Morris Hospital

Description

About Us
Morris Hospital amp Healthcare Centers has been improving the health of area residents since 1906 Located 55 miles southwest of Chicago in Morris Illinois the 86bed Morris Hospital serves residents of Grundy County and parts of Will LaSalle Livingston and Kendall counties and is the largest employer in Grundy County The hospital owns and operates seven primary care physician practices within a 30mile radius of the hospital The practices are located in Braidwood Channahon Dwight Gardner Marseilles Minooka and Newark

Morris Hospital amp Healthcare Centers is known for its compassionate and personalized approach to healthcare This is attributed to the outstanding work of 900 employees 350 Auxilians and a medical staff of more than 180 physicians representing most medical specialties The hospital commits significant resources annually to continually enhance its diagnostic and treatment capabilities

Mission
To improve the health of area residents

VISION
To set a new standard for the provision of exemplary healthcare

Values
Compassion Accountability Respect Excellence

History

History
A Century of Caring
Around the turn of the 20th century David A Mathews was a prominent local farmer and businessman in the Morris community When his wife became critically ill Mr Mathews had no choice but to rush her to a hospital in Chicago The experience convinced him that Morris should have a hospital of its own in order to allow patients to remain close to their families during times of illness and avoid delays that could mean the difference between life and death

Mr Mathews rallied the support of a number of local doctors who also agreed that the Morris community needed a hospital and through their combined efforts interest and knowledge they achieved their vision On September 7 1906 the first patient who was dangerously ill with typhoid fever was admitted to the new Morris Hospital located on the third floor of the Collins Building at the corner of Liberty and Jackson Streets in downtown Morris Converted from an apartment the first Morris Hospital had eight to 10 beds and an operating room created from the living room of another apartment

The official papers of incorporation of Morris Hospital dated December 5 1906 were received from Springfield signed and sealed by the then Secretary of State James A Rose Without delay the incorporation papers were filed in the circuit clerks office legally creating Morris Hospital

So much has changed over the past 100 years including modern expanded hospital facilities along with incredible technology that helps diagnose and cure disease Despite modern advances one thing that has remained the same over all these years is Morris Hospitals commitment to healing and saving lives just like Mr Mathews envisioned 100 years ago

Thousands of physicians nurses and support staff have dedicated their lives to serving patients at Morris Hospital over the past 100 years Its because of these individuals along with a supportive caring community that Morris Hospital continues to prosper

Historical Facts
September 5 1906 The first officers of the new hospital are elected They are David A Mathews President MN Hull Secretary and James Hanson Treasurer

September 6 1906 The Ladies Auxiliary of Morris Hospital is formed including wives of physicians dentists druggists and trustees

David A Mathews

September 6 1906 The first room is furnished in the hospital by Mrs David A Mathews

September 7 1906 The first patient is admitted to the new hospital and is dangerously ill with typhoid fever

December 6 1906 The incorporation papers of the Morris Hospital are returned from Springfield with the Certificate for Organization of the Morris Hospital dated December 5 1906

December 15 1908 The Morris Hospital trustees issue a public announcement stating the quotnecessity of immediate action toward the building of a new hospitalquot

January 6 1909 Dr R Whitman of Chicago arrives in Morris to take up the practice of medicine

February 27 1909 The Hospital Trustees purchase the Thomas Larson property at the north end of Wauponsee Street which will be the site of the new hospital with accommodations for 1725 patients

September 28 1910 The new Morris Hospital opens to the public at the site of Wauponsee and High Streets where it continues to this day

June 19 1911 The Ladies Aid Society of the Congregational Church of Morris donated 25 to start an endowment fund for a quotfree bedquot at the hospital for those unable to pay

January 20 1917 The Ladies of the Hospital Aid decide to purchase the nitrous oxide gas oxygenether anesthesia apparatus that is so much desired and is used in place of ether and chloroform in certain operations

October 12 1927 Plans are announced for a 75000 fundraising campaign to enlarge and improve the hospital

March 14 1929 Several hundred visitors attend an open house to view the newly expanded Morris Hospital which was accomplished through the largest fundraising effort in the hospitals history

September 9 1936 Dr John Roth son of Mrs Bernard Roth will practice his profession in Morris at the corner of Liberty and Jefferson Streets

April 16 1947 The first set of triplets are born at Morris Hospital two girls and a boy each weighing over 4 pounds

October 18 1961 Dr Roscoe Whitman dies at the age of 80

January 23 1965 Plans for a 16 million addition are revealed which call for construction of a twostory building west of the present hospital

July 27 1968 The first annual benefit hospital ball is hosted by the Womens Auxiliary of Morris Hospital at Morris Country Club with Gerry Belts Orchestra

September 1983 24hour emergency physician and nurse coverage is instituted

February 28 1988 Morris Hospital completes a 7 million building project to replace the oldest wings of the hospital The project adds 29 patient beds

March 1993 Minooka Medical Services of Morris Hospital opens

April 6 1994 The Morris Hospital Foundation is established to raise funds to ensure that quality health care will be available for future generations

August 1 1995 Morris Hospital opens a physician satellite office in Marseilles

May 15 1996 First annual golf outing sponsored by the Morris Hospital Foundation is held at Nettle Creek Country Club

August 1996 Morris Hospital opens a physician satellite office in Newark

February 27 1998 Morris Hospital is on the internet

February 4 2002 Ground breaks for a 13 million expansion which will house the family birthing suites

October 2002 The SeniorWell program is launched offering health and exercise classes health screenings and a quarterly newsletter to the senior population

September 2003 The first diagnostic cardiac catheterization is performed in the new stateoftheart cardiovascular lab

September 8 2003 The Diagnostic amp Rehabilitative Center of Morris Hospital opens at Heritage Plaza on Gore Road in Morris Cardiac and physical rehabilitation occupational medicine and fitness classes are offered at this facility

2003 The Radiation Therapy Center of Morris Hospital opens on US Route 6

September 2004 A renovated and expanded intensive care unit opens

2004 In order to reflect its expanded reach and services the hospital changes its name to Morris Hospital amp Healthcare Centers and adopts a new logo