St. Luke’s Hospital 1902-1953
1902, Oct 16 Excavating of building begins.
1903, Sep Building is dedicated.
1916, Addition built to South of building.
1917, Apr 12 John Lauritzen received contract for $25,000 for large addition.
1923, Nov 8 St. Luke’s Hospital is approved by college of surgeons.
1927, Sep 24 New wing finished.
1928, Aug 8 The new addition is dedicated.
1928, Building with addition to main building and North.
1939, Feb 16 Now is a 75-bed hospital.
1947, Nov Hospital is now free of debt.
Wright Memorial Hospital 1905-1953
1903, May Wright family proposes to build as gift to the city.
1903, Sep 17 Association is formed.
1904, May Foundation work begins.
1905, Nov Ownership of the hospital is transferred to the association.
1905, May 25 Officially organized previous week
1906, Jan 1 Opened to public New Years Day; North addition added; West addition added.
1911, Feb New Ambulance bought for the Wright and St. Luke’s hospitals. - Studebaker, $700.
1920, Jun 3 Nurses Home was built.
1927, Jun 15 It was decided the hospital to be enlarged.
1928, Aug 19 25th Anniversary and dedication of enlarged hospital.
1928, Aug 23 New wing opens.
1933, $20,000 from the estate of the late Dr. T. N. Kittelson.
1953, Oct 21 Sold property to Otter Tail Power Company
1953, Dec 18 Hospital closes.
Lake Region Healthcare Corporation
1951, St. Luke’s and Wright Memorial merge.
1952, Mar 4 Plan to build addition.
1953, Dec 30 Patients moved from Wright Memorial to St. Luke’s hospital forming a single unit.
1954, Sep 13 Hospital is fully accredited.
1955, Jan 19 Plans complete for new hospital plan/drawing for addition.
1955, Jan 22 Hospital purchases a new X-Ray unit.
1955, Mar 4 Loan is needed.
1955, Apr Ground breaking for remodeling project.
1955, Aug 12 Hospital ranks high in the nation.
1955, Nov 26 H. E. Swenson heads hospital drive.
1955, Dec. 13 Hospital receives $47,000 from Ford Foundation.
1956, Jan 19 $196,806 Goal is set.
1957, May 22 Tumor clinic started.
1957, Aug 7 Wright Memorial Hospital is torn down.
1958, Jan 17 Children’s recovery room pledged.
1958, Mar 19 Snack bar completes its first year.
1958, June 28 Hospital is dedicated.
1958, June 30 Open house with 1000 touring.
1958, Oct 17 Received $400 grant from American Cancer Society.
1959, May 14 Convalescent ward for children added.
1959, Dec 31 Physical Therapy started.
1959, Dec 5 Polio equipment received from National Fndtn.
1960, May 9 Auxiliary purchases turning bed.
1963, Aug 2 Acquires purchase agreements in block. Buys homes for expansion.
1965, Jul 16 $469,979 allocated from Hill-Burton Fund.
1968, Remodeling added the long-term care unit.
1973, April Opened the four-bed detox unit.
1973, Dec 26 5-bed intensive coronary care unit replaced 2-bed.
1975, Mar 7 32 doctors serve 5,000 patients this year.
1978, Mar Ultrasound diagnostic unit added.
1980, Added two new floors to the hospital.
1980, There is an RN shortage.
1981, Jan 20 New emergency room added.
1983, Sep 21 Computed tomography (CT) mobile unit added.
1985, Jul 12 New emergency response center, Lifeline.
1985, New sports medicine clinic started.
1986, Feb 3 CT unit scanner added.
1986, Sep 17 New mammogram unit installed.
1987, Mar Hospital has a new Surgilaser.
1988, Hospital opens new birthing suites.
1988, Oct 6 Psychiatric unit opens.
1989, Nov 25 One of four new operating rooms open.
1991, Cardiac rehabilitation added.
1993, First chaplain of the hospital begins.
1998, Feb 10 Plan expansion
1999, Feb 25 Add operating room and ambulatory surgery area.
2002, Jun $7.5 million in renovations begin.
2003, Sep Landmark completed on medical campus.
2004, Center for Rehabiliation 14-bed unit was built.
2004, Physical Medicine Department expanded.
2004, Birthing Suite relocated and updated.
2004, Bridgeway Inpatient Psychiatric relocated and expanded from 9 to 14 beds.
2004, Radiology Department replaces its CT scan, special fluoroscopy, and nuclear medicine equipment.
2004, New interventional radiology suite is installed.
2005, Internet connectivity, including wireless, now available.
2005, Aug Construction is now under way to build a mobile scanner pad and helipad. Further, Lake Region Healthcare will be expanding the emergency department by adding 4 treatment rooms and a new double ambulance bay garage. Radiology will receive extensive renovation with most rooms being enlarged. The addition will also include an Interventional Radiological Suite and an additional Mammography Suite. One of the elements of the radiology project is to improve the patient’s experience. All patient dressing areas and restrooms will be enlarged and additional areas throughout the department will be updated. A new waiting room will also be located more conveniently. The project is expected to be completed within 18 months.