Our History

1894 – First Fundraising Effort

A local play, organized by the Pastors’ Union, was the first fundraising effort to raise money to build a hospital in Lima. This event yielded $372.82.

1897 – The Lima Hospital Society

By the end of the year, the Lima Hospital Society was formed. The society held meetings, adopted bylaws and elected officers to lead the movement to build a community hospital.

1898 – The Overmyer Property

On November 27, society trustees purchased the Overmyer property on the corner of East Market and Scott streets for $3,635. Renovations began to turn the two-story brick home into a hospital.

1899 – Community Hospital Opened

On January 15, the society trustees appointed a Board of Lady Managers, later known as the Auxiliary, to continue fundraising efforts.

On April 1, the Lima City Hospital opened at the corner of East Market and Scott streets near the Ottawa River, the present site of Lima Senior High School. The new facility provided 13 beds: $7 per week for a non-private room and $10 per week for a private room. According to hospital records, 107 patients were admitted during the first year.

1901 – A New Hospital Wing

On March 8, the building committee began developing plans for a new building. The Board of Lady Managers contributed $700 to start a building fund. In September, a two-story wing was added to the hospital. The addition boasted seven deluxe patient rooms with bathtubs.

1901 – School of Nursing Opened

The medical teaching staff, comprised of six consulting and eight visiting doctors, was formed.

On January 1, the School of Nursing opened with four students. The first graduation ceremony was April 29, 1904.

1906 – Nurses’ Alumnae Formed

In October, 15 members formed the nurses’ alumnae. They strove to model themselves after Florence Nightingale, credited with giving the world the idea of scientific nursing.

1908 – Lima Memorial Hospital Grows

The hospital grew to 55 patient beds, and 596 patients were admitted in 1908. Patients were required to pay in advance and the average length of stay was 17 days.

1917 – Lima Memorial Hospital and WWI

On July 14, Lima’s first soldiers marched off to war. A few months later, four nursing graduates of Lima City Hospital enlisted with the Red Cross to serve in WWI. The number of WWI injured soldiers increased and there was a need for a larger hospital.

1921 – Hospital Capacity Increased

The hospital renovated and increased its capacity to care for 90 patients. The space was necessary for the treatment of returning WWI veterans.

1923 – Bond Issue to Voters

On May 15, the Lima City Hospital went to the City Council to petition for submission of a bond proposal to the voters of Lima for the construction of a new hospital. It was proposed that the new hospital be named Lima Memorial as a tribute to soldiers, sailors and marines of all wars.

1930 – New Hospital Site Purchased

Lima City Hospital purchased land to build a new hospital in the 1001 block of Bellefontaine Avenue, previous site of the Lima Driving Park and Stables.

1932 – Cornerstone Laid

In August, more than 5,000 on-lookers watched as the cornerstone of the new facility was laid. The new hospital opened nine months later.

1933 – New Hospital Opened

On May 25, Lima City Hospital officially closed to new patients and the new hospital opened on Memorial Day. Named Lima Memorial Hospital in honor of Allen County residents who served in the armed forces, the new facility was five stories tall with the capacity to care for 144 patients.

1946 – Post War Addition

Improvements to the hospital included a three-story, T-shaped wing added to provide additional space for recovering WWII servicemen. The addition increased the capacity to 250 beds.

1950 – Three More Floors

Another addition added two complete emergency rooms, a lounge for shock victims, a 30-bed maternity ward with a formula room and an isolation nursery.

1957 – North Wing Addition

The hospital’s School of Nursing expanded, increasing its student capacity to 130.

The north wing was completed. This was the last yellow-brown brick construction at the hospital.

1958 – Women’s Auxiliary Renamed

The Women’s Auxiliary was renamed the Lima Memorial Auxiliary. The first male volunteer joined in 1964.

1963 – New Intensive Care Unit

Lima Memorial was one of four hospitals in Ohio to add an intensive care unit (ICU).

1965 – 1,000 Nurses

After opening in 1902, the Lima Memorial School of Nursing celebrated the graduation of the 1,000th nurse, Cheryl Cotner, RN.

1967 – Building for the Future

Ground broke for a $7.9 million modernization project.

1968 – Helicopter Pad

The helicopter pad was added to send and receive patients in need of critical care.

1969 – New Patient Area

The first part of a five-phase expansion was completed, adding a new lobby and three floors.

1971 – School of Nursing Closed

Lima Memorial School of Nursing closed after seven decades and more than 1,165 graduated nurses. Lima Memorial partnered with local colleges to continue to impact healthcare education.

1971 – First Mobile Meals Program

Lima Memorial Hospital launched the first Mobile Meals program in west central Ohio. Hospital volunteers delivered hot, nutritious meals to the homebound. The program ended in 2012, after 41 years of service.

1971 – Lima Memorial Expands

The patient tower expanded to five stories, boasting seven additional coronary beds and six new intensive care beds.

1977 – CAT Scan

Lima Memorial was the first hospital in west central Ohio to offer CAT scans.

1982 – Sports Medicine Center

Lima Memorial launched the region’s first sports medicine center.

1985 – Reaching New Heights

Lima Memorial continued to grow. In May, three additional floors were added to the patient tower, for a total of eight stories. New services – including outpatient surgery, cardiac cath lab and an arthritis program – were being offered.

1986 – Women’s Health Center Opened

Lima Memorial established the region’s first Women’s Health Center, which focused on breast care and mammography. The center was one of the first in the nation to be accredited by the American College of Radiology.

1989 – Nurses Strike

A three-month nurses’ strike impacted health care in the region.

1992 – Foundation Formed

The Lima Memorial Foundation was founded to help support and aid with philanthropic donations.

1996 – Family Birth Center Opened

Labor, birth and bonding – all in one room. Families were encouraged to participate in the birthing process.

1997 – First Open-Heart Surgery for West Central Ohio

On April 22, the region’s first open-heart surgery was performed at Lima Memorial.

1998 – Wellness Center Opened

Lima Memorial partnered with the Lima Family YMCA to create a comprehensive wellness center.

1999 – A Century of Care

In 1999, Lima Memorial Hospital celebrated 100 years of providing high-quality and innovative care to the Lima community.

On March 1, Lima Memorial became an affiliate of ProMedica Health System – a locally owned, nonprofit healthcare organization that serves northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Lima Memorial Hospital became Lima Memorial Health System.

2001 – Medical Park Opened

On January 2, the new state-of-the-art Medical Park opened on the west side of Lima. The facility housed cancer and women’s health services.

2004 – New ER

In March, Lima Memorial opened a new Level II Trauma Center. The three-story structure connected to the patient tower and included a Fast Track unit and more than 30 rooms.

2007 – New Surgical Center Opened

The Timmermeister Family Surgery Center was completed and featured an additional 24,000 square feet and six fully equipped surgical suites.

2008 – Nurses Home Demolished

On July 11, the Lima Memorial School of Nursing building was demolished. The building had been used as administrative office space since the School of Nursing closed in 1971.

2008 – Heart and Vascular Institute Opened

In November, Lima Memorial opened a new Heart and Vascular Institute dedicated to providing the best heart care in the region. The space above the new Emergency Center was transformed into a CVICU and CCU.

2011 – Spreading Our Reach

Lima Memorial opened the Putnam County Health and Diagnostic Center in Ottawa.

2012 – Best Interests at Heart

In May, Lima Memorial Health System welcomed the Heart Institute of Northwest Ohio (HINO) to the family.

2012 – Veterans Program

In July, Lima Memorial launched the We Honor Veterans program. The program’s mission is to recognize every patient who is a veteran with a certificate of recognition, a symbolic door marker and an American flag to display at his or her bedside.

2012 – Light Up the Night

On November 1, Lima Memorial Health System took the next step in sharing the LMHS story and brand with the community. Lima Memorial went green from the inside out with exterior signs, parking lot banners and more than 1,500 feet of green LED lights.

2012 – EPNO

On November 8, the Emergency Physicians of Northwest Ohio (EPNO) – board-certified emergency physicians, pediatric emergency physicians and advanced practice providers – joined Lima Memorial Emergency Center.