Historic Walker County

to-date with industry trends, equipment and
procedures to make a patient’s hospital stay a
positive one. In November 2008, it undertook
a rebranding effort and launched a new
advertising campaign to communicate innovative
services and changes to better serve the
surrounding community now and in the future.
HMH today delivers key specialties and
services to fulfill the healthcare needs of
the community with advanced technology
and the professional expertise of its board
certified physicians. From physical therapy
and imaging, to laparoscopic surgery and
wound care, HMH offers cutting-edge
programs and services in both an inpatient
and outpatient environment.
“We have rebranded the hospital’s pledge,
Down to earth and up to the minute to
demonstrate that we offer an even higher
quality of care. The over-arching message
focuses on the fact that the hospital is
innovative in its approach to providing the
services right here in our community; and, we
are also emphasizing the personal care and
attention that patients want and expect from
a community hospital,” says Calli Dretke,
director of marketing.
Huntsville Memorial Hospital has a long
and interesting chronology of events. For
instance, twenty-two years after its charter,
it added fifty beds. The positive changes
through the years include:
1955—The Huntsville Memorial Hospital
Auxiliary is chartered.
1964—The W. T. Robinson, Sr., Wing is
built, providing an additional thirty beds.
1965—The convalescent unit is integrated
into the hospital.
1966—Joe G. Davis School of Vocational
Nursing hosts the first class of nursing students.
1970—The hospital board begins advocating
the establishment of a hospital district.
1975—Voters approve the Walker County
Hospital District.
1976—The Walker County Hospital District
and Hospital Corporation of America (HCA)
form an agreement and Huntsville Memorial
Hospital becomes an HCA-managed facility.
1977—Huntsville Memorial Hospital breaks
ground for a new 123,000 square foot facility,
opening in June of 1979.
1985—Huntsville Memorial Hospital begins a
$2.5 million expansion of the surgery department.
1992—The HMH Medical Clinic is established
for primary care in the county.
1997—A $1.5 million expansion begins
to house the Center for Rehabilitation and
other services
1998—HMH opens the Heritage Mental
Health Program for senior adults.
The turn-of-the-century is still inviting
change—all for the well-being of community
residents. Among them are:
2003—HMH completes a 4,500 square-foot
expansion to the radiology department to
provide additional space for state-of-the-art
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized
tomography (CT) scan equipment.
2004—HMH becomes an affiliate of Memorial
Hermann Healthcare System.
2005—HMH becomes a tobacco-free campus.
2005—HMH opens a six-bed inpatient
Rehabilitation Unit; and HMH renovates
Women’s Health Unit and five birthing suites
with contemporary furnishings.
2007—HMH received Quality Award from
the Joint Commission; the hospital welcomes
CEO Sally I. Nelson.
2008—Huntsville Memorial Hospital
begins a rebranding campaign; HMH’s Wound
Care Center opens; HMH Forensic Nursing
Unit opens.
2009—HMH’s Express Admit Unit opens;
Nuclear Medicine (NM) remodeled to include
Stress Room. Began providing NM stress tests
on weekends; First fully digital radiographic
and fluoroscopic room installed; HMH
institutes co-management program aligning
physicians with hospital; HMH recruits
pulmonologist, Dr. Sudhir Sehgal into 501 (a)
practice; HMH establishes chief medical officer
(CMO) position, with Dr. David Ficklin
becoming the first CMO; and Heritage
Outpatient Counseling expands by adding the
C.A.R.E. (Chemical Addiction Recovery and
Education) program.
2010—Medical Economics magazine features
Huntsville as the “best town you never heard
of” in its cover story on America’s best places
to practice medicine; Ability to have several
radiologists view and read x-rays remotely;
HMH Acquires 64-slice CT Scanner; HMH
6 2 ✦ H I S T O R I C W A L K E R C O U N T Y