LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Before the Lima Memorial Health System that serves the region today, community leaders recognized a need for local health care.
"About 130 years ago, a group of local pastors got together recognizing the need to care for the citizens in the community. They started with a play to raise funds for our hospital development. Fast forward a few years, ad they came together with the Allen Co. Medical Society and determined that we needed to have a hospital to care for, at that time they called it, the ill and the aged," said Lynn Carpenter, president of Lima Memorial Health System.
That fundraiser brought in $372, launching the effort to build a community hospital. Organizers held meetings, elected officials and turned the vision into reality.
In 1899, Lima City Hospital opened its doors in a two-story home on the site where Lima Senior High School stands today. Historic photos from those early years now line the halls of Lima Memorial.
"When Lima City Hospital opened in 1899, we were 13 beds state of the art facility. We look at those photos now and realize how far we've come in terms of the advanced technology. What we're very proud of is not just that advanced technology, but the skill that goes behind it with the outstanding medical staff we've been able to recruit to Lima Memorial, as well as all of the great team members who make up our great care."
More than 125 years later, leaders said the mission remains the same: caring for the community. They also said being locally owned and operated allows the health system to respond to the region's needs.
"When I think about who we are as an organization. We are here to serve the community and it's important that the decisions that affect our community, whether that's healthcare or jobs, that those decisions are made locally. We know our community best, we know what the community needs, and we can respond nimbly because we are locally owned and operated...."
Today, Lima Memorial employs about 2,000 associates and continues to invest in the health and well-being of the region. The Greater Lima Region said those efforts also help strengthen the local economy by attracting and retaining people.
"It's a privilege for us to be in partnership with LMHS because they believe in what we believe in. We believe in people, partnership and purpose. And our belief is that LMHS does that for the community. They desire to be involved many aspects, including health and economic development and growth," said Dave Stratton, president and CEO of the Greater Lima Region.
"We're certainly a legacy institution and we take a great pride in our history here in Lima not only serving the Lima community, but we are a regional system serving 10 counties. For us, we are here to support and serve the community and will remain strong in the community for centuries to come," Carpenter said.
