Butterworth Hospital

Description

Butterworth Hospital is one of four facilities that make up the Spectrum Health Medical Center in downtown Grand Rapids Michigan

Our rich history dates back to 1890 Over the last century we have grown into a regional leader in care diagnostics treatment prevention and education And our community continues to grow as wellthe Family Birthplace at Butterworth Hospitals delivers more than 8000 babies a year

Butterworth Hospital also is home to Spectrum Healths Level I Trauma Center We are the only health care system in West Michigan with Level I trauma certification

History

Butterworth Hospital History
Butterworth Hospital owes its beginning to the work of the women of St Marks Church in Grand Rapids In 1873 Reverend Samuel Earp asked the ladies of his congregation to help two elderly and homeless parishioners Mr and Mrs Edward Fuller loaned an 11room house to be run by the women In the first year the St Marks Church Home cared for six elderly women

In 1875 the Fullers donated a larger building to the Home located at 144 Island Weston Street The house was renamed St Marks Home and Hospital Over the next 15 years more than 2500 people were admitted to the hospital However it was soon evident that the hospital would need to expand to care for the increasing population in Grand Rapids

Industrialist Richard E Butterworth a member of St Marks recognized the need for expansion In 1887 he offered a site on the corner of Michigan Street and Bostwick Avenue for a new hospital Although he did not live to see the development of the new facility he bequest an additional 30000 to the Home and Hospital to ensure its completion On April 26 1890 the hospital opened its doors In 1894 the hospital was renamed Butterworth Hospital in honor of its benefactor

Richard Butterworth left the hospital a legacy of caring and compassion that was continued by his descendants Butterworths grandson Edward Lowe and his wife Susan a Blodgett the family that created Blodgett Memorial Hospital served on the administrative board and made numerous contributions culminating in the gift of a new modern hospital in the 1920s

Achievements
1925 The 220bed facility on the present campus is opened

1953 Bed capacity is increased to 425

1967 The Butterworth Original Art Collection is established

1971 Grand Rapids Medical Education Center Inc GRAMEC is formed with
the states medical schools Blodgett and Saint Marys hospitals

1974 North Tower is completed bed capacity is increased to 529

1977 A residency in Emergency Medicine is established

1987 Health Connections an educational resource center is opened Aero
Med an air transport service is introduced to West Michigan

1989 Good Neighbors program is founded to offer yard work and house repair
services to Butterworth neighbors

1990 Surgical Residency Program for Physician Assistants is started with
Western Michigan University

1991 Butterworth becomes the only smokefree hospital in West Michigan

1993 The 10story Helen DeVos Women and Childrens Center is opened

Clinical Achievements
1919 Intern program is established

1938 Eighth hospital in the US to obtain a deep radiation therapy unit

1952 First hospital in West Michigan to own a defibrillator

1956 Cobalt therapy is introduced to West Michigan for the treatment of
cancer

1958 Cardiac catheterization lab is opened

1959 First hospital in the country to offer outpatient surgery Heart
surgery program is established

1970 Cobalt therapy unit is replaced with a linear accelerator the first
in the state

1973 First neonatal unit in West Michigan is established

1976 Full accreditation as a Continuing Medical Education Center is
received

1977 Emergency medicine residency is established

1982 First hyperbaric oxygen chamber in Grand Rapids is opened

1985 Designated by the state as service areas only Level 3 Neonatal
Referral Center

1990 The first laser center in West Michigan and the West Michigan Stone
Center are opened

1991 The American College of Surgeons verifies Level 1 Trauma Center

1993 Formalized as a tertiary referral center for 13 counties in
cardiology cardiovascular surgery highrisk obstetrics microsurgery
neonatology oncology and trauma