiner, a successful man of affairs and leader in religious, civic, charitable, financial and business life before his death in 1919.

The fund is administered by three trustees at present, General Eugene Oberdorfer, Dr. Bernard S. Lipman and Sidney Saul, “to relieve the sufferings of the poor” according to the dictates of the will.