 Buffalo HospitalHospital overviewFor nearly 100 years, Buffalo Hospital has been dedicated to delivering exceptional care for all who live and work in our community. 
Buffalo Hospital is a not-for-profit regional medical center located on the western edge of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Each year the hospital provides advanced care to nearly 70,000 patients and their families. In 2009, Buffalo Hospital was recognized as one of the nation's 100 Top Hospitals® as determined by a comprehensive analysis of nearly 5,000 hospitals by Thomson Reuters. In addition, Buffalo Hospital is one of 23 hospitals among the 100 winners to be recognized as an Everest Award winner for the greatest rate of improvement over a five-year period At Buffalo Hospital, you'll find state-of-the-art facilities, personalized care in private rooms and services that are continuously being expanded. We routinely are recognized for quality, safe care and outstanding patient outcomes. Employees overwhelming say they are proud to work at Buffalo Hospital and would refer their loved ones here for care. Buffalo Hospital is a part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, a family of hospitals, clinics and care services in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. The Buffalo Hospital campus includes Allina Medical Clinic – Buffalo and Buffalo Clinic. Buffalo Hospital is committed to transparency and to meeting the needs and expectations of our patients. Sharing performance results empowers patients, staff, leaders and stakeholders to make informed health care choices. The 2011 Buffalo Hospital Quality & Safety Annual Report reflects the enormous effort that goes into measurement and serves as a means of conveying the organizations accomplishments in key areas. History of medical care in Wright County1905John J. Catlin, MD opened a medical practice in three rooms above the old Buffalo Hardware building in downtown Buffalo. 1914John J. Catlin, MD moved his practice across the street into 12 rooms on the second floor of the new Schmidt Drug Store building. This was called the Catlin Hospital. In the years following, his son, Ted J. Catlin, MD joined his practice and many years later, R. Sandeen, MD joined them. From 1918 until Sept 4, 1951 the doors of the hospital never closed. 1940City of Buffalo hires architect to begin planning a 15 to 20 bed hospital at a cost of $33,000, with WPA providing labor. In a special election, citizens voted 310 to 188 to sell bonds to build the hospital. Before the project could get started, World War II put the project on hold. 1946Another election confirms town's desire to build a hospital. Cost for the building alone was placed at $150,000, and bonds were to be sold. As an area hospital, its ultimate capacity would eventually be 62 beds. Total cost of the project was set at $300,000. 1947Hospital Board created. Members were: Vance Weaver, Joe Peterson, A.P. Stafford, Harold Templin, Mrs. Lillian Welch, Mrs. Earl Peterson, and Mrs. Carl Lindberg. May, 1950Construction started on new hospital located on Tower Hill. Building would have room for 28 beds and a staff of 25. Ground breaking for the project was June 8, 1950, with cornerstone ceremony on September 19, 1950. 1951
1952Buffalo Memorial Hospital Auxiliary organized by women of various local communities. Membership was very high and they were extremely active in fundraising. They were instrumental in buying many pieces of equipment and furnishings including a cardiac monitor, defibrillator, incubator, fetal monitor, and several items used for physical therapy. They promoted many large community projects to raise money such as style shows, rummage sales, and craft bazaars. The Auxiliary eventually disbanded sometime after 2000. 1957An addition to the Buffalo Memorial Hospital approved by voters to increase by an addition of 16 beds. $50,000 in bond sales were approved and another $43,887 used form other city funds to increase the facility to 45 bed capacity. 1959Buffalo Memorial Hospital first addition opens with 8 additional rooms, 2 beds and a large bathroom in each, additional storage rooms, a morgue and physical therapy department. 1967A second addition approved for Buffalo Memorial Hospital to make room for 26 more beds, one pediatric room, a laboratory, and x-ray room. General and administrative offices as well as medical records were also included. 1968
1969May 25, 1969 open house was held for the second addition to the hospital. This new addition offered an expanded emergency room, pediatric ward, an intensive care observation room, and larger office and lobby areas. 1971Buffalo Memorial Hospital joins the Health Central Hospital Group to participate in the new and efficient cost cutting method of group buying for lower costs. 1973Health Central took over business office, accounting and budgeting for the local hospital. 1975Hospital opened a chemical dependency facility in purchased Covenant Church manse. 1977City of Buffalo sells hospital to Health Central, Inc. 1979
1980Hospital opens new building in October. 1982Annandale Family Physicians opens in Annandale with one doctor and two other staff members. 1985Basic 911 service started in county. 1986Buffalo Memorial Hospital name changes to Health Central of Buffalo. 1987Independently owned FamilyCare Centers of Wright County: Albertville, Annandale, Buffalo, Cokato, Montrose, and Rockford opened with six exam rooms in the Buffalo Hospital building to provide specialty services to patients. The first year of the clinic's operation provided specialty services and discovered that additional primary care services were needed in Buffalo. These services were provided by physicians from the other FamilyCare Centers on their days and evenings off in Buffalo. 1988FamilyCare Centers of Wright County changed name to Buffalo Family and SpecialtyCare Center and recruited Dr. Andrew Burgdorf as family physician. Dr. Burgdorf is still with the clinic today. 1989Name change to Health One Buffalo Hospital (merge with Health One organization). 1991Cokato Medical Clinic sold its private practice to LSI in April and was then helped in staffing by physicians from Litchfield. 1993911 service enhanced to include name, phone, and address. 1995
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1998Hospital opens Rehab Center. 1999
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2005Population of Wright County is 102,000+
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2010 Buffalo Hospital statisticsTo contact us,
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Letters of thanksThe following letter was written by a recent patient and her family at Buffalo Hospital To the staff of Buffalo Hospital Birth Center, The following letter was written by a recent patient at Buffalo Hospital To the staff of Buffalo Hospital, The following letter was written by the family of a recent patient at Buffalo Hospital. To the staff of Buffalo Hospital, The following letter was written by a patient after her stay at Buffalo Hospital. All members of the Hospital staff - The following letter was written by a son after his mother's 12 day stay at Buffalo Hospital as a patient. My mother, her children and myself have never been treated better in any other hospital. The staff all over have been so congenial, friendly, helpful and courteous. I live on the Canadian border and would drive the 350 miles to Buffalo if I had to be in a hospital. You all deserve to have that sign in front of the hospital. You are the "top" hospital in my families' book. Keep up the good work. The following letter was sent to Buffalo Hospital after the birth of a new baby. To all the Birth Center nurses, The following letter was sent to Buffalo Hospital by a recent patient. I've said many prayers this past month of my life and one that I keep repeating is that of great appreciation to have been cared for at a health care facility so dedicated to what they do. Buffalo Hospital has truly been blessed with a caring and compassionate staff. Confidentiality and privacy were of their concern, as well, and I must say, all was maintained well. |