A Historical Overview of UH Bedford Medical Center

UH Bedford Medical Center has a long and rich history spanning decades of social change and medical advancements. Originally no more than four beds on the second floor of a private home in Bedford in 1908, the hospital has grown through the years to keep pace with an ever-expanding population and their demand for high quality, accessible medical care.

A true partnership exists between the hospital and the communities it serves. Throughout the years, bond issues, initiated and approved by community members, have been the financial backbone for expansions and improvements to the facility. First, in 1926, bond monies were used to procure land and build the Bedford Municipal Hospital which officially opened in 1928. Public support held strong in the ensuing decades—evidenced by levies passed in 1943, 1945, 1948, 1950 and 1952. These funds were used to further expand and modernize the hospital. By 1956, the facility boasted 41 beds, a new nursery with 14 bassinettes, a modernized Radiology Department and an Emergency Department with a separate entrance. The hospital was now officially known as Bedford Community Hospital, Inc.

Expansion and modernization continued through the late fifties and into the early sixties, in spite of some difficult financial and political issues. The hospital persevered and survived these trying times, and, in 1962, was accredited for the first time by the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

From the late 1960's until the present time, the hospital has continued to grow at an incredible pace—both structurally and in the services it offers to the community. In 1971, a new 46 bed wing and new surgical facilities were added. In 1979, the official name was changed to The Community Hospital of Bedford, a private facility with non-profit status. By 1984, following additional expansion and renovation, the hospital achieved its current capacity of 110 beds.

The Community Hospital of Bedford was purchased in 1993 by University Hospitals Health System. This relationship ushered in a new era for the hospital—a time of unsurpassed growth and exciting innovation in the services we could offer to the community. A state-of-the-art Outpatient Surgery Center was completed in October 1997 and, in 2006, we proudly opened our new Heart and Vascular Institute. In addition to these two major projects, other improvements included the addition of an MRI Suite, upgraded CT capabilities and renovations to our main lobby, cafeteria, and Telemetry Unit. Physical and aesthetic enhancements of our Medical/Surgical Unit are currently underway with a completion date of March, 2008. A new Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Center is also in the construction phase, and is expected to be fully operational early in the second quarter of 2008.

The future of UH Bedford Medical Center is filled with exciting possibilities. Additional land adjoining the current structure has been purchased, on which a tranquil garden and park will be constructed thanks to a generous donation from our hospital Guild. It is our hope that the park will provide a peaceful respite for patients, visitors and our employees. Our mission, "To Heal, to Teach, to Discover" has always been at the core of our existence. We offer specialized care in cardiovascular medicine, gastroenterology, general surgery, gynecology, infectious disease, neurology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, pain management, plastic surgery, podiatry, sleep medicine, thoracic surgery, urology and vascular medicine.

Our commitment to the community continues to grow. With the support of University Hospitals and generous private donations from the public, UH Bedford Medical Center will certainly continue to grow and expand for another 80 years.