Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Baker City Celebrates 125 Years of Service
By Garrett Christensen on Thursday, August 25th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY – (Release from Saint Alphonsus Medical Center) On August 25, 1897, the new St. Elizabeth hospital opened to serve the booming gold mining and ranching town of Baker City. Founded by the sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia, who arrived two years earlier, the first hospital opened with three staff and eight patients.
On August 25, 2022, hospital colleagues and leaders are marking 125 years of service to Baker City and surrounding communities in Eastern Oregon.
The current hospital is the third facility serving Baker City; the original located at the corner of 2nd and Church Streets, and then its successor opened on 4th Street in 1915. The community outgrew St. Elizabeth, and construction on a new facility on Pocahontas began in April 1969 and was completed in October 1970. Several renovations later, Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Baker City is a modern 25-bed critical access hospital, part of one of the largest Catholic healthcare systems in the country.
“Saint Alphonsus is proud of the thousands of lives our doctors, nurses, providers and colleagues have touched over the past 125 years,” said Dina Ellwanger, President of Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Baker City. “From modest beginnings, we continue to serve in the traditions of those early Sisters, providing compassionate, comprehensive medical care to Baker County and communities in the region.”
St. Elizabeth Hospital pioneered an innovative health coverage plan in its first year. For the cost of just $1 a month, patients received complete care. In 1897, 115 patients were treated at the new facility.
The five Sisters of St. Francis actually arrived in Baker City in 1885 and dedicated the Academy of St. Francis, opening the school with 60 students. 12 years later, the academy moved to another building and the old academy was renovated and became St. Elizabeth Hospital.
“As we celebrate 125 years, we honor the legacy of those brave Sisters who ventured westward and we look to the future as Saint Alphonsus makes plans to continue as the trusted healthcare provider for Baker City and surrounding areas,” said Odette Bolano, President and CEO of Saint Alphonsus Health System.
Over the years, the Baker City hospital has been recognized as a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital, and the Birth Center has been nationally certified as a Gold Safe Sleep Champion by the Cribs for Kids organization.
Community partnerships play a big part of what makes Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Baker City a community leader in health and wellness. Responding to a critical need for qualified childcare in the community, Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Baker City provided $100,000 in startup costs for the Baker Early Learning Center. The partnership is with the Baker County YMCA, Baker School District 5J and numerous organizations, including St. Luke’s Health System, the Ford Foundation, Wilson Cattle Company and others. Baker County YMCA owns and operates the daycare in collaboration with the Baker School District at the Baker Early Learning Center. Saint Alphonsus will provide an ongoing annual contribution to help sustain and build programs at the childcare center.
Other community benefits include: the hospital provides community health workers in area schools; Saint Alphonsus Rehabilitation Services (STARS) provides sports medicine athletic trainers to schools; Provides hospital space to the Baker County District Attorney’s office to conduct child abuse assessments; as well as colleague participation in projects including the Salvation Army Angel Tree, donating turkeys to community groups and the Catholic Food Bank, and numerous donations for school supplies, winter coats and other causes.
There will be a community celebration of Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Baker City on Saturday, October 8 at the Quail Ridge Golf Course in Baker City. Additional details on the public celebration will be released later.
