Hendrick History

• The first unit of the hospital was erected in September 1924 at a cost
  of $150,000
• Five stories, 72 rooms and admitted more than 800 patients in the first year
• Hot and cold running water in each room, three modern elevators, well-equipped obstetrical department
• Pauline May Turnidge, first baby born at Hendrick, October 17, 1924
• Motto: "No matter what your belief or creed."

• During the depression of the late 1930s the hospital accepted chickens, goats and black-eyed peas as payment for service
• In 1935, West Texas Baptist Sanitarium affiliates with the Baptist General Convention of Texas to perpetuate the Christian spirit and mission of the facility
• In 1936, a generous gift from T.G. Hendrick, a local oil-rich businessman, saved the hospital from financial trouble. He donated money to pay the hospital debts and a new wing. The hospital was renamed Hendrick Memorial Hospital.

• CampBarkley brought hundreds of families to Abilene.
• In 1943, the maternity ward doubled in capacity to meet the needs of the post-war baby boom
• Hendrick Memorial Hospital was awarded a $100,000 governmental grant as a part of the Federal Works Project.
• With the increase in the number of polio patients, the use of the Iron Lung increased. Students in the School of Nursing were responsible for the maintenance of the machine.

• Dyess Air Force Base was established in the 1950s, bringing new growth to Abilene.
• Parker Hall was built in 1958, to accommodate the increasing need for nurses
• In 1954, a fund drive was instituted to allow the public to help purchase new equipment for the hospital including new operating room lights, a cardiac defibrillator, operating room cardioscope, oxygen tents, bassinets and suction machines.

• In 1960, Hendrick expanded services with an X-ray department, monitoring unit for catheterization and an oscillating bed.
• In 1963, the Anderson Wing, named in honor of Minnie Anderson was completed. The wing provided 84 new rooms, an emergency room, new administrative staff offices and a new clinical lab.
• In 1966, the Meek Wing was built to house Meek Children's Hospital, additional space for the nursing school, the blood bank and a medical library.
• Drs. Meadows and Mendenhall, surgeons, enable hospital to offer reconstructive heart surgery.

• 1970 brought the retirement of E.M. Collier who served as the third Superintendent for 40 years. Boone Powell, Jr. led the hospital through the 1970s.
• Also in 1970, the Emergency Room expanded service to 24hours, seven days per week. 16,216 patients were admitted in 1970.
• In 1972, the Critical Care Unit opened and Obstetrics was remodeled and renamed "Mothercare."
• The Physical Therapy Department was added in 1974 along with the Hendrick Medical Center Foundation.
• In 1976, it was decided to change the name from Hendrick Memorial Hospital to Hendrick Medical Center, a better representation of the medical services offered to the community.

• Michael C. Waters became the fifth administrator of Hendrick in 1980. He oversaw the expansion of children's services including a new Labor and Delivery Unit and a new nursery.
• In 1981, the Patient Relations department was added
• In 1986, Hendrick League House opened.
• In 1987, Hendrick Retirement Village opened and new Cardiac Cath Lab equipment was purchased.
• In 1988, The First(Choice program began, by the end of the first year 2000 members had joined.

• In 1992, Hendrick Heartsaver Network was formed and a Pediatric ICU and Hendrick Center for Extended Care opened.
• Hendrick Center for Rehabilitation was built in 1993
• Hendrick Health Club and Hendrick Family Health Center were finished in 1996.
• Vera West Women's Center was dedicated in 1998.
• In 1999, the Shelton Building was dedicated with expanded services of Hendrick Cancer Center and Hendrick Day Surgery