1988

• Began transformation from short-term acute care community hospital to one of two long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) in the state.

1993

• Opened wound care center and began offering specialized brain injury services.

2001

• Received Minnesota Hospital Association Best Hospital Workplace award.
• Named one of the Top 20 specialty hospitals in the country by Modern HealthCare magazine.

2002

• Opened Wold Memorial Wing for respiratory care and introduced new healing arts program.

2003

• Celebrated 100 years of providing compassionate, specialized medical care to the community by dedicating the Therapeutic Garden for patients, families and employees.

2004

• Implemented pet therapy program.

2005

• Introduced visual arts programming; focused on painting, drawing and ceramics.
• Opened the Capistrant Center for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders.
• Opened the renovated Welcome Center featuring the History and Resource Center, the Family Recreation Center and the Chapel.

2007

• Opened HealthEast Concussion Clinic at Bethesda Hospital, the first treatment center of its kind in the Upper Midwest.
• Began a relationship with COMPAS, partnering with community artists to bring unique programs into the hospital.
• Named Brain Injury Association Service Provider of the Year.
• Received a Psychologically Healthy Workplace award from the Minnesota Psychological Association.

2008

• Named Goldberg Innovation Award winner for improving patient care through nutrition care.
• Inaugurated Tai Chi program for Parkinson’s patients.
• Celebrated 125th anniversary serving the unique post-acute health care needs of our community.

2009

• Established partnership with Northern Clay Center for special Parkinson’s patients clay art class.
• Began welcoming musical performing arts groups to therapeutic recreation activities.

2011

• Named a Goldberg Innovation Award winner for creating a ventilator weaning pathway to improve patient ventilator weaning rates.
• Received the HealthPartners Innovation Award for creating a ventilator weaning pathway to improve patient ventilator weaning rates.
• Developed a long-term acute care hospital software trigger tool to identify appropriate patients for appropriate transfer at the appropriate time.
• Debuted the Dance for Parkinson’s class (first of its kind in the Upper Midwest) and the Super Body, Super Brain class for Parkinson’s patients.

2012

• Dedicated the North Garden, a place where Bethesda behavioral patients can experience fresh air and the great outdoors in a safe environment.
• Opened Family Hospitality Rooms where patients’ families who travel here from outside the area and out of state can rest, relax and refresh.

Click here to learn about Bethesda Hospital’s early days as a community, acute care hospital.