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A Strong History of Caring for the Community

 

To watch a short documentary on the history of Lake Hospital System click here.

Lake Hospital System evolved from a grass roots effort born of community need. Today, technology has changed the way we deliver health care, but community need remains the focus of our existence.

Over 100 years ago community leaders established Lake Hospital System to provide high-quality care in a community setting. Our mission hasn’t varied over the last century, but the services we offer and the facilities available to residents in and around Lake County have changed dramatically through the years.

In 1902 Lake County’s first chartered hospital was formed when the New Connecticut Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) initiated a drive to provide a hospital for the Painesville area. Just two years later, the Painesville Hospital Association opened its doors in the Stephen Matthews residence on Washington Street.

The early days of Painesville Hospital were characterized by financial difficulties and “growing pains” caused by the exploding population. In 1924, the Lake County commissioners took control of Painesville Hospital, and it officially became Lake County Memorial Hospital. The hospital operated as a county facility until it became a private entity in 1985 when the not-for-profit, charitable organization known as Lake Hospital System assumed operations.

Today, Lake Hospital System provides high-quality health care to residents in and around Lake County through a comprehensive network that includes more than 500 physicians, over 2,600 team members, and eight facilities. What’s more, over 1,200 volunteers provide their time and talent on a daily basis.

From its beginning in a leased mansion to the eight-facility health care provider of today, Lake Hospital System dedicates all of its efforts to meeting the health care needs of Lake County and surrounding communities.

Milestones in LHS History

1959 – New Lake County Memorial Hospital-East opened with 141 beds

1961 – Lake County Memorial Hospital-West opened in Willoughby with 185 beds

1985 – Lake County Memorial Hospitals become Lake Hospital System, a private, not-for-profit entity

1996 – Mentor Medical Campus opens; LakeEast Family Birthing Center is remodeled

1997 – StealthStation is installed for performing brain and spinal cord surgery

1998 – LHS partners with University Hospitals on Lake/University Ireland Cancer Center, bringing state-of-the-art cancer care to Lake County; Madison Medical Campus moves to a new, expanded facility; LHS partners with The Cleveland Clinic to bring open-heart surgery to LakeWest Hospital; LakeWest Hospital unveils luxurious Family Birthing Center; Mentor Surgery Center is established through a joint venture with physicians

1999 – LakeWest cardiac catheterization lab is renovated; Center for Geriatric Psychiatry opens at LakeWest

2000 – LakeEast ORs are expanded and remodeled; LHS implements clinical browser, giving physicians online clinical data; PET [link to PET in Imaging section] scanner comes to Mentor Medical Campus

2001 – LakeWest ER is expanded and renovated; Hi-speed CT scanners are installed at LakeWest

2002 – LHS celebrates 100th anniversary; Mentor Medical Campus adds open MRI unit; LakeWest ORs are expanded and renovated; LHS is named one of Solucient’s 100 Top Hospitals; LHS earns NorthCoast99 award, making it one of 99 best places to work in northeast Ohio

2003 – Center Road Walk-in Center moves to expanded space on Tyler Blvd., Mentor; LHS announces plans to build new hospital in Concord Township ; 16-slice CT scanner installed at Mentor Medical Campus; Monitored Care Unit opens at LakeWest, featuring all private rooms; LHS named one of Solucient’s 100 Top Hospitals for cardiovascular care; LHS earns NorthCoast99 award for second consecutive year.

2004 – Center for Comprehensive Rehabilitation opens at LakeEast Hospital; Chardon Medical Campus opens; LHS earns NorthCoast99 award for third year in a row; Center for Geriatric Psychiatry adds eight beds; Multi-slice CT scanners (8- and 16-slice) installed at LakeWest; LHS acquires Laurelwood Hospital; LHS signs agreement for Clinical Information System with Siemens; LakeEast ER is expanded and renovated

2005 – Physician Office Pavilion opens at LakeWest; LHS earns NorthCoast99 award for the fourth consecutive year.

2006 – LHS named 100 Top Hospital by Solucient for the second time in three years; HealthGrades, a leading independent health care ratings company, ranked LHS among the top 5% of hospitals in the national for overall clinical performance and also for cardiac care; LHS receives the "Making Medicine Mercury Free" award from Hospitals for a Healthy Environment; LHS earns NorthCoast99 award for the fifth consecutive year.