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Aurora Medical Center

Aurora Medical Center in Washington County history

1916: Helen Lohr, a registered nurse, organized an eight-bed infirmary in the Kissel Boarding House. With the assistance of Doctors F.W. Sachse, F.W. Lehmann and J.G. Hoffmann, more than 300 patients were treated annually.

1920: As the population of Hartford continued to grow, the need became apparent for a larger health care facility. Lohr purchased an eleven-acre plot know as Wilson Woods from Mr. John Etzel on July 20th, 1920 and built the 16-bed facility that was dedicated as Hartford General Hospital.

1926: In 1926 the religious hospitallers of St. Joseph's took over operations of the hospital and renamed it after the patron of their order. The pioneering sister of Hartford's St. Joseph's Hospital, Sisters Hazelton, McCarten, Oswald and Monica, came from Hotel-Dieu Hospital in Kingston, Ontario.

1928: Excerpts from the Hartford Times Press: Averaging two operations a day for the past two years, with emergency operations being performed at all hours of the day or night… the urgency of additional rooms and facilities at St. Joseph's Hospital is becoming apparent. Leaving the older structure, erected in 1920, the Sister's… planned the new edifice. The hospital could now accommodate 62 patients. This new wing also added a new surgical area, recovery room and space for other vital services.

1970: Because of a shortage of Sister's and increasing financial hardship, the order concluded that they could no longer continue operating St. Joseph's. The needs of the community had again outgrown the facility and the Sister's could not afford the necessary building renovations and additions.

In November, Norm Reynolds was hired as the first lay administrator. On July 20, 1971, St. Joseph's Hospital was formally turned over to the community and renamed Hartford Memorial Hospital. The new hospital board had the challenge of bringing the facility up to date. The community pledged their support. This construction project added 26 new patient beds, a new Obstetrics Department, Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Unit and additional medical surgical beds.

1982 - 1992: Over the next 10 years further expansion included the Emergency and Outpatient Departments, and new facilities for Radiology, Physical Therapy, Surgery, the Business Office/ Admitting and Laboratory. In addition, our expansion included:

  • 1985 - a non-denominational chapel and a Gift Shop.
  • 1989 - a six bed ICU was dedicated
  • 1990 - the Vent Center opened
  • 1992 - Rehabilitation services moved into the new addition 7,700 square feet.

1993: Excepts from the Hartford Times: HMH Joins Aurora Health Care Network (By Kevin Michalowski, Times Press Staff)

Hartford Memorial Hospital has finalized an affiliation agreement with Aurora Health Care and will join the regional health care provider's eastern Wisconsin System. The agreement was passed unanimously by the Hartford Memorial Hospital Board of Directors.

"Affiliation will enable us to continue to operate as a primary care and acute care facility, " says Schwartz. "As health care reform takes shape, we could risk our ability to provide high quality health care if we did not team up with a strong partner."

1995 - 1996: A cardiac Rehabilitation Program was established to provide vital follow up care for patients. Care Management Protocols were formulated to implement literature and research based best practice standards of care in-patients with acute myocardial infarction, pneumonia, Congestive heart failure, asthma, diabetes and stroke (click here to see Aurora's care management initiatives). A Pain Management Clinic opened (click here to read about pain management center). The installation of a new direct dial telephone system was completed.

1997 - 1998: A new computerized patient record format piloted in Hartford, allowing for real time flow of patient information between clinics and hospital that interfaces for diagnostic and imaging results. A CT scanner upgrade provided enhanced technical images and faster turn around times for tests. The Adult Day Care Services moved to a separate facility on Sell Drive due to increased growth of the program. The long awaited Breast Health Clinic opened allowing women year round access to mammography. On February 2, 1998, the infant Care Safety Program was established and a new Ambulatory Care Center opened.

1999: A new room service concept was instituted that allows patients to order heart healthy food. Hartford Memorial Hospital continues to provide medical control and certification at the state level to area rescue squads and first responder units including Hartford, Hustisford, Iron Ridge, Neosho and St. Lawrence.

2000: The Hartford Chapter of ENCARE presented an alcohol and driving awareness program to a total of 2000 high school students. The Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic expands to a second site in West Bend. The Medical Surgical unit received a facelift with remodeling of patient rooms and nurses station.

2001: With the highest score ever (99 out of 100), Hartford Memorial Hospital received a full three-year accreditation from the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations

Aurora Health Care nurses are the first in Wisconsin to earn the coveted Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Awarded by the foremost authority in nursing, this national designation is the highest level of recognition that can be given to nursing services within health care organizations.

It was also in this year that Hartford Memorial Hospital changed its name to Aurora Medical Center. It was with great pride and affection that we moved toward a greater partnership with Aurora Health Care.

2002 - 2004: Another growth period in the community resulted in a need for additional medical expertise at Aurora Medical Center. Many highly trained physicians in both primary and specialty care areas were brought to Washington County. Some of these specialists include; Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, Wound Care Hyperbaric, Gastroenterology, Electrophysiology, Pulmonology and Intensive Care.

Seeing an increase in both our inpatient and outpatient services, the Diagnostic Imaging department broke ground on August 2004 on a project designed to relocate and expand the department. This addition allowed us to add 2 additional surgical suites.

 

   


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