Manchester Memorial Hospital Celebrates 45 Years

On September 5, 1971, Manchester Memorial Hospital held its grand opening to celebrate the relocation of Oneida Mountain Hospitals staff, patients and equipment to its current location in Manchester, Kentucky. On September 5^th, 2016, the Hospital celebrated its 45^th anniversary.

At the celebration which took place in the hospital lobby, Erika Skula, CEO/President of the hospital provided guests with an overview of the hospitals history as she thanked her employees for the difference they make in the lives of patients and our community.

Being a part of the community for the last 45 years gives me great pride. Over the years, we have grown and adapted to meet the ever changing healthcare needs of our patients and families who live in Clay county and surrounding areas, said Erika Skula. At Manchester Memorial Hospital, we look forward to being a part of the continuum of healthcare for the next many years, as we reinforce our mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ.

Oneida Mountain Hospital was started in 1914 and was taken over in 1955 by the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists. Later, the Oneida hospital entered into a $1,725,000 building project to replace its facilities with the new Manchester Memorial Hospital (MMH).

Marie Langdon and Herbert Davis, Administrator of Oneida Mountain Hospital and the first Administrator for Manchester Memorial Hospital (MMH), played key roles in the acquisition of funds for the hospital. Manchester Memorial Hospital (MMH) was built on a forty-three acre tract of land on the outskirts of Manchester that would provide easy access to essential health facilities for community members.

On August 30^th, 1973, the hospital took a step forward and became a part of the Adventist Health System.

Over the years MMH has continued to improve its services and serve the community by renovating its emergency department, radiology and lab, building a chapel and gift shop, providing physician services 24/7 in the emergency department, providing the latest technology in digital imaging and tele-medicine, implementing a hospitalist program for specialized patient care, and by providing the services of ten physician clinics, six physical therapy clinics and six home health agencies in Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee.

This year, Memorial Hospital is not only celebrating this history, but also the 150 years of Adventist health System, which they are a part of.

*published in the Manchester Enterprise