Historical Milestones
1935
Dr. Zebulon Vance Johnston's brother, Tom Johnston, came from North Carolina in the fall of 1935 and constructed a three-story building on South Wall Street. The first floor housed a drug store and the Atlanta Gas Light Company. On the second floor were doctor's offices and the operating room. On the third floor were two wards and four private rooms, a kitchen and a utility areas. A hand operated elevator brought patients from the second floor.
1937
Dr. Robert D. Walter and his wife moved to Calhoun, where Dr. Walter joined Drs. Hall and Johnston.
1939
An addition was made to the hospital, bringing the bed total to 28. The facility was called Johnston-Hall Hospital. Office visits were $1.00 and home visits were $3.00. A hospital bed in the ward was $3.00 and a private room $5.00
1953
The Johnston-Hall Hospital served Gordon County until this year, when a new county hospital was built on Pine Street.
1968
The first class of the Gordon County Hospital School of Practical Nursing graduated. Today, the Gordon Hospital Foundation provides nursing scholarships for students in nursing or allied health fields.
1979
Community leaders decided they needed to build a new facility to accomodate the needs and standards set by the state. So, a $5 million bond issue to build the present hospital on Red Bud Road raised the funds.
1981
Adventist Health System signed an agreement to manage Gordon Hospital.
1986
A mammography unit was opened as a result of a community-wide fundraising program.
1991
A new 12-suite Emergency Center opened.
1993
Gordon Hospital provides nurses in the local schools.
1994
Gordon Hospital was purchased by Adventist Health System and began operating the ambulance service for Gordon Hospital.
1995
The New Beginnings Maternity Center opened. The Gordon Hospital Foundation raised funds for this wing through generous pledges and donations from the Gordon County community.
1998
Gordon Hospital began making "house calls" with the new Wellness on Wheels mobile health van.
1999
A $4.1 million renovation project adding 8,200 additional square feet to the hospital was completed. New areas included a lobby, gift shop, courtyard, chapel, meditation room, and registration area. The parking area tripled in size. In addition, speech therapy was added as a service through the Rehabilitation Services department.
2000
A 37,000 square foot medical office building was completed. Phase one of a three year expansion project began. The Auxiliary, the hospital's volunteer organization, celebrated 20 years of service. A new non-invasive cardiovascular laboratory opened. Emergency Medical Services was the first in Georgia to utilize the life-saving drug, Cordarone, on it's ambulances. The new Case Management program was implemented.
2001
Gordon Hospital EMS was named the National Service of the Year. Phases one and two of the expansion were completed. Imaging Services installed a new sterotactice breast biopsy system, MRI, bone densitometer and radiographic/flouroscopic equipment. Laboratory and Health Information Management was expanded and centralized. Med/Surg created specially decorated rooms called the "Kid's Zone." The 12th Annual Fun Run raised funds for a new Women's Diagnostic Center. The Foundation Board awarded a record 12 scholarships to nursing and allied health students. Wellness on Wheels added a bone densitometer. Physicians and mid-level providers gave more than 900 free athletic physicals to local students.
2002
Gordon Hospital designed a comprehensive cancer care program, with medical and surgical oncology for the community. The hospital held the first annual Prayer Breakfast for the community. Edward Rojas, MD, a local urologist, and the hospital's surgical team performed the first prostate radiation seed implant procedure. A groundbreaking was held for phase three of the expansion project. New areas will include: outpatient surgery, cardioplumonary/pre-admission testing, endoscopy, imaging services, kitchen, dining areas, materials management, rehabilitation services, and women's health services. Construction should be complete in 2004.
2004
The hospital completed phase three of its expansion project. Adding 75,000 square feet of new space in the form of a new four-story tower and renovating an additional 36,000 square feet of existing space. The grand opening of the building was held in November 2004 with more than 500 community residents touring the facility. Areas of expansion included the addition of 17 new outpatient surgery rooms, a consolidated endoscopy laboratory, new outpatient registration area, two, new labor and delivery rooms, a Women's Diagnostic Center, an expanded Radiology and Rehabilitation Services departments with both tripling in size, instrument rated helipad, and a newly expanded cafeteria and kitchen, which also tripled in size.
The four story tower was built as a shell for further expansion of patient care areas.
2005
The hospital opened a new Clinical Decisions and Progressive Care unit on the second floor of its four-story tower. The space was designed with the future of healthcare in mind. Rooms are spacious and designed around the needs of the caregiver allowing for exceptional patient care. The rooms also feature, faux hardwood floors, spacious bathrooms and richly colored tapestries. The space also features state-of-the-art telemetry equipment for constant monitoring of patients.
A section of this new space was also designated for the hospital's new Sleep Disorders Center.
2008
After nearly a year of construction, Gordon Hospital was pleased to open a new 17,700 square foot Emergency Center. The Center, which is located on the back side of the hospital, features 20 new, private patient rooms, two new trauma rooms, a critical care room and a negative pressure room.
In addition, the new department now features CareTrack to help move patients suffering from non-emergent issues through the Emergency Center more easily and faster.