History

1902

• Oct. 16: Excavating of building begins.

1903

• September: Building is dedicated.

1916

• Addition is built on south of building.

1917

• April 12: John Lauritzen receives $25,000 contract for large addition.

1923

• Nov. 8: St. Luke's Hospital is approved by American College of Surgeons.

1927

• Sept. 24: New wing is finished.

1928

• Aug. 8: The new addition is dedicated.
• Building with addition is added to main building and north building.

1939

• Feb. 16: St. Luke's Hospital is now a 75-bed hospital.

1947

• November: Hospital is now free of debt.

1903

• May: Wright family proposes to build as a gift to the city.
• Sept. 17: Association is formed.

1904

• May: Foundation work begins.

1905

• May 25: Officially organized previous week.
• November: Ownership of the hospital is transferred to the association.

1906

• Jan. 1: Hospital opens to public New Year's Day; north addition added; west addition added.

1911

• February: New Studebaker ambulance is bought for the Wright and St. Luke's hospitals for $700.

1920

• June 3: Nurses' home is built.

1927

• June 15: It was decided to expand the hospital.

1928

• Aug. 19: 25th anniversary and dedication of enlarged hospital.
• Aug. 23: New wing opens.

1933

• Hospital receives $20,000 from the estate of the late Dr. T.N. Kittelson.

1953

• Oct. 21: Property is sold to Otter Tail Power Company.
• Dec. 18: Hospital closes.

1951

• St. Luke's and Wright Memorial merge.

1952

• March 4: Plans to build addition begin.

1953

• Dec. 30: Patients move from Wright Memorial to St. Luke's Hospital, forming a single unit.

1954

• Sept. 13: Hospital is fully accredited.

1955

• Jan. 19: Plans for new hospital project/drawing for addition complete.
• Jan. 22: Hospital purchases a new x-ray unit.
• March 4: Loan is needed.
• April: Groundbreaking for remodeling project.
• Aug. 12: Hospital ranks high in the nation.
• Nov. 26: H.E. Swenson heads hospital drive.
• Dec. 13: Hospital receives $47,000 from Ford Foundation.

1956

• Jan. 19: $196,806 goal is set.

1957

• May 22: Tumor clinic opens.
• Aug. 7: Wright Memorial Hospital is torn down.

1958

• Jan. 17: Children's recovery room is pledged.

1958

• March 19: Snack bar completes its first year.
• June 28: Hospital is dedicated.
• June 30: Open house event takes place, with 1,000 people touring.
• Oct. 17: Hospital receives $400 grant from the American Cancer Society.

1959

• May 14: Convalescent ward for children is added.
• Dec. 5: Hospital receives polio equipment from national foundation.
• Dec. 31: Physical therapy starts.

1960

• May 9: Auxiliary purchases a turning bed.

1963

• Aug. 2: Hospital acquires purchase agreements in block; buys homes for expansion.

1965

• July 16: $469,979 is allocated from Hill-Burton Fund.

1968

• Remodeling adds the long-term care unit.

1973

• April: Four-bed detox unit opens.
• Dec. 26: Five-bed intensive coronary care unit replaces two-bed.

1975

• March 7: This year, 32 doctors serve 5,000 patients.

1978

• March: Ultrasound diagnostic unit added.

1980

• Two new floors are added to the hospital.
• There is a registered nurse shortage.

1981

• Jan. 20: New emergency room is added.

1983

• Sept. 21: Computed tomography (CT) mobile unit is added.

1985

• New sports medicine clinic opens.
• July 12: New emergency response center; Lifeline is added.

1986

• Feb. 3: CT unit scanner is added.
• Sept. 17: New mammogram unit is installed.

1987

• March: Hospital acquires a new Surgilaser.

1988

• Hospital opens new birthing suites.
• Oct. 6: Psychiatric unit opens.

1989

• Nov. 25: One of four new operating rooms opens.

1991

• Cardiac rehabilitation is added.

1993

• First chaplain of the hospital begins work.

1995

• Construction begins on $5.455 million project for a new assisted living facility on the Lake Region Healthcare campus.

1996

• Oct. 1: Mill Street Residence, an assisted living facility, opens its doors.

1998

• Feb. 10: Plans for expansion begin.

1999

• Feb. 25: Operating room and ambulatory surgery area are added.

2002

• June - $7.5 million in renovations begin.

2003

• September: Landmark is completed on medical campus.

2004

• Center for Rehabilitation 14-bed unit is built.
• Physical medicine department expands.
• Birthing suite is relocated and updated.
• Bridgeway Inpatient Psychiatric is relocated and expanded from 9 to 14 beds.
• Radiology department replaces its CT scan, special fluoroscopy and nuclear medicine equipment.
• New interventional radiology suite is installed.

2005

• Internet connectivity, including wireless, is now available.
• Land purchased for $672,000 for new clinic building in Ashby.
• August: Construction begins for a mobile scanner pad and a helipad.
• December: $5.2 million expansion and renovation project in the emergency and radiology departments begins.

2006

• Center for Rehabilitation and SameDay Surgery projects begin.
• October: Construction of the $2 million Mehl Center begins.
• November: New storage building on Mill Street is completed.

2007

• January: $579,000 helipad project completed.
• December: Center for Rehabilitation and SameDay Surgery projects completed.

2008

• January: Expansion of the emergency department by four additional treatment rooms and a new double-ambulance-bay garage completed.
• March: Radiology's extensive renovation project is completed, including most rooms being enlarged and the addition of an interventional radiological suite and mammography suite. All patient dressing areas and restrooms were enlarged, and a waiting room was relocated to be more convenient.
• April: Public dedication of Mehl Center, including celebration for the opening of the Athletic Republic, takes place.
• June: Lake Region Healthcare and the Lake Region Healthcare Foundation launch first capital campaign in approximately 35 years to construct a $9.6 million comprehensive cancer care center. The 15,000-square-foot cancer care center is to be built on the south portion of the Lake Region Healthcare campus. It is scheduled to open in late 2009 and is to consolidate existing services and provide expanded comprehensive cancer care services, including radiation, to our patients.
• July: Pharmacy remodel is completed.

2010

• The Cancer Care & Research Center opens on the south end of our campus.

2012

• February: A new Walk-In Clinic opens on the west side of town to offer extended hours and no-appointment access.
• September: Phatty Nattie's Group Fitness Facility joins Lake Region Healthcare and opens a new workout studio in the lower level of the Cancer Care & Research Center as part of the organization's ongoing commitment to wellness and preventive healthcare.

2013

• January: The second floor of the hospital is remodeled for the opening of a new Orthopedic Joint Care Center, offering a comprehensive joint replacement and rehabilitation program.
• May: Ground is broken on Lake Region Takes Root—a community garden and local food initiative on Kennedy Park Circle in Fergus Falls. A 1.5 acre parcel of land donated to Lake Region Healthcare will be used to grow and distribute foods for families having difficulty accessing healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables.

2014

• May: Lake Region Home Medical Supply Store opens on West Lincoln Avenue. The retail store is a partnership between LRH and Rice Home Medical in Willmar, Minnesota.
• September: Ground is broken for a new main clinic on West Vernon Avenue. The 80,000-square-foot building is scheduled to open in late 2015. A temporary entrance and parking lot are planned. Final demolition and completion of parking areas are planned for mid-2016.
• September: Dr. Owen Thompson of the Barnesville Area Clinic announces the merger of his clinic with Lake Region Healthcare. Barnesville is now the fourth outreach location for LRH, in addition to the clinics in Ashby and Battle Lake and the Elbow Lake Eye Clinic.

2015

• Lake Region Healthcare and Prairie Ridge Hospital & Health Services (PRHHS) in Elbow Lake announce the two healthcare systems will integrate, effective Jan. 1, 2015.
• Cardiology services are expanded with the addition of a full-time cardiologist, Dr. JoEllen Kohlman Petrick.
• LRH CEO Larry Schulz is honored by the Minnesota Hospital Association with the Stephen Rogness Distinguished Service Award. Schulz is also named by Gov. Mark Dayton as one of 11 appointees to a task force, created through legislation earlier in the year to tackle questions about financing and operating the state's healthcare programs, including MNsure and MinnesotaCare.
• Lawrence Blue is named CEO at Prairie Ridge Hospital & Health Services.
• Lucia Anderson, MBA, BSN, RN, is named chief operating officer, in addition to her role as chief nursing officer, for the organization.
• Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) and Dave Gaustad of 20/20 Optical announces a purchase agreement, effective Sept. 1, 2015, for LRH to acquire the optical shop that has operated from a leased space at LRH for nearly two decades.
• Doors open on the new $30 million, 80,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art clinic building on time and on budget on Dec. 14, 2015.

2016

• Lake Region Healthcare's community garden, Lake Region Takes Root, is among the innovative programs and outstanding leaders in healthcare honored by the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA). In its third year, the garden produces 7,781 pounds of food, impacting 3,500 individuals in the community with its donations of food to the Otter Tail County Women Infant & Children program and three area food shelves.
• Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) was named one of the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in the United States by The Chartis Center for Rural Health.

2017

• In February, Lake Region Healthcare was named one of the 2017 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in the U.S. according to the National Rural Health Association's Rural Health Policy Institute, iVantage Health Analytics and The Chartis Center for Rural Health.
• In May, the organization was also named to the Becker's Hospital Review 2017 edition of 100 Great Community Hospitals list based on rankings and awards from organizations such as the NRHA, iVantage Health Analyticis, Truven Health Analytics, Healthgrades, CareChex, and the Leapfrog Group.
• The Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) Board of Trustees selected Kyle Richards as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer. Richards began his role as CEO at Lake Region Healthcare in June, 2017 and replaced Larry Schulz, who retired at the end of May after nine years of service with the organization.
• In its ongoing commitment to the fight against breast cancer, LRH begins to offer Genius™ 3D MAMMOGRAPHY™ exams, developed by Hologic, Inc., a worldwide leader in Women’s Health.

2018

• Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) was named one of the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in the United States by The Chartis Center for Rural Health for the third consecutive year.
• Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) becomes an affiliate of Rock Steady Boxing, a low-impact, non-contact exercise program aimed at helping people with Parkinson’s Disease fight back against the neurological effects of the disease.
• The American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO) Accreditation Program granted full accreditation to Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) Cancer Center and Research Center after a formal application and on-site peer survey.

2019

• Phatty Nattie's Group Fitness Center, a Lake Region Healthcare wellness program, celebrates 10 years of changing lives through classes designed to be social and to promote friendship and motivation along with fitness for combined stronger and more confident people.
• Jamie Nordick (Cancer Center Director) and Gary Spies (Board of Trustees) were honored as the organization’s inaugural Award of Excellence recipients at the Foundation's Spring Gala.
• Appleton Area Heath Services (AAHS) and Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) announced their Boards approved formal agreement to collaborate in expanding healthcare services to the region.
• The Lake Region Run celebrates 10-years of raising money for the Cancer Care & Research Center through the community Half Marathon, 5K and 1 mile race.
• LRH and Otter Tail County partner for a new Community Service Program called YARD - Youth Actively Restoring Debt, which sentences at-risk youth who harm their bodies through chemical use to sessions in the LRH CrossFit gym to promotes healthy behaviors, develops a sense of pro-social community and allow for a supportive environment to make better decisions.
• Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) was awarded an ‘A’ from The Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Grade in both the Spring and the Fall rating periods.The designation recognizes LRH’s efforts in protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care.

• December 2019 marked the 10-year anniversary date since the first cancer patient walked through the doors of our Cancer Care & Research Center. Thanks to the generous support of this community to build this state-of-the-art facility, over 6,000 men and women have received world class cancer care right here in Fergus Falls since the Cancer Center’s inception in 2009. A special Christmas tree lighting ceremony "Lights of Love and Hope" was held along with a specail reception at the Cancer Center.

• Madeline Iverson, Megan Aasness, Cristina Masten and Anna Kotten were recipients of the 2019 Lake Region Healthcare Foundation Healthcare Professions Scholarships.

2020

• Dr. Julianne Gutzmer was appointed to the MN State Trauma Advisory Council (STAC) as the Rural General Surgeon representative.
• Investments were made in new beds, chairs and pumps for our inpatient service areas and a new CT Scanner was also purchased to improve patient care.
• Lake Region Healthcare was named a 2020 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health.
• Incident Command was stood up to respond to COVID-19 Pandemic, keeping staff and community safe through the volatile unknowns and closures of clinics & elective surgeries.
• Excel Plastics and Shortex Products Partnered to Produce Critical Personal Protective Supplies for our COVID-19 Response.
• Over 6,400 COVID tests were conducted and swabbing tents & structures were erected to provide space for the testing.
• The Lake Region Run was postponed to October with scaled back registration caps, yet still raised $6,000 for the Cancer Center.
• The LRH Foundation Gala was postponed to November and held in an innovative online format raising over $40,000 for mental health care services.
• Markus Bischof of Fergus Falls was the lucky winner of a houseboat trip on Crane Lake in our "Move More, Explore More" community wellness challenge.
• Senior Leadership stabilized with the appointments from interim to permanent for roles including CEO (Kent Mattson), CFO (Camie Patterson) and CNO (Roberta Young).
• LRH was awarded it’s fourth consecutive ‘A’ rating from The Leapfrog Group in their hospital safety grade ratings for consumers and purchasers.
• “Growing Together” virtual meet-ups helped moms-to-be navigate their pregnancy journey together with others during the pandemic.
• Two long-time LRH team members, Lynn Lundquist, RN and Dr. Bruce Money were honored with the LRH Foundation Award of Excellence at the Night to Shine Gala.
• The Lake Region Healthcare Medical Professions Scholarship winners were Nicole Burrow and Brianna Rasmusson.

2020

• Dr. Julianne Gutzmer was appointed to the MN State Trauma Advisory Council (STAC) as the Rural General Surgeon representative.
• Investments were made in new beds, chairs and pumps for our inpatient service areas and a new CT Scanner was also purchased to improve patient care.
• Lake Region Healthcare was named a 2020 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health.
• Incident Command was stood up to respond to COVID-19 Pandemic, keeping staff and community safe through the volatile unknowns and closures of clinics & elective surgeries.
• Excel Plastics and Shortex Products Partnered to Produce Critical Personal Protective Supplies for our COVID-19 Response.
• Over 6,400 COVID tests were conducted and swabbing tents & structures were erected to provide space for the testing.
• The Lake Region Run was postponed to October with scaled back registration caps, yet still raised $6,000 for the Cancer Center.
• The LRH Foundation Gala was postponed to November and held in an innovative online format raising over $40,000 for mental health care services.
• Markus Bischof of Fergus Falls was the lucky winner of a houseboat trip on Crane Lake in our "Move More, Explore More" community wellness challenge.
• Senior Leadership stabilized with the appointments from interim to permanent for roles including CEO (Kent Mattson), CFO (Camie Patterson) and CNO (Roberta Young).
• LRH was awarded it’s fourth consecutive ‘A’ rating from The Leapfrog Group in their hospital safety grade ratings for consumers and purchasers.
• “Growing Together” virtual meet-ups helped moms-to-be navigate their pregnancy journey together with others during the pandemic.
• Two long-time LRH team members, Lynn Lundquist, RN and Dr. Bruce Money were honored with the LRH Foundation Award of Excellence at the Night to Shine Gala.
• The Lake Region Healthcare Medical Professions Scholarship winners were Nicole Burrow and Brianna Rasmusson.

2021

• Bridgeway Behavioral Health team earned the Guardian of Excellence Award
• Women's & Children's Health Center achieve first star as MDH Breastfeeding Friendly Birth Center
• Healthcare workers were named "Citizens of the Year" by Fergus Falls Journal for the ongoing sacrifices in the COVID-19 pandemic response effort.
• LRH Funded a new "Be Fit" Circuit at the Blue Eagle Lake Dave Riddering Trail in Barnesville, MN.
• Sue Jensen of Underwood was the winner of the Community Health Challenge "Do Good. Feel Good." She received a matching prize to gift a charity of her choice.
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Spine/Neurosurgery & Back Care were added to the specialties offered at the Fergus Falls location.
• 10 New Chemo Chairs were purchased with donor contributions to the Cancer Center.