1952 to 2005

In 1952, local voters approved formation of the Bay Area Health District, which encompasses most of Coos County. Eighteen years later, the District's Board of Directors voted to build a new medical facility to replace the Bay Area's two older hospitals. In May 1970, voters passed a $6.75 million hospital bond levy for construction of Bay Area Hospital. On May 19, 1974, the hospital opened its doors and admitted its first patients. On July 1, 1987, the original construction bond was paid off and retired.

Bay Area Hospital has remained a stable facility through hard economic times because of sound fiscal management, dedicated board members, professional employees, a highly qualified medical staff, and caring volunteers. No public tax or bond monies are required to operate its $110 million operating budget.

The first major expansion in 28 years is complete with the addition of 43,000 square feet of new space and another 23,000 square feet of remodeled space. A new lobby, entrance, admitting, emergency department, radiology, maternity services, surgical services, short stay center, laundry facilities, and newly relocated helicopter pad were added to enhance patient care.

HIGHLIGHTS OF BAY AREA HOSPITAL'S HISTORY

1952 - Voters approve formation of the Bay Area Health District.

January 1970 - Board of Directors vote to build a new hospital to replace the area's two older hospitals.

May 1970 - Voters pass a $6.75 million bond levy for new hospital construction.

February 1972 - Citizens' group tries to abolish the Health District in an effort to stop hospital construction. A special election was called.

February 1972 - Voters approve hospital construction plan again.

April 1972 - Groundbreaking ceremony.

April 1974 - 8,000 visitors attend Dedication ceremony of new 140-bed hospital.

May 19, 1974 - BAH opens and admits 54 patients from Keizer Memorial and McAuley hospitals.

May 1974 - Twenty-seven new physicians open practice as a result of new hospital.

September 1974 - Board of Directors approve $4.8 million 32-bed expansion.

September 1977 - Home Health program begins.

December 1979 - New 32-bed wing dedicated. Patient census reaches 166.

July 1987 - Original construction bond paid off and retired 15 years early.

November 1987 - $1.4 million general facelift completed.

March 1988 - Newly remodeled Critical Care Unit and new Intermediate Care Unit open.

October 1990 - Maternity remodeling completed.

December 1990 - Radiation Therapy Center opens.

June 1991 - First integrated computer system installed.

Spring 1997 - New state-of-the art CT scanner installed.

July 1998 - Groundbreaking ceremony for $14 million expansion.

July 1998 - Mammography and stereotactic breast biopsy services begin.

December 1998 - New $1million angiography suite opens.

April 1999 - Newly remodeled Mental Health unit opens.

October 1999 - New access road opens.

December 1999 - Website unveiled at www.bayareahospital.org.

Highlights of 2000

▪ Laundry Services open for first time in hospital's history.

▪ First phase of new construction is complete. New areas to open include MRI, Maternity Services, Mammography Services, Surgery suites, Emergency Department.

Highlights of 2001

▪ Dan Smith assumes role as President/CEO when Dale Jessup announces retirement after five years.

▪ Sleep Center opens.

▪ Grand Opening and Dedication of $30 million expansion.

▪ Bay Area Hospital is one of two hospitals on the West Coast to have the most technologically advanced linear accelerator in the industry for the treatment of cancer.

Highlights of 2002

▪ Second Sleep Center room opens.

▪ $225,000 in Community Development Grants were given to 18 local organizations during fiscal year.

▪ New Espresso Bar opens to rave reviews.

▪ Successfully finished major remodeling projects of the Cafeteria, Conference Rooms, Orthopedic Unit, and the second phase of the Laboratory.

▪ The hospital sponsored an additional nursing program instructor at Southwestern Community College to increase class size.

Highlights of 2003

▪ Continuing Medical Education received the Oregon Medical Association’s four-year accreditation citing it as an outstanding program.

▪ Information Services unveiled intranet site to improve in-house communications.

▪ Every department, employee, physician, volunteer, and vendor completed the HIPAA training for the new federal regulations that took effect.

▪ $237,000 Community Development Grant funds allocated to 16 local organizations for health-related programs.

▪ Laboratory received a “Gold Standard” accreditation from the College of American Pathologists.

▪ In a collaborative program with the hospital, the first class of certified surgical techs graduated from Southwestern Community College.

▪ Dedication of outdoor recreational area for Mental Health patients.

Highlights of 2004

▪ Hospital attained yet another three-year accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

▪ Tumor Registry achieved another three-year accreditation from the Commission on Cancer.

▪ Short Stay placed in the top four percent for overall care of 83 West Coast hospitals in a Press Ganey survey.

▪ A 16-slice CT was installed giving the hospital superior scanning capabilities.

▪ Critical Care was recognized in the top one percent in all categories compared to 463 other CCU’s in a nationwide patient satisfaction survey.

▪ Home Health achieved JCAHO accreditation for three years.

▪ Emergency Department attained the top 21 percent of 121 West Coast hospitals in the nationwide patient satisfaction survey.

Highlights of 2005

Opened a new outpatient psychiatric services clinic.

Home Health scored in the top eight percent of 7,500 Medicare certified agencies for best practices in reducing hospitalizations.

For the first time in hospital’s history, the Laboratory achieved a perfect inspection from the College of American Pathologists Laboratory Accreditation Program.

Installed a $1 million CT Simulator with 3-D treatment planning at the Radiation Therapy Center.

Signed a five-year, multi-million dollar contract with Siemens Medical Systems for the implementation of a clinical information system.

Partners in Good Health, the community newsletter, was a Silver winner in the 2005 Aster Awards, which recognizes excellence in medical advertising.

Administered $200,000 in Community Development Grants to 12 local organizations for health related programs bringing the total of CDG’s to more than $1.6 million over seven years.

The Short Stay Center placed in the top four percent for overall care of 83 West Coast hospitals.

The Auxiliary provided 24,008 hours and donated $42,500 for equipment and other patient enhancements bringing their total of donated hours to 760,000 hours and donated monies to $771,000 over 33 years.

Who We Are

Medical Staff

Where We Are

Values

Privacy Notice

Return Home