History

1953 | 1963 | 1974 | 1976 | 1979 | 1985 | 1989
1991 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998
1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008

1953
Oakwood Hospital - Dearborn, a six floor community-based healthcare facility, opened its doors in January 5, 1953.

1963
Four more floors were added to the Oakwood Hospital - Dearborn facility. This expansion more than doubled the hospital's bed capacity.

1974
The Oakwood Foundation board was created to reach out for a broader base of private support.

1976
The second major building expansion was completed. The new Skillman wing housed an oncology unit, radiotherapy and diagnostic radiology departments and expanded out-patient facilities.

1979
Oakwood Hospital completed a third major building project, an $8 million expansion. This expansion included a new surgery center, outpatient center, central sterile supply department, a ten-story elevator tower, and an enlarged emergency department. A fourth expansion project began, which was the $8.5 million east addition that today includes maternal and child healthcare center, a consolidated physical medicine and rehabilitative services department, a new main entrance and gift shop and the relocation of several departments within the hospital.

1985
Oakwood reorganized its corporate structure to establish a parent corporation, Oakwood Health Services. Also in 1985, Oakwood Health Services acquired Lynn Hospital, in Lincoln Park, which was built in 1955.

1989
The five-floor northeast addition became home to the expanded state-of-the-art Intensive Care and Cardiac Care units, as well as new dining and laboratory facilities, the Adray Conference Center, and a power plant. Also in 1989, Oakwood Health Services completed a management agreement with United Care (formally PCHA). Under the terms of the agreement, Oakwood United Hospitals, Inc., acquired Annapolis Hospital in Wayne, built in 1957; Merriman Hospital in Westland, built in 1984; Heritage Hospital in Taylor, built in 1977 and Seaway Hospital in Trenton, built in 1961 and their assets.

1991
Beyer Hospital of Ypsilanti, built in 1918, became part of the Oakwood Healthcare System.

1993
Oakwood Heritage Hospital - Taylor renovated and installed the radiology department.

Oakwood Annapolis Hospital - Wayne renovated its emergency room services department in 1993. This two million dollar renovations made it possible for Oakwood Annapolis to add state-of-the-art equipment and increase their bed emergency room bed count to 22.

1994
Oakwood Heritage Hospital - Taylor renovated the intensive care unit and installed state-of-the art equipment.

1995
Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center - Dearborn renovated the Department of Obstetrics and added labor and delivery rooms to the facility.

1996
The Oakwood Healthcare System Board of Directors provided the new strategic direction for the system. Later that year, the new corporate structure was established and four corporate entities were formed: Oakwood Healthcare, Inc.; Oakwood Healthcare System, Inc.; Oakwood Enterprises, Inc.; and Oakwood Health Options, Inc.

1997
The new Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center's state-of-the-art emergency department opened. The Oakwood Hospital Beyer Center - Ypsilanti medical office building was completed along with several healthcare centers, which include: Schaefer, Waterworks and North Westland. Also in 1997, Oakwood Healthcare, Inc., formed a partnership with Michigan Affiliated Providers Company (MAPCo) to provide managed care administration services. MAPCo is a full service operation providing physician directed medical and premium management services for physician group and health organization clients. The company's customers are providers engaged in delivering health services to health maintenance organization enrollees while maintaining high quality care and patient satisfaction without increasing cost.

1998
Opened new comprehensive healthcare centers in Allen Park and in Lincoln Park.

1999

• Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center began process to replace CT Scanner and Linear Accelerator.
• Process began to initiate CT services at Oakwood Healthcare Center – Canton.
• OHS launched OakNet, an intranet for Oakwood Healthcare System employees.
• Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center awarded Top 100 Cardiovascular Hospital from HCIA.
• OHS ranked in Top 100 Healthcare Networks in the Nation by SMG. SMG Marketing Group is a Chicago based healthcare information and marketing company.

• Oakwood Beyer Hospital closed April 2000. The facility was sold to Forest Health Services who performs bariatric surgery.
• OHS signed letter of intent with Henry Ford Health System to consolidate Henry Ford’s Riverside Hospital and Oakwood’s Seaway Hospital.
• OHS, in a joint venture with the Arab American Center for Economic and Social Services, opened Oakwood Healthcare Center – Schaefer. The clinic provides partial hospitalization services to help the Arab American population’s mental health needs.
• OHS partnered with First Step, a local women’s shelter, to respond to domestic violence. OHS won the Circle of Distinction Award for this program from the American Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development.
• OHS ranked among the Top 100 Healthcare Networks in the Nation by SMG for the second year in a row. SMG Marketing Group is a Chicago based healthcare information and marketing company.
• OHS kicked off its ER 30 Minute Guarantee. The guarantee ensures that emergency room patients are seen by a physician within 30 minutes of arrival or they receive a letter of apology and a pair of movie tickets.
• Oakwood Seaway Hospital closed OB services in October.
• Oakwood Hospital & Medical center awarded Top 100 Cardiovascular Hospital by HCIA for second year in a row.
• Oakwood’s Cancer Center entered into an affiliation with the University of Michigan’s Comprehensive Cancer Center to collaborate on programs Oakwood offers to cancer patients.
• NICHE (Networking to Improve Care to Hospitalized Elderly) was launched at Oakwood Annapolis, Oakwood Heritage and Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center. NICHE is a customized, multidisciplinary approach that strives to prevent common geriatric syndromes.
• OHS initiated a 3 year Financial Viability plan identifying and implementing a series of growth opportunities, cost reductions and revenue enhancements. First year targets were met.

2001

• Room Service launched at Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center. This program allows patients to pick up the phone and place a food order from a menu whenever the patient is ready to eat.
• Oakwood ended ownership in SelectCare with the sale of the HMO members to HAP and the sale of PPO members to PPOM.
• Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center won Top 100 Cardiovascular Hospital award for third year in a row.
• Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center launched its Surgical HLO to improve scheduling and boarding, on time starts, room turnover and the discharge process for surgery patients.
• OHS exceeded all Financial Viability Task Force growth targets set for 2002. Negotiations discontinued between Henry Ford Health System and Oakwood Healthcare System to merge Riverside and Seaway Hospitals. OHS committed to investing $25 million to upgrade the facilities and services at the Seaway campus.

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2002

• Oakwood Seaway Hospital becomes Oakwood Southshore Medical Center and is governed by its own downriver-based Board of Directors.

2003

• Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center is ranked Top 100 for fourth time in five years.
• Oakwood Southshore welcomes first osteopathic residents and opens five more ED beds for a total of 21. Southshore also breaks ground for a new surgery center that is a joint venture with local physicians. Cardiac catherization lab and outpatient radiology center opens.

2004

• Oakwood Annapolis Hospital opens state-of-the-art surgery center.
• Oakwood Southshore opens progressive care unit, new gift shops, renovated cafeteria and front lobby.
• Oakwood launches Women's HeartAdvantage program.

2005

• Oakwood Heritage Hospital completes a one million dollar seven-month-long renovation project that introduced six new beds, including a four bed triage unit, along with state-of-the art specialty carts. The renovation also includes a seven-bed observation unit down the hall.
• Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) technology is implemented across OHS bringing state-of-the-art image acquisition and distribution capabilities to the system.
• Oakwood Imaging Center opens across from Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center in Dearborn. The 10,000 square foot new, fully digital outpatient imaging center today is the first fully digital, GE-equipped outpatient imaging center in southeast Michigan.
• OHS is one of only 50 companies nationwide to be honored with the AARP’s Best Employers for Workers Over 50 for 2005, placing 22nd.
• OHS is named one of the nation’s top 100 Integrated Healthcare Networks for the second year in a row, placing 66th.

2006

• The Oakwood Surgical Pavilion and Heart and Vascular Center open in January on the campus of Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center as part of $200 million dollar renovation project to OHMC started in 2003.
• OHS is the first healthcare system in the state of Michigan to use the da Vinci S Surgical Robotic System. The revolutionary technology has a variety of surgical applications including gynecological, cardiovascular and urological.
• Oakwood Southshore Medical Center engages in a $64 million expansion titled the “Southshore Promise.” The project includes the building of a new pavilion to bring expanded medical services to the downriver area.
• In June, Oakwood Healthcare, Inc. and Wayne State University in Detroit sign an affiliation agreement to create an academic and clinical care partnership of national renown.
• Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center is one of 176 hospitals ranked in U.S. News & World Report's 17th annual America's Best Hospitals 2006. OHMC achieves a ranking of 43 out of 50 top hospitals for its expertise in the specialty area of respiratory disorders.
• For the second year in a row OHS is recognized as an AARP’s 2006 Best Employers for Workers Over 50, jumping up to 8th place.
• Oakwood Heritage Hospital's Total Joint Replacement Program earns a "Gold Seal of Approval" from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
• All four OHS hospitals are recipients of the 2006 Governor's Award of Excellence for Improving Care in the Hospital Setting in various clinical areas.

2007

• The Zero Wait Program implemented in all OHS emergency room departments at the beginning of the year. The program calls for triage to begin as soon as patients enter the emergency room.
• Brian Connolly takes the role as the new CEO of Oakwood Health Care, Inc.
• Oakwood Annapolis Hospital debuts new Birthing Center, featuring eleven luxury Labor, Delivery, Recovery and Postpartum rooms.
• At the end of the year, the Service Excellence Program is launched, replacing the former Service First! Program. The program strives to create outstanding environments within OHS for patients and families, employees, volunteers, and physicians.
• OHS wins the Quality Leadership Award from the Michigan Quality Council.
• Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center’s Total Joint Replacement Program earns a "Gold Seal of Approval" from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. OHS is the only health care system in Michigan to have two hospitals awarded the approval; Oakwood Heritage Hospital received the award in 2005.

2008

• “Champions of Care” weekly radio show premieres on local radio station News/Talk 760 WJR in February, featuring OHS physicians highlighting health and wellness topics of interest to the community.
• Construction finishes on the Oakwood Southshore Medical Center Pavilion and the grand opening ceremony occurs in June.
• In September, Oakwood Breast Care Center – Wayne opens, providing all-digital technology and quality services to women in the area.
• OHS is named one of the 101 Best and Brightest employers in Southeast Michigan for the fifth year in a row.
• OHS wins three prestigious Web site awards – the Platinum-level award for the Best Intranet Site by eHealthcare Strategy & Trends for OakNet, the employee intranet portal, as well as silver awards in Best Site design and Best Quality Communication for Oakwood.org, the consumer Web site.
• Oakwood Heritage Hospital, Oakwood Annapolis Hospital, Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center and Oakwood Southshore Medical Center receive the 2007 Governor’s Award of Excellence for Improving Care in the Hospital, Surgical and Emergency Department Settings.
• OHS is named one of the nation’s top 100 Integrated Healthcare Networks for the fifth time by Verispan.
• The Joint Commission awards Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center the Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Primary Stroke Certification, the highest national standard for safety and quality of care.