Huntsville Hospital System

The Huntsville Hospital System also known as Huntsville Hospital is a hospital campus consisting of several sites and buildings in the Medical District of Huntsville, Alabama. It has some 5,000 employees, 2,000 nurses and 650 physicians.

The hospital has an affiliation with the UAB School of Primary Medicine,, and provides clinical training for medical students and a family practice residency program, as well as experience for student nurses attending area nursing schools.

History
1895 - A small infirmary is opened on Mill Street. The Infirmary was the result of the United Charities of Huntsville, a group dedicated to helping the sick and needy. The rent was $12.50 per month.

1904 - The Infirmary moves to a new location. The house had previously been owned by Mollie Teal who left the home to the city. 112 patients were treated in the Infirmary during the year.

1916 - The city appeals to the State Health Department for help after typhoid fever devastates the community. Dr. Carl Grote Sr., later to become known as the patriarch of Huntsville Hospital, answers the call.

1918 - An outbreak of Spanish Flu ravishes Huntsville. Almost 400 people died of the disease in less than four months. Dedication to their jobs became deadly when only four doctors in Madison County escaped the disease.

1925 - A campaign is begun by Dr. Carl Grote, Sr., to raise funds for a new hospital. In an outpouring of public sentiment, most of the money was raised by private donations. Property was donated by Harry Rhett, Sr.

1926 - A modern hospital, the first of its kind in the Tennessee Valley, is built. The name is officially changed from the Huntsville Infirmary to Huntsville Hospital. The first baby was delivered at Huntsville Hospital on June 11, 1926.

1932 - The Depression strikes home when the hospital is faced with the prospect of having to close its doors.

1943 - President Roosevelt approved $45,850 in federal funds to expand the hospital to 76 beds. The project also included the first emergency room and an X-ray department.

1955-57 - Expansion added new patient wings to the north and south ends of the 1926 building. An oxygen supply system was installed and the entire facility was made more fireproof.

1961 - Huntsville Hospital was deeded over to the City of Huntsville in order to sell construction bonds to finance badly needed expansion.

1963 - Construction provided four floors of nursing units, bringing bed capacity to 320.

1964 - Hospital Auxiliary volunteers, known as "Pink Ladies", begin their service.

1967 - The state's first, on-site employee child care center opens at Huntsville Hospital.

1973 - Huntsville Hospital is selected as the teaching facility for UAH's School of Primary Medical Care. In addition, North Alabama's only Neonatal Nursery opens at Huntsville Hospital.

1979 - Construction of North Tower brings bed capacity to 578.

1981 - Region's first open heart surgery performed at Huntsville Hospital by Dr. Stancil Riley.

1982 - Huntsville Hospital reincorporated under the State Health Care Authority Act.

1985 - MedFlight service established at hospital.

1994 - Huntsville Hospital puchases Medical Center Hospital (Humana) from Columbia becoming Huntsville Hospital East.

1995 - Huntsville Hospital celebrates its 100th anniversary.

2002 - Huntsville Hospital East becomes Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children.

2003 - Huntsville Hospital completes construction of a two car overhead tram system connecting the main facilities on campus.

2005 - Construction begins on a new 84 bed patient room tower and an expanded Emergency Department.

Facilities
The Huntsville Hospital System is contained within a number of buildings in the Medical District; a tram connects the Huntsville Hospital Main, Franklin Medical Tower and Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children.
 * Huntsville Hospital Main - the main facility
 * Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children
 * Madison Street Tower - with 84 new private rooms; for treatment of oncology, neuro-surgical, cardiac and surgery patients.
 * Franklin Medical Tower
 * Medical Mall - an outpatient facility located just west of the medical district.
 * Madison Medical Park - located in nearby Madison, Alabama
 * Blount Hospitality House - provides lodging and supportive companionship for out-of-town relatives of patients in Huntsville area hospitals.