Holland Hospital

Description

Holland Hospital is the leading hospital in the West Michigan Lakeshore area serving more than 150000 residents within our primary service area Our advanced technology comprehensive services and compassionate care also make us the health care choice for thousands more throughout Ottawa and Allegan counties

Holland Hospital is nationally recognized for quality practices and exceptional patient care Learn more by clicking on the links at right

Our MISSION
The mission of the Holland Hospital Foundation is to create access to quality
professional health care services for the uninsured and underinsured members
of our community

History

A New Legitimate Hospital
In the early 20th century Holland was a flourishing community Founded by immigrants from the Netherlands Hollands population was still 90 percent Dutch The area was a popular retreat for the wealthy drawn to the lakeside resort of Hotel Ottawa Known for its industrious and hardworking residents Holland attracted many companies that provided good jobs and a strong tax base

While Holland was a growing community health care was woefully inadequate Treatment was often limited to occasional visits by doctors nurses and midwives from neighboring towns or simple home remedies In the summer of 1916 the Holland Common Council voted to establish its first legitimate hospital The city paid 15000 to purchase the home of Dr Henry Kremers on East 12th Street and converted it to a small hospital which opened in 1917 featuring two wards a nursery two private and one semiprivate rooms and an operating room

602 Michigan Avenue
From the start the small hospital was almost too successful Overcrowding was a problem Some patients were on stretchers in hallways or put on waiting lists Twice city residents were asked to fund an expansion Both times they refused believing many nonresidents would use services that they did not help fund

Not to be discouraged city and utility leaders came up with a brilliant funding proposition the Board of Public Works would donate its utility profits to fund the new hospital With much fanfare city officials approved the plan in 1925 Many community groups rallied behind the new hospital to help raise money with baked goods and sewing sales and in 1927 construction of a modern hospital began

The new Holland City Hospital opened its doors to the community on January 19 1928 with a grand celebration and tour As reported in the Holland City News From the time that the doors were opened until the closing hour crowds surged through the building viewing the beautiful rooms and furnishings while only praise was heard from all sides Flowers were in every room and a remark was overheard to the effect that it would be a pleasure to be sick in a hospital of this type

Located at 602 Michigan Avenue its present site the stately brick hospital featured three wards 22 private rooms with a total of 48 beds and the latest lab and Xray equipment

The Great Depression and WWII
But optimism and prosperity didnt last long Holland like many other communities was hit hard when the stock market crashed in 1929 ushering in the Great Depression Hospital staff were forced to take pay cuts and costcutting measures were implemented across the board Yet the hospital continued to care for the sick and in April 1936 the Junior Welfare League donated an incubator for premature infants born at the hospital

In the mid1940s needs again outpaced the hospitals capacity But with the onset

of World War II expansion would have to wait Many Holland doctors and nurses volunteered for duty creating a staffing shortage so severe that in March 1944 the Draft Board was advised that the hospital could spare no more doctors

Once the war was over returning doctors and nurses brought new expertise and technology to Holland City Hospital such as nuclear medicine A 20bed expansion also was on the drawing board but was not completed until 1951 because of building problems and funding shortages

Continued Growth
communitys needs under the charismatic leadership of Hospital Director Frederick S Burd He rallied support for a successful bond issue from voters in Holland Fillmore and Park townships that raised almost 1 million to add a fourstory addition to the hospital in 1957

In 1969 the hospital added 55 beds along with a new Emergency Room Intensive Care Unit and Pediatrics Play Unit A year later a parking lot was added to accommodate staff and visitors The hospitals capacity was now 198 beds

In the last two decades the hospital continued tremendous growth in its staff facilities technology and medical expertise In the late 1970s additional construction on the west side of the hospital provided updated surgical facilities a 12bed psychiatric unit and more patient rooms

In 1988 the hospital expanded its outpatient surgical services preadmission testing facilities rehab and cardiopulmonary areas urgent care emergency department and registration area An ambulatory addition twotier parking deck and helipad were constructed in 1996

The 21st Century
Under the leadership of PresidentCEO Dale Sowders Holland Hospital completed another major expansion Today the hospital has added 90000 square feet of new space and renovated another 46000 square feet In addition to new and expanded emergency and intensive care services a special care pediatric nursery and a new cardiac rehab facility the expansion includes a boulevard entranceway on the hospitals south side a new chapel and an airy public Cafeacute More on current expansion

Holland Hospital has come a long way since its humble inception in 1917 But while the hospital has undergone numerous bricks and mortar changes over the years it has always remained true to its mission to continually improve the health of the communities we serve Our growth reflects our continuing commitment to provide exceptional and more immediate specialized care for our Lakeshore communities