Douglas County Hospital

Description

Over the past four decades Douglas County Hospital has had a tradition of growth in medical technology health care services and programs to meet the increasing needs of the citizens in West Central Minnesota A steady growth in physician specialists combined with a continuous upgrading of facilities have established Douglas County Hospital as a comprehensive 127 bed medical center Today the opportunities for specialized medical care suited to each individuals personal needs are greater than ever before

The employees of Douglas County Hospital are dedicated to the delivery of quality care in a safe environment Douglas County Hospital is accredited by Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program HFAP

History

Welcome
visit the history of healthcare in Douglas County throughout the centuries and into the future

1800
The Early DaysMedical care in Alexandria in the late 1800s was primally administered in the homeThere were no hospitals in Douglas County

1899
St Lukes Hospital opened on the corner of 9 th and ElmIt provided for six bedsAfter a fire in 1926 the building was remodeled and expanded to 22 bedsThe Hospital continued to serve patients until 1955 when the present Douglas County Hospital was built

1900
The village of Alexandria received a gift of property overlooking Lake Winona known as the Brown residence which was to be used as a hospitalThis elegant mansion was located near the current marian Building overlooking Lake Winona

1917
Mercy Hospital was located on the second floor of a house that still stands at 415 7th Avenue EastThis was the former home of Charles Cowing of CowingRobards Fame This hospital had ten bedsall on the second floorand living quarters were on the first floor with laundry and food prepared as in a home

1927
The Brown residence was demolished and DrEdwin Tanquist built the new Tanquist Hospital on the browns Residence property This was also known as the Douglas County Hospital The county placed their patients there for 163 per day for roomboard and care as opposed to the University of Minnesota Hospital which cahrged 325 per dayThis twostory facility still stands and is attached on the west side of the existing Marian Building

1944
At the request of DrTanquist the Franciscan Sisters took over the operation of the tanquist and the name of the hospital was changed to Our Lady of Mercy

1954
The Franciscan Sisters built a new 40bed hospital attached to the Tanquist Hospital overlooking Lake WinonaThis structure still stands and is known as the Marian Building since 1973it is located at 700 Cedar Street

1955
The citizen of Douglas County built a new 50bed hospitalDouglas County Hospital

By 1955two hospitals existed in AlexandriaOur Lady of mercy40 beds and Douglas County Hospital 50beds These Hospiatls operated independently of one another even though both served the same population and offered essentially identical services

1969
A joint hospital planning committee was formed to explore the possibility of merging Our Lady of Mercy and Douglas County Hospital

The Hospital Merger The merger of the two hospitls became a reality on April 11969

1973
The new 127bed Douglas County Hospital was completed and attached to the existing buildingApproximate cast of this project was 43 Million

1981
Douglas County Hospital continues to grow in response to the needs of an expanding medical staff and increasing population In march of 1981 Dougals County voters approved a 600000 band issue for additional hospital beds and expansion of xray surgery and outpatient fecilities This Expansion Project increased the bed capacity to a total of 130 acute hospital beds

1994
Douglas County Hospital built a new emergency service facility and main entrance to the hospital These new facilities established Douglas County Hospital as a regional emergencytrauma center staffed with physicians 24 hours a dayThe cost of this was approximately 25 million

1998
A new stateoftheart Radiation Oncology unit was constructedoffering Alexandria a much needed serviceThey began treating patients October11998Douglas County Hospital partnered with Center Care systemsStCloud Hospital on this new service

2003
A new Surgery Center with seven operating roomsrecovery rooms outpatient procedures and outreach clinics was built on the southwest side of the hospital grounds

2007
A 6000 square foot Medical Oncology Unit opened on the main floor of Douglas County Hospital

2010
Construction began August 22 2009 for a 110000 square foot addition to Douglas County Hospital that will house new private patient rooms a stateoftheart Womens and Childrens Unit and a new Orthopedic clinic In addition to patient care areasa new entrance and expanded lobby will be included as a part of this project

Future
As Douglas County Hospital meets the needs of the healthcare challenges of the futurewe must remember the traditions and superb efforts of those in the pastas these tradition are the foundation of our future