Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas - History

History

1900–1909
Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas was established as Texas Baptist Memorial Sanitarium. Chartered on Oct. 16, 1903, by the State of Texas, the hospital began in a 14-room renovated house. It was founded due to the efforts of Rev. George W. Truett, who convinced the residents of Dallas “to build a great humanitarian hospital,” Charles M. Rosser, M.D., and thirdly, Colonel C.C. Slaughter, who donated $50,000 to help build the hospital. In 1909,the Texas Baptist Memorial Sanitarium moved into a new 250-bed facility and opened as the Southwest’s most modern hospital of its kind. The Texas Baptist Memorial Sanitarium nursing program (Baylor University School of Nursing) also began in 1909.

1910–1929
In 1918, the Nurses Home and Training School facility opened on the hospital campus, which was made possible by a generous donation from Col. C.C. Slaughter. It was his last donation before his death in 1919.

1920–1939
In 1921, The Texas Baptist Memorial Sanitarium was renamed Baylor Hospital to reflect its relationship with Baylor University. In 1929, the “Baylor Plan” was developed by Baylor administrators during the Great Depression to help area citizens afford hospital care. It was the first prepaid hospital insurance plan in the United States and the predecessor of Blue Cross. 7 years later, the hospital would be renamed Baylor University Hospital.

1930–1949
In 1936, Baylor Hospital was renamed Baylor University Hospital. In 1937, the Florence Nightingale Maternity Hospital opened on the Baylor University Hospital campus. Ten years later, inn 1947, Baylor initiated the formation of the American Association of Blood Banks.

1950–1959
In 1950, the seven-story, 436-bed George W. Truett Memorial Hospital opened on the Baylor University Hospital campus. This “hospital of tomorrow” featured air conditioning and telephones in all patient rooms and made Baylor University Hospital the fifth largest general hospital in the United States. In the mid to late 1950s, Baylor Dallas continued to improve upon the services that they offered. In 1954, Baylor Dallas received their first cobalt machine that would be used to treat cancer patients. At the time, the technology for diagnosis and treatment of cancer was still in its infancy. In 1958, surgeons Paul Ellis, M.D. and Leroy Kleinsassor, M.D., performed Baylor's first open heart surgery. A few months prior to the procedure, they were part of a team that performed Dallas' first open heart surgery. In 1959, changes would continue to be made, as Baylor University Hospital was renamed Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas to reflect the multiple hospitals and services on the Dallas campus.

1960–1969
Baylor continued to be instrumental in the health care industry throughout the 1960s. In 1960, the first pacemaker implant in the Southwest was performed by surgeons at Baylor Dallas. This was followed by the creation of the Sammons department of virology in 1961. It was the first clinically oriented laboratory in the United States. In 1968, the first Coronary Bypass operation at Baylor Dallas was performed.

1970–1979
In 1970, Baylor opened a new hospital. The 200-bed Erik and Margaret Jonsson Medical and Surgical Hospital opened at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. In 1972, they proceeded to open another hospital on the Baylor Dallas campus, when they added the 300-bed Carr P. Collins hospital. Also in 1972, Baylor opened the A. Webb Roberts center for Continuing Education in Dallas. The opening of new buildings did not stop there though. In 1973, twin towers, named in honor of J.K. and Susie L. Wadley and Albert S. and Velma Barnett, opened as part of the Baylor Medical Plaza, which included physician offices and a 75-room hotel, and was located at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. In 1976, Baylor installed the first computerized axial tomographic scanner (CAT scan) in North Texas. Later that year, the Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center was opened on the Baylor Dallas campus. In 1977, Baylor continued opening new facilities with the opening of the H.L. and Ruth Ray Hunt Heart Center in Dallas. The following year, the Baylor University Medical Center Foundation was created with an initial endowment of $5 million to support the activities of Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

1980–1989
In 1980, Baylor Health Care System was formally established with Baylor University Medical Center as its flagship hospital, as well as its corporate headquarters. Baylor then proceeded to open the Baylor Research Institute, which was located on the Baylor Dallas campus, in 1982. Baylor Dallas became the first hospital in the Southwest to have a nuclear magnetic resonance scanner (MRI) in 1983. Also in 1983, Baylor University Medical Center surgeons would go on to perform the first marrow transplant in North Texas. In 1984, the Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation was opened on the Baylor Dallas campus. In 1985, the first successful adult-to-adult liver transplant was completed by surgeons at Baylor University Medical Center. The next year, the 17-story A. Webb Roberts hospital was opened at BUMC. In 1989, surgeons at BUMC performed the first unrelated donor marrow transplant in Texas and the first biliary lithotripsy for gallstones in the United States.

1990–1999
In 1990, the fifth combined heart/kidney transplant was performed at Baylor University Medical Center. Also during 1990, surgeons at BUMC would perform the nation’s first bridge to heart transplant using the ABIOMED assist device. In 1991, the Baylor Tom Landry Health & Wellness Center opened at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. Baylor University Medical Center was recognized for the first time in US News and World Report "America's Best Hospitals" guide for the first time in 1993. An honor that the Center would go on to receive for 17 straight years. In 1994, surgeons on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas performed the Southwest’s first small bowel transplant. Surgeons at Baylor University Medical Center would continue their success in 1995 when they performed the center's first kidney and pancreas transplant. In 1997, surgeons on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas performed the world’s first extracorporeal perfusion (bridge to transplantation) using a genetically engineered pig liver. In 1999, the Zelig H. Lieberman Research Building, which houses Baylor Research Institute and Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, opened on the Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas campus. The building was named in honor of Zelig H. Lieberman, M.D., a surgeon on staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

2000–Present
In 2002, the Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital opened on the Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas campus. During 2002, BUMC acquired three outpatient imaging centers. In 2003 Baylor University Medical Center celebrated its 100-year anniversary. Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas received the Magnet Award for “Excellence in Nursing Services” from the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2004. In 2005, physicians on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas performed North Texas’ first islet cell transplant and Texas’ first successful intestinal transplant. In 2006, Baylor University Medical Center began a $53 million expansion program for their emergency department. Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital received the Magnet Award for “Excellence in Nursing Services” from the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2007. Also during 2007, Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas was the first hospital in the United States to receive the Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission for its Ventricular Assist Device program. The expansion program for the emergency department at Baylor University Medical Center was completed in 2008.

The Baylor Sammons Cancer Center is currently under construction, and will open in March 2011. Once outpatient services are relocated into this facility, the existing Collins Hospital will be remodeled to become the first dedicated cancer hospital in North Texas.