Hamilton Health Care System history

Thanks to the local Civitan Club, city and county government, and generous citizens, the Civitan Hospital board agreed in 1935 to re-open the hospital.

On July 1, 1951, the Dalton City Council adopted a resolution creating a Hospital Authority, and received funds from the Federal Hill-Burton Act.

1954 – Nora Frances Henderson Hospital opened as a 322-bed maternity hospital on the same site

Efforts to build a hospital in Hamilton, Texas began in 1955.

With local funds of some $450,000 (including funds from a dozen area physicians) and a Hill-Burton grant amounting to $900,000, the new 73-bed Hamilton Memorial Hospital was dedicated August 5th, 1956.

Citizens George Golightly, Bill Manning, Floyd Campbell, Haskell Harelik, Guffie Barkley, C.M. Hatch, W.P. Lawson and Doctor C.C. Cleveland held the first planning and development meeting in the basement of the First Baptist Church in January 1957.

1960 – When tuberculosis treatment changed and patients no longer required years of bed rest, Chedoke became a general hospital

With the technical assistance of Harrisburg Hospital, Hamilton applied for and received a $1.25 million grant from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to provide health services in 1972.

Noted hospital trustee Jackson P. Turner, led the way in the 1975 creation of the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation – an independent affiliate seeking private gifts for Hamilton.

In 1982, Harris Methodist bought out shares and the hospital became Harris Methodist Hamilton Hospital.

1984 – The cancer clinic, located at the Henderson General Hospital, became known as the Hamilton Regional Cancer Centre

In October 1986, Hamilton realized another major milestone with the opening of the Bradley Wellness Center, a comprehensive fitness, health education, and rehabilitation facility half a block from the Medical Center.

Harris Methodist closed the doors of the hospital on September 30, 1987.

In May 1988, the Hamilton community pulled together to begin raising $250,000.

On March 12, 1990, the commissioners' court appointed a temporary Hamilton County Hospital District Board consisting of Ramon Haile, Bill Craig, Fay Schrank, David Lengefeld and T.P. Medlock.

In 1992 Hamilton’s Royal Oaks became the region’s first continuing care retirement community.

The beginning stages of the hospital’s unique primary care model is established. • 1994: The WLMH midwife program is established.

Hamilton Healthcare System opened a Rural Health Clinic and lab in December of 1997.

Also to assure careful coordination of skilled nursing care, Hamilton acquired the region’s skilled nursing facilities including the development of Regency Park in 1999 at the Royal Oaks’ campus.

On May 1, 2004, Hamilton Healthcare System purchased memberships from Fitness on the Square adding a fitness center to the growing system.

The clinic was expanded in May 2008 and a renovation completed in July 2008.

In 2010, Hamilton Physician Group was formed with Hamilton Cardiology Associates as the first joint partnership between physicians and Hamilton.

In 2013, Hamilton Medical Center expanded its Mashburn Cardiac Pavilion to include two catheterization labs and one hybrid suite.

2014 – West Lincoln Memorial Hospital officially joins Hamilton Health Sciences.

• 2016: Our Healthy Future plan submitted to HNHB LHIN, which includes a rebuilt WLMH with a 24-hour Emergency Department, obstetrics and day surgery.