DCH Regional Medical Center

Name :

DCH Regional Medical Center

Address  :

809 University Blvd. E.

Town  :

Tuscaloosa

State  :

Alabama

Country  :

USA

Post Code:

35401

Phone  :

2057597111

Web URL  :

Available

Description

DCH Regional Medical Center has been the cornerstone of the DCH Health System since 1923 DCH Regional Medical Center operates specialty units for cardiac and cancer patients as well as the regions advanced trauma center and Intensive Care Units ICU

Physicians at DCH Regional Medical Center use many of the latest surgical techniques that require less recovery time including microsurgery laser surgery laparoscopic and robotic surgery

From the introduction of openheart surgery in West Alabama in 1978 to todays development of procedures that can dissolve blood clots without surgery physicians at DCH Regional Medical Center offer patients many of the latest advances in cardiovascular care

The Phelps Outpatient Center at DCH Regional Medical Center offers the regions most comprehensive range of services in a private and personalized setting designed for patient convenience

At the Lewis and Faye Manderson Cancer Center physician specialists in hematology medical oncology and radiation oncology lead a dedicated team of nurses and technicians who provide advanced treatment and emotional support

Other services available at DCH Regional Medical Center include the DCH Home Health Agency and DCH Home Medical Equipment

The Womens Center at DCH Regional Medical Center offers rooms decorated in a homelike atmosphere and tworoom suites and private accommodations are available The Womens Center is staffed by an impressive team of professionals with the training experience and compassion to make the birthing experience safe and enjoyable

The hospital features a neonatal intensive care unit directed by physician specialists and staffed by experienced nurses

History

Under local ownership and leadership for more than 75 years the DCH Health System has continually evolved to offer advanced caring to West Alabama

As the community grew and as medicine developed new procedures a small hospital expanded its services and service area to become a regional medical center Today the DCH Health System operates DCH Regional Medical Center Northport Medical Center and Fayette Medical Center In 2002 DCH Health System entered a threeyear management agreement with Pickens County Medical Center

In 1916 Tuscaloosa entered its centennial year with a population of 10500 more than twice the population the city could claim when it entered the 20th century It was in that year Tuscaloosa took the first step toward providing for the health care needs of its citizens It was also in that year that the first steps were taken that would eventually transform a small clinic into the DCH Health System

The 12bed Druid City Infirmary funded by a bond issue and public subscriptions opened in 1916 on Broad Street now known as University Boulevard Tuscaloosa civic and business leaders knew within four years that the humble clinic was insufficient to serve the needs of Tuscaloosa and Northport and a committee was appointed by the Tuscaloosa County Medical Association the Board of Trade and the Rotary Club to study the alternatives for improving health care for Tuscaloosa Committee Chairman Samuel F Clabaugh reported that it would cost a staggering 100000 to build and equip a modern hospital

The community responded to the challenge Under the slogan quotFor Humanity Here at Homequot the committee raised the funds for the new hospital through a 50000 bond issue matched by another 50000 in public subscriptions University of Alabama President George Denny who wanted to help the community effort and provide better care for University students donated Lawn State where the Russell Student Health Center now stands for the new hospital As excavation began in March 1922 on the site at the edge of the University campus the committee chose the name Druid City Hospital for the new facility This name selected from among suggestions from the community would retain Tuscaloosas distinctive nickname and the name of the infirmary that preceded it

The opening of Druid City Hospital on March 25 1923 was heralded by the Tuscaloosa News quotas the greatest achievement from a humanitarian viewpoint accomplished by the present generationquot an achievement that was not without some quotpersonal sacrificequot The time for sacrifice was not yet over the board saw an immediate need for an additional 25000 to equip the 50bed hospital The community met the challenge within a week

Druid City Hospital expanded to 80 beds to meet the health care needs of the growing city But by World War II it was obvious that the city had outgrown its modest hospital just as it had outgrown its infirmary two decades before Joseph Allen Duckworth president of the private nonprofit corporation that operated the hospital challenged the quotnew generation to put up as did the foundersquot to bring to Tuscaloosa and Northport the quality health care they deserved

The first step toward finding new alternatives to the countys health care needs required restructuring the hospitals board The private nonprofit board that had operated the hospital since it opened could not raise funds needed to keep a hospital abreast of a growing city so the board turned over its assets to the city and county governing boards in 1946 Government officials later that year leased a portion of Northington General Hospital a temporary Army hospital that closed at the end of World War II The Northington complex where University Mall now stands would serve as a temporary home for Druid City Hospital until a new hospital could be financed and constructed

Tuscaloosa County residents responded to this new challenge by imposing on themselves a 1 cent sales tax to finance the construction of a new hospital The legislation that established the sales tax also created a ninemember board of directors for the hospital with members appointed by area governing bodies and the county medical society This tax was revoked when the hospital opened in 1952 The current tax is divided among several county entities including local governments and school boards and the hospital

Tuscaloosa residents now numbering well over 50000 anxiously followed the construction of the hospital throughout the early 1950s In December 1952 Tuscaloosa County received an early but longawaited Christmas present Druid City Hospital employees and community volunteers moved 77 patients from the Northington location to the new hospital on University Boulevard Unlike many presents this one was paid for The sales tax revenue combined with federal funds available through the HillBurton Act provided the more than 3 million needed to construct the new Druid City Hospital

The new 240bed hospital so progressive it earned coverage in Modern Hospital and Life magazines featured pipedin oxygen at every bedside four major operating rooms and the states first surgical recovery room DCH continued to grow to keep pace with its evolving role as a regional medical center serving a sevencounty area of more than 220000 persons Additions from 1958 to 1976 brought DCH to 496 beds and the opening of a fivestory wing in 1976 made DCH the states third largest hospital As a regional medical center DCH attracted physician specialists and constructed specialty units including an intensive care nursery coronary and intensive care units subintensive care units openheart surgery an orthopedic unit and a pediatric unit

DCH Regional Medical Center continues its evolution as West Alabamas health care leader by serving as the foundation of the DCH Health System a regional health care system This system has grown from serving the Tuscaloosa and Northport areas to serving the entire West Alabama region

In the 1980s expansion occurred off the campus of DCH Regional Medical Center when the DCH Health System became affiliated with Fayette Medical Center in Fayette Ala This partnership which began in 1984 further offered residents in West Alabama the best possible health care Specialty clinics offered at the Fayette Medical Center include oncology cardiology urology neurology orthopedics ophthalmology and plastic surgery The facility also has a 122 bed nursing care facility that has been officially accredited and licensed for intermediate and skilled nursing care

The 1990s brought more expansion when Northport Medical Center became part of the DCH Health System in 1992 Northport Medical Center was already a fullservice community hospital that offered diverse and uptodate services when it became part of the system Today the facility is home to services such as the DCH SportsMedicine program Womens Pavilion and the North Harbor Pavilion which offers psychiatric services for adults and geriatric patients

The history of the DCH Health System is not the history of a building or a health care system It is the story of a communitys continuing response to provide for itself one of the most important commodities a community can offer health care