page_title: Huntsville Hospital System
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Huntsville Hospital System / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Huntsville Hospital Tram System Photograph by Larry Wilbourn
context_page_description: The Huntsville Hospital Health System, also known as Huntsville Hospital, is a public, not-for-profit hospital organization consisting of several sites and buildings originating in the downtown area of Huntsville, Alabama. The Huntsville Hospital Health System has expanded and now includes various owner/partnerships with other hospitals in the state. It has some 13,000 employees, 2,000 nurses and 650 physicians.
  The hospital has no official affiliation with any institution of higher education, and is exclusively a site for clinical rotations for students of the UAB School of Medicine, their family practice residency program, and for area nursing and pharmacy students. The Huntsville hospital also bases an As350 medical helicopter.
context_section_description: 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 -
  The region's first open heart surgery is performed at Huntsville Hospital by Dr. Stancil Riley.
  1982 -
  Huntsville Hospital reincorporated under the State Health Care Authority Act.
  1985 -
  MedFlight service is established at the hospital.
  1994 -
  Huntsville Hospital purchases 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. 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.
  2007 -
  Huntsville Hospital signs an affiliation contract with Athens-Limestone Hospital.
  2009 -
  Huntsville Hospital is selected to build a hospital in nearby Madison, Alabama, the first new hospital in the state in 20 years; in addition, Huntsville Hospital acquires the Heart Center, P.C.
  2012 -
  Huntsville Hospital enters into a 40 year lease partnership with Decatur General Hospital. Under the agreement, Huntsville Hospital-owned Parkway Medical Center in Decatur, Ala., and Decatur General will operate as one consolidated hospital under the name Decatur Morgan Hospital.
  Madison Hospital opens in Madison, Alabama.
  2014 -
  Huntsville Hospital enters into a 40 year lease partnership with Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield, Colbert County, Alabama.
  2018 - 
  Huntsville Hospital enters affiliation contract with Marshall Medical Centers in Marshal County, Alabama and Lincoln Health System in Lincoln County, Tennessee.
  2019 -
  Construction begins on a 24 room OR and 72 inpatien
caption: Huntsville Hospital tram system
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