Lutheran HealthCareAbout UsOur History Lutheran HealthCare In 1883, the Norwegian Lutheran Deaconess Home and Hospital opened its doors. In the ensuing years, the hospital has been transformed from a modest facility for a population of mostly European immigrants to an award winning, comprehensive health care system serving a remarkably diverse community. Throughout this time, Lutheran has evolved and adapted while always remaining faithful to its original mission, “To Serve Our Neighbors.” Lutheran Medical Center On Christmas Day in 1882, Sister Elisabeth received a letter from her brother-in-law, Gabriel Fedde, challenging her to set up a ministry to serve the struggling Norwegian immigrants in New York City, many of whom worked in the shipping industry along the Brooklyn waterfront. The challenge would call for steadfast faith, great powers of organization and administration, limitless capacity for hard work and a spirit of self-sacrifice. She established the Norwegian Lutheran Deaconesses Home and Hospital in Brooklyn. The nine bed hospital grew into what we know today as Lutheran Medical Center. Today, Lutheran Medical Center is a full service 404-bed faith-based, academic teaching hospital that functions as the hub of the Lutheran HealthCare system. Lutheran Family Health Centers In 1967, the vibrant, diverse community in southwest Brooklyn now known as Sunset Park was a forgotten part of the Bay Ridge neighborhood. The area had few jobs, even fewer doctors, and almost no hope. Neighborhood residents were poor, unemployed, depressed and frustrated. Concerned for the fate of their neighborhood, a handful of community members united to form the Sunset Park Health Council, Inc., which partnered with Lutheran Medical Center around a simple yet powerful mission to provide much needed jobs and health services. With support from the Federal Office of Economic Opportunity, this coalition opened the doors of the Sunset Park Family Health Center and sparked Sunset Park’s transformation into an independent and viable community where its residents could access the services they needed. The Sunset Park Family Health Center has since become the hub of a far reaching system of community health centers and support sites known as the Lutheran Family Health Centers. It is the largest Federally Qualified Health Center network in New York State and the second largest in the nation. It includes nine primary care sites, thirty-one school-based health centers and dental clinics, three day care centers, the nation’s largest dental residency program and New York State’s largest behavioral health program. Additionally, there are fourteen community medicine sites providing care to disenfranchised New Yorkers, comprehensive HIV services, chemical dependency programs and a family support center offering educational, vocational and other social support programs. Lutheran Augustana Center for Extended Care and Rehabilitation In 1908, the New York Conference of the Augustana Lutheran Church recognized the need for a Swedish Lutheran Home for the aged. Led by Pastor Fritz Jacobson of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, a Board of Directors was elected and a nineteen-room house was purchased to house eighteen residents. Over the ensuing decades, Lutheran Augustana Center for Extended Care and Rehabilitation (formerly Augustana Lutheran Home for the Aged, Inc.) expanded, while remaining at its 60th Street and 17th Avenue location. By the 1970’s, the changing needs of the residents and the community made functioning in the existing building difficult. Plans were made to rebuild on the same site by tearing down and rebuilding in phases. After numerous delays, a decision was made to rebuild Augustana on the campus of the Lutheran Medical Center in Sunset Park. Construction was completed in 1995. Currently, Augustana has 240 extended care and rehabilitation beds with access to the sophisticated medical technology of Lutheran Medical Center by way of a connecting skyway. Providing 24-hours-a-day skilled nursing, medical and support services for those requiring short-term restorative rehabilitation or sub-acute services and/or long-term care. Augustana is recognized for its intensive short-term restorative rehabilitation program for the post-hospital treatment of disabilities caused by complex orthopedic, neurological and other acute or chronic medical conditions. Other clinical services include individualized nutritional care, social services, palliative, hospice and pastoral care. Lutheran HealthCares History 1883 Norwegian Lutheran Deaconess Home and Hospital was founded 1908 Augustana Center for Extended Care and Rehabilitation opens 1967 Sunset Park Family Health Center opens Lutheran Family Health Center National Dental Residency Program begins 1977 Lutheran Medical Center and the Sunset Park Family Health Center relocate to current site Shore Hill Housing opens 1984 Health Plus is founded Community Care Organization, Inc. is established The School Health Program is implemented 1995 Harbor Hill Housing opens Lutheran Augustana Center moved to its new and current 240-bed extended care and rehabilitation facility 1996 Shore Road Family Health Center opens 1999 Lutheran Medical Center is named a Level I Trauma Center 2008 Sunset Gardens Senior Housing Facility opens 2010 Lutheran HealthCare Sunset Park Main Site is relocated 2012 Sale of Health Plus to Amerigroup, Inc. 2013 130th Anniversary Renewed commitment to our faith-based mission, unveiling our new Mission, Vision and Core Values ELCA Church Council voted to end its legal role as our sole corporate sponsor
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 22:37:35 +0000
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