Ashtabula County Medical Center | ACMC Pulse | Summer 2019

ACMC Pulse  • Anniversary Issue • acmchealth.org 5 years. But, more importantly, I see the people behind each generation of improvement,” said ACMC Healthcare System President and CEO Michael Habowski. “Ashtabula General Hospital and Ashtabula County Medical Center put our patients and our caregivers first to ensure local residents have access to experienced professionals who use the latest technology to diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses. At the same time, local residents have encouraged and supported us throughout our 115-year history. ACMC is what it is today because past generations wanted the best local healthcare for their communities.” Meeting the health needs of a growing community like Ashtabula was a challenge. Within five years of opening its doors, Ashtabula General Hospital expanded to accommodate more patients and bring newer technology. Hospital leadership also recognized that the best equipment and the most modern facilities would be useless without the best-trained caregivers. Amid a national shortage of trained nurses, Ashtabula General Hospital added residential rooms for nurses and created a nursing school. Between 1911 and 1945, more than 250 nurses were trained in the latest methods to care for patients. Growing by leaps and bounds Those nurses were needed locally as the population of Ashtabula grew from 27,000 to 45,000 in the 1940s. Ashtabula General Hospital was pushed to capacity again, 1957 + + AGH enters atomic age, using radioactive isotopes to diagnose thyroid problems. 1975 + + South Wing opens as part of hospitalwide renovation. 1985 + + New cardiac services department added, along with new maternity birthing rooms that offered homelike feel along with special equipment for critically ill babies. 1952 + + Ashtabula General Hospital cuts ribbon on expanded, modern facility. 1963 + + Ashtabula General Hospital expands to 226 beds, including a new psychiatric unit. 1983 + + Ashtabula General Hospital officially changes its name to Ashtabula County Medical Center. 1994 + + ACMC affiliates with The Cleveland Clinic Foundation to bring anesthesia and pain management services to the county; ACMC acquires Glenbeigh Hospital. 1995 + + ACMC and The Ashtabula Clinic merge; ACMC receives the Best of the County Award from the Growth Partnership of Ashtabula County. especially in its maternity ward. “It was the perfect storm of a growing community—people came to Ashtabula during the post-war industrial boom.” Habowski said. “Ashtabula General Hospital grew to meet the ever-increasing healthcare needs. We were a symbol of the great things happening in Ashtabula County.” As new technology emerged that improved patient care, it was added at Ashtabula General Hospital. In 1957, with —Continued on page 6 1930s