History of Northwest Medical Center - Springdale
In September 1948, under the guidance of Harvey and Bernice Jones, local citizens raised money for a hospital in memory of past Springdale physicians and residents who gave their lives for their country. Businesses, civic organizations and private citizens raised funds and construction began in December 1950. The 32-bed Springdale Memorial Hospital opened its doors on September 8, 1952. Harvey Jones served as President of the Board of Trustees.
An explosion of technological advances occurred during 1979 impacting medical procedures and support services. The Education Department offered the first emergency medical technician course in Northwest Arkansas. By 1976 the hospital had two hundred-five beds. Northwest Medical Center opened the only inpatient psychiatric facility in 1977 and brought cardiac care to the residents of Northwest Arkansas in 1979.
Services and technology continued to grow in the 1980’s with the opening of the Independent Living Facility on the fifth floor at Northwest Medical Center - Springdale in 1981, made possible by a gift from Harvey and Bernice Jones. Lifeline, a personal emergency response system, was added to the hospital outreach services.
On November 4, 1986, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Dr. John Weiss, performed the first open-heart surgery in Northwest Arkansas at Northwest Medical Center. The decade climaxed with the acquisition of Communities Home Health Care.
In January of 1995 the small community hospital that began as Springdale Memorial Hospital was renamed Northwest Medical Center in order to describe more fully the scope of the community it serves and the healthcare services provided.
In 1995, the hospital was renamed Northwest Medical Center of Washington County. It merged with Bates Medical Center in 1996 to become Northwest Health System. In 2001, Northwest Health System was acquired by Triad Hospitals, Inc. In 2006, the hospital was renamed Northwest Medical Center - Springdale.
In July 1998, a generous gift from Pat and Willard Walker made the Pat and Willard Walker Cancer Unit a reality. The Cancer Unit is on the fourth floor of the Harvey Jones Tower 2, which was completely remodeled and included two specially equipped rooms with positive pressure airflow to provide a more sterile environment for certain patients.
In November 1998, Northwest Health System opened the area’s first Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
The same year, Northwest Medical Center also performed the first SiteSelect Breast Biopsy in the state of Arkansas.
In January 1999, Northwest Medical Center - Springdale opened a 1.5 million digital Cardiac Cath Lab, bringing great improvements to Northwest Health patients.
The past six decades at Northwest Medial Center have been marked by phenomenal growth in size, as well as the services offered to the people of Springdale and the surrounding area.