History
In 1923, Loretto Hospital was founded by Blaine Lowell Ramsey, a medical doctor, who, along with a group of West Side physicians invested in a community-based healthcare institution. Originally named Austin Hospital, one of its core missions was to provide much needed medical assistance to an increasing indigent population on the Chicago’s West Side.
As the nation and Chicago headed toward what would become the Great Depression (1929-1941), it became more difficult for patients to afford medical care. This lead to Dr. Ramsey and the physician investment group to sell Austin Hospital in 1929 to a Women’s Christian Temperance Union Group, who renamed the hospital Frances E. Willard National Temperance Hospital; named after a major 19th century American educator and temperance leader. Due to financial difficulties the hospital was forced to reorganize its management structure in 1937, decidedly they shortened the hospitals name to Willard Hospital.
The hospital and its rather noble mission to provide special consideration and assistance to the indigent became of interest to Chicago’s Archbishop George William Cardinal Mundelein. The Austin area, though predominately white, was still rather diverse to the extent that many immigrants, who had moved to Chicago, moved into the Austin area. It particularly was home to many Polish and Lithuanian immigrants. Archbishop Mundelein instructed the Sisters of St. Casimir to offer to purchase the hospital and continue the mission. The offer was accepted and the purchase was made on December 10, 1938, which happened to be the day of the feast of Our Lady of Loretto. Our Lady of Loretto celebrates the help in finding a place to live, protection when traveling by plane, and peace and harmony in the home.
On January 1939, Loretto Hospital officially opened its doors to the public. The Sisters of St. Casimir, reaffirmed their commitment to the community by dedicating a $6 million wing and a new diagnostic and treatment building, in addition to a new Family Health Center opened later that year.
During the 1960s, the demographics of the Austin area made a dramatic shift from being a predominantly white community to a more than 90% African-American community. For the hospital it meant a drastic change in revenue as well as in patrons and patients being serviced; in spite of the changes, the hospital’s core goals and mission remained the same – which was providing acute medical services and especially helping those who need it the most.
During the 1970s and 80s, Loretto Hospital continued its efforts to modernize and expand its facilities and services to better accommodate the needs of the communities that it served.
In 1997, Loretto Hospital sponsored the Austin Chamber of Commerce, becoming a major partner and force in civic affairs in the Austin community. Three years later, the Loretto Hospital Foundation was established as a fundraising and support arm.
Loretto Hospital continued to make huge strides at bringing the Chicago West Side and its surrounding communities, state of the services and facilities. In July 2009, the new Kimberly A. Lightford Emergency Department opened its doors. In addition, Loretto Hospital purchased a brand new state of the art 64-slice CT scanner that was installed in the new Digital Imagery Department (formerly known as the Radiology Department).
Currently, Loretto Hospital is the largest non-governmental employer in the Austin community employing more than 500 hard-working people. Loretto offers one of the most comprehensive substance abuse programs in Chicago, including detoxification, in- patient hospitalization, outpatient mental healthcare, and substance abuse counseling and assistance. Our 187-beds serve more than 32,000 patients annually. We have special programs and services that include but not limited to: Breathe Easy Asthma/Allergy Program, James D. Montgomery Men’s Health Program, HIV/AIDS Family Counseling Program, and Breast Cancer Awareness Program.
As you can see Loretto Hospital is working diligently to add to its legacy as a healthcare provider that provides high quality patient care to the communities it serves regardless of economic status.