Throughout 2011, Flagstaff Medical Center will be celebrating 75 years of providing quality healthcare to the visitors and residents of Northern Arizona.

Dr. Charles and Ethel Sechrist founded the 25-bed Flagstaff Hospital in 1936, at the top Knob Hill on Beaver Street. Caring for patients was a true family affair for the Sechrist family, who not only provided medical care, but food and other necessities for hospital patients.

In1955, the Sechrist family donated the hospital to the community. Since that time the hospital continued to grow and expand to meet the healthcare needs of the community.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating 75 years of caring for the residents and visitors of Northern Arizona,” said Bill Bradel, FMC President and CEO. “It is amazing to see how much the hospital has grown over the years, from a small community hospital to a regional referral center. It is a true testament to the commitment of the board, physicians, nurses and staff over the years to provide the very best care, cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art facilities. We are looking forward to the next 75 years.”

Today, Flagstaff Medical Center is a not-for-profit hospital that has grown to more than 270 patient beds, and is recognized as a regional referral and trauma center for Northern Arizona. As the region's only trauma center, FMC cares for close to 1,500 trauma patients and another 2,500 accident and injury victims each year. In its quest to keep patients close to home for their specialized healthcare needs, FMC sees more than 85,000 patients each year. With an active medical staff of more than 200 physicians representing nearly 40 specialties and a staff of almost 2,000 employees, FMC provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services with a focus on several key areas. FMC has extensive cardiology services, ranging from diagnostic cardiology to open heart surgery. The hospital also offers a comprehensive joint surgery program; bariatric weight loss surgery; state-of-the-art imaging services; a cancer center; and women, infants’ and children’s services.

Historical Timeline:
1958 – North wing for patient beds built
1960 – Hospital expands to include obstetrics unit
1964 – Surgical wing added
1973 – Four-story tower built to house patient rooms and administrative offices
1984 – Guardian Medical Transport established
1985 – Guardian Air begins operations
1987 – New 148,000 square-foot acute-care hospital opens on the east side of Beaver Street
1987 – Cancer Centers of Northern Arizona Healthcare opens in Flagstaff
1991 – Special Care Nursery begins caring for premature and ill newborns
1994 – Children’s Health Center opens; Safe Child Center begins caring for children who are victims of crime and abuse
1995 – Cardiac Catheterization services established
1995 – Northern Arizona Healthcare founded through collaboration between FMC and Verde Valley Medical Center (VVMC), formerly Marcus J. Lawrence
1997 – Emergency Department is expanded; Endoscopy and Outpatient Surgery Center open
2001 – Women and Infants’ Center opens; new parking garage added
2001 – The Taylor House begins hosting families of out-of-town patients
2003 – Surgical Services expands to 11 suites with the opening of the three-story OR Tower
2004 – Open Heart Surgery program performs first surgical case
2004 – Bariatric Surgical Weight Loss program established
2006 – Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit opens to care for patients with heart conditions
2006 – FMC recognized as a Level I Trauma Center
2006 – Pediatric Intensive Care Unit begins caring for critically ill and injured children
2006 – Hospitalist and Intensivist physician programs instituted
2007 – Spine and Joint Surgery Center offers a new approach to joint surgery
2008 – Heart & Vascular Center of Northern Arizona, established as a collaboration between FMC and VVMC
2008 – daVinci Surgical Robot purchased
2008 – FMC designated as a Cardiac Arrest Center
2009 – Fit Kids of Arizona helps kids battling childhood obesity and overweight conditions
2010 – Telestroke program offers stroke victims expanded physician expertise
2010 – FMC performs 1,000th open heart surgery