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Memorial Hospital Celebrates 50th Anniversary in April
Memorial Hospital and Manor will reach an important milestone this year as it celebrates its 50th Anniversary. Memorial Hospital opened its doors on April 4, 1960, under the Hill-Burton Act, and was supported by state and local funds, with matching federal funds. The new hospital replaced two local hospitals, Bainbridge Hospital and Riverside Hospital, which closed a short time later. Although the hospital is called "Bainbridge Memorial Hospital" by many people, the actual name is Memorial Hospital. This name was given in memoriam to those pioneers who made Bainbridge the medical center of Southwest Georgia, Northern Florida, and Southeast Alabama for many decades.
Plans for a golden anniversary celebration include a "50th Birthday Party" on Sunday, April 18, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. All past and present employees, physicians and volunteers, as well as the community, are invited to enjoy birthday cake, ice cream, a musical performance, an antique car show, and children's games. After a few short speeches by dignitaries, those individuals who have been involved with the hospital throughout the decades will be recognized. An exhibit of memorabilia and old photographs taken at the hospital will be displayed in the front lobby. Old photographs of the hospital facilities or staff are needed for the exhibit. Anyone who would like to share their photos may contact Jan Godwin in Memorial's Public Relations department at 229-243-6187. Photos will be scanned and returned immediately.
In addition to the Community Birthday Party, the Memorial Hospital and Manor Foundation is hosting an anniversary celebration at the Kirbo Regional Center on March 26. For ticket information for the Foundation event, contact Carole Clenney at 229-243-6105.
Through the years, Memorial Hospital and Manor, an 80-bed acute care hospital, has expanded its facilities and services to meet the needs of a growing community. In 1972, Memorial Manor, a 67-bed Long Term Care Facility, was built adjacent to the Hospital, and in 1979, Manor II was completed, adding another 40 beds to the nursing home. An Intensive Care Unit was added in 1986, a new Level II Emergency Department was built in 1993, and three new building projects were completed in 1998, including the Kirbo Women's Center, Willow Ridge Assisted Living Facility, and Memorial Medical Center. Renovation of patient rooms in the hospital and resident rooms in the Manor are an ongoing project at Memorial Hospital and Manor. Plans are being made for the construction of a new Same Day Surgery center at the hospital, which will include expanded facilities for the Laboratory, Radiology and other departments.
Under the leadership of the Hospital Authority of the City of Bainbridge and Decatur County, our facility continues to grow to meet the needs of Bainbridge, Decatur County and the surrounding communities. Memorial Hospital and Manor is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
Memorial Hospital, 1960
