Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital
Encyclopedia
Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital is a rural 25-bed Critical Access Hospital located in Willits, California
, a northern Mendocino County
community known as “gateway to the redwoods.”
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held and construction began in 1927. The next year, the original hospital building was completed with the board of directors consisting of the Howard family. Several years later, in 1946, the south wing was constructed adding two three-bed wards and three semi-private rooms, making HMH a 20-bed hospital.
Throughout the next several years, HMH continued to enlarge and 1955 was the busiest year for construction in the hospital’s history. During that year, a new surgical wing was built, adding two operating rooms; Central Oxygen Quarters, Sterile Central Supply, and areas for physician and nurse lounges were added; and the kitchen and laundry were enlarged. The X-ray department was renovated in 1960. In the midst of building, HMH received its first accreditation by the Joint Commissions on Accreditation of Hospitals. In 1970, a new patient wing was completed, making HMH a 42-bed facility and adding a Critical Care unit, nursery and emergency room. A pathology and laboratory department was completed in 1973 and the Smalley Medical Center was built in 1977.
The 1980’s were a time when the hospital continued to grow. A surgical wing was added in 1980, the entire inside of the hospital received a facelift in 1982 and the business office and data processing center was remodeled to accommodate a new in-house computer system. In 1985, a wing of the hospital was converted into an Emergency Urgent Care facility, including new state-of-the-art treatment facilities. One year later, in 1986, HMH joined Adventist Health and a memorial chapel was added.
, a health care organization headquartered in Roseville, California
. Adventist Health represents regional delivery networks spanning California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. The networks comprise 85 distinct business units including 20 acute care facilities—controlled, managed or leased—with more than 3,000 beds, 17,000 employees, numerous clinics and outpatient facilities, medical foundations and 18 home health agencies.
Willits, California
Willits is a city in Mendocino County, California, United States. Willits is located north-northwest of Ukiah, at an elevation of 1391 feet . The population was 4,888 at the 2010 census, down from 5,073 at the 2000 census. Willits is at the center of Mendocino County and its redwood forests...
, a northern Mendocino County
Mendocino County, California
Mendocino County is a county located on the north coast of the U.S. state of California, north of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and west of the Central Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 87,841, up from 86,265 at the 2000 census...
community known as “gateway to the redwoods.”
History
In the early 1920’s, the community of Willits realized the need for a community hospital and in 1925, the Willits Development Association sponsored the first Frontier Days, as a benefit to begin construction of a hospital. In 1926, Charles S. Howard became interested in building a hospital in memory of his son who had died in an auto accident. With further convincing from several local citizens, the Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital (HMH), named after Charles’ son, came into existence.Groundbreaking ceremonies were held and construction began in 1927. The next year, the original hospital building was completed with the board of directors consisting of the Howard family. Several years later, in 1946, the south wing was constructed adding two three-bed wards and three semi-private rooms, making HMH a 20-bed hospital.
Throughout the next several years, HMH continued to enlarge and 1955 was the busiest year for construction in the hospital’s history. During that year, a new surgical wing was built, adding two operating rooms; Central Oxygen Quarters, Sterile Central Supply, and areas for physician and nurse lounges were added; and the kitchen and laundry were enlarged. The X-ray department was renovated in 1960. In the midst of building, HMH received its first accreditation by the Joint Commissions on Accreditation of Hospitals. In 1970, a new patient wing was completed, making HMH a 42-bed facility and adding a Critical Care unit, nursery and emergency room. A pathology and laboratory department was completed in 1973 and the Smalley Medical Center was built in 1977.
The 1980’s were a time when the hospital continued to grow. A surgical wing was added in 1980, the entire inside of the hospital received a facelift in 1982 and the business office and data processing center was remodeled to accommodate a new in-house computer system. In 1985, a wing of the hospital was converted into an Emergency Urgent Care facility, including new state-of-the-art treatment facilities. One year later, in 1986, HMH joined Adventist Health and a memorial chapel was added.
Affiliation
Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital is part of Adventist HealthAdventist Health
Adventist HealthTypeOperates health care facilities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and WashingtonFounded1980HeadquartersRoseville, CAAffiliationSeventh-day Adventist ChurchEmployees17,500Mission Statement...
, a health care organization headquartered in Roseville, California
Roseville, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Roseville had a population of 118,788. The population density was 3,279.4 people per square mile...
. Adventist Health represents regional delivery networks spanning California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. The networks comprise 85 distinct business units including 20 acute care facilities—controlled, managed or leased—with more than 3,000 beds, 17,000 employees, numerous clinics and outpatient facilities, medical foundations and 18 home health agencies.