Lewis County General Hospital

Description

In 1929 the citizens of Lewis County decided they needed a local hospital

In 1930 the County of Lewis purchased the land for a county hospital on the top of a hill leading into town The cost of the land was 4500 In 1930 the construction of the hospital began Seven months later in August 1931 the construction phase ended and a brand new healthcare facility opened its doors to a grateful community

It was a sturdy building built of solid brick with six towering white posts marking the main entrance Today 78 years later the main campus encompasses 145 acres and offers over 220000 square feet of floor space dedicated to the provision of high quality healthcare to the residents of the tricounty area The facility including the nursing home employs over 550 people and offers medical services and programs usually only found in bigger hospitals located in major metropolitan areas

In order to ensure easy access the facility also operates two off site health centers staffed by physicians employed by the hospital These sites located in Beaver Falls and Lyons Falls help to bring the skills of the staff and the modern technology of the facility directly to the local communities A third hospital owned center is located on the main campus in Lowville The Womens Health Center offers Board Certified Obstetrical and Gynecological physicians providing a comprehensive program of womens health services It is staffed by two physicians and an Adult Nurse Practitioner who are currently accepting new patients

The hospital recently remodeled and enlarged the Diagnostic Imaging Department The cornerstone of the new center is the first and only Digital Mammography Unit in the North Country We are proud of offering some of the latest technology available in the ongoing fight against breast cancer

The next step in our goal of improving and expanding services to the community was the ever busy Emergency Department They currently see over 10000 patients a year It was recently remodeled modernized and enlarged to increase capacity while improving quality and service

With over 100 professional health care providers in various specialties Lewis County General is quickly growing to better serve the community The future is bright for the facility because of our highly skilled physicians the dedicated staff the support of the community and an administration that looks toward the future with a positive plan of growth and modernization

The strength of the Board of Managers of Lewis County General Hospital and Residential Health Care Facility is founded on its diverse membership of concerned Lewis County residents The Boards composition includes a retired physician attorneys town justices dairy farmer retired school superintendent and area business leaders This diversity of life and occupational skills broadens the basis of the boards decisionmaking responsibilities

The Board of Managers most significant achievement during the past year was the successful national search for a high quality Chief Executive Office The Board combed through many highly qualified applications and interviewed excellent candidates With the assistance of various groups throughout the facility the Boards choice has proven to be an excellent one Eric Burch first appointed as Interim CEO and later as permanent CEO has established himself as an outstanding administrator