What medieval institution often treated the sick and poor?

The story behind the answer

Throughout medieval Europe, monasteries and convents founded hospitals as acts of Christian charity. Staffed by monks, nuns, and lay brothers, these institutions offered food, shelter, basic nursing, and spiritual support to the sick, the poor, and travelers, and were sustained by donations and endowments. Their organized facilities made them the most reliable providers of care beyond the household.

Context: Famous examples include the Hôtel-Dieu of Paris (7th century) and the houses of the Knights Hospitaller, whose mission began with caring for pilgrims. Specialized leper hospitals (leprosaria) were common, too. Treatments focused on regimen, herbs, and comfort rather than cures, with prayer central to healing. By contrast, town almshouses emphasized poor relief, while family and manorial care was informal and limited.