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Historical Timeline

At Bellin, we’re proudly celebrating 100 years of service to Green Bay and the Northeast Wisconsin region. At the same time, we’re humbled by the trust our patients--and the healthcare providers in this community--have placed in us over the course of a century.   Since 1907, when Julius Bellin first converted a small house into what has become the Bellin Health System, we have been able to fulfill on his vision of providing outstanding, affordable healthcare, and at the same time, achieve a level of quality that has allowed us to play a pivotal role in the health and well-being of families for generations. To all of you, we say thank you for your benevolence and support. Thank you for your trust, hard work and dedication.   Thank you for allowing us to be part of so many lives.

And one more thing: Welcome…to Bellin Health.

1907

• Julius J. Bellin M.D, a surgeon, purchases a 15-bed house from Dr. B.C. Brett. This house became "General Hospital", located at 112 N. Adams Street (where the Wis. Telephone Co. is now located).
• Dr. B.C. Brett was a retiring physician from St. Vincent and St. Mary's Hospitals.
• Dr. Bellin invites two deaconesses to assist him in Green Bay at "General Hospital".
• Miss Matilda (Tillie) Giese and Miss Delia Scheible arrive from Ohio. They were from the German Methodist Deaconess Order (a nursing order from the combined German Methodist and Lutheran churches); Miss Giese trained at Bethesda Hospital in Cincinnati Ohio.
• First patient: Robert Dickey, May 6, 1907. 1908
• General Hospital becomes incorporated, moves to the D.W. Britton home, a larger house on the corner of Lawe and Webster streets.
• The hospital is rented from Dr. Bellin for $40/month.
• Named "Deaconess Sanitarium". This is the site of Bellin Hospital today.
• Nurses Hannah Wedewart (Mrs. Greiser) and Carrie Krueger (Mrs. Horkman) join the staff of General Hospital. The nurses carried patients up and down the stairs (a spiral staircase) using stretchers, tended the fires, mowed the lawn, and did cooking and cleaning in addition to caring for the sick.
• First class of "Deaconess Sanitarium Training School"; 3 students enrolled; only one finishes the program.

1909

• Affiliation begins with the Methodist Church. Methodists promise moral and financial support.
• Information taken from a postcard dated September 1909: "Training for Nurses": "The new hospital offers a superior course for bright and ambitious women in the profession of nursing. It's modern in all respects - location, excellent, streetcar and ambulance service. Rates $7.00 and upward per week. Open with reputable physicians. Write to: Sister Tillie Giese, Head Deaconess; Rev. J.H.Paul, Spiritual Advisor; Rev. Perry Miller, District Supt. Appleton; Julius J. Bellin, M.D., House Physician".
• One of the first services offered with the first hospital is the concept of a bathhouse, which included "Moor Mud Baths": supposed to be "nature's infallible cure for rheumatism and kindred diseases".

1912

• A.J. Benjamin appointed Field Secretary; business management of the hospital organizes with a "Board of Managers".

1913

• Board of Managers reincorporates the hospital.
• Board of managers consists of 50 representative men of the state.

1915

• Miss Giese conducts groundbreaking for a new $60,000 building for the hospital, no longer a house.
• Deaconess Sanitarium renamed "Wisconsin Deaconess Hospital".

1916

• First hospital building completed, dedication: Jan 8, 1916; three floors and a basement, 60 patient rooms & surgery facilities.
• Deaconess Sanitarium Training School Perry Hall establishes.

1923

• Nurses Home and Annex building addition completed, north wing; 24,576 sq. ft.
• 60 different physicians, surgeons and dentists treat patients at the hospital.

1925

• Mrs. Charlotte M. Fowler of Antigo donates $25,000 toward building a residence for students of the School of Nursing.
• Dr. and Mrs. Bellin donate money to construct another 4-story wing.
• June 1925, Board of Managers vote to rename the hospital "Bellin Memorial Hospital", (over-riding Dr. Bellin's objections), "as a tribute to the good doctor’s many years of charitable works and service."
• Board of Managers elects 15 members for Board of Directors; at least 8 directors must be members in good standing of the Methodist Church.
• First president of the Board of Directors is the Rev. J.H.Tippet, father of Dr. Walter Tippet.
• V.P. Dr. G.W. Nicholson; 2nd V.P. Mr. J.T. Phillips; Secretary, Mr. Samuel Cady; Treasurer, Mr. J.H. Taylor.
• Other presidents were: William Larson, Mr. J.T. Phillips, Dr. J.J. Bellin and Mr. J.P. Jensen.

1927

• 4-story building addition completed, corner of Webster and Lawe streets.
• Through the sale of bonds, the hospital increases to 100 beds.

1928

• Dr. Bellin dies unexpectedly, suffering complications from several diseases.

1934

• Miss Alida Jacobsen and Mrs. George Brown form Bellin Hospital Auxiliary.
• Auxiliary Sewing Committee forms to improve patient rooms.

1928 - 1953

• Depression & World War II, no building occurs due to lack of funds, yet community continues to grow.

1950

• School of Nursing temporarily closes "for want of adequate dorm facilities."

1953

• Groundbreaking for five-story wing and a one-story addition (former Central Service in courtyard).

1954

• Bellin Memorial Hospital becomes a 150-bed hospital.
• New dorm built, named Charlotte Fowler Residence.
• Auxiliary opens first Gift Shop in the hospital.

1957

• Bellin School of Radiology begins with 2 students.

1963

• Bellin completes a comprehensive study of community health needs, more expansion planned.

1965

• Southwest corner addition, 48,290 sq. ft.; small section added connecting two wings, lobby area and southeast corner added.

1968

• Bellin becomes a 232 -bed hospital: 5-story medical, surgical, and obstetrical addition; remodeling of older parts of hospital.

1970

• Alcohol and drug abuse program begins – the community's first hospital treatment program for substance abuse.

1971

• Tunnel connects Bellin with St. Vincent Hospital for ease of transporting patients (part of Dr. Bellin's vision).
• Northwest corner addition, 17,920 sq. ft.

1971

• Tunnel connects Bellin with St. Vincent Hospital for ease of transporting patients (part of Dr. Bellin's vision).
• Northwest corner addition, 17,920 sq. ft.

1972

• Construction of Medical Arts Center begins, completed in 1973; (achievement of another of Dr. Bellin’s goals where doctors could rent space from Bellin Hospital).
• Bellin's Cardiac Program begins: first open heart surgery is performed; cardiac catheterization lab opens.

1975

• Addition of 4,800 sq. ft. south entrance; walkway and tunnel connecting Bellin to Medical Arts Center completed.

1976

• Van Buren Street addition is completed: large dining room, new kitchen, lab & X-ray facilities, public education center, and Bellin's new Heart Center.

1977

• John P. Cofrin Heart Center opens.
• First Bellin Run, 881 runners.
• Bellin Hospice starts.

1978

• Adult psychiatric program begins

1979

• Psychiatric care expands, taking up the entire west wing of the 3rd floor.

1982

• Shuttle bus system begins as way to cope with parking congestion on campus.

1983

• Whitney School is purchased (215 N. Webster Ave.).
• Health Connection and TRIM program begin.
• Adult Alcohol & other Drug abuse treatment program starts.
• DRGs (Diagnostic Related Groups) begin.
• Clinicare, lithotripsy, short stay unit, laser surgery starts.
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Center is built.

1984

• Bellin School of Nursing becomes Bellin College of Nursing; 4-year BSN program starts.

1985

• Adolescent psychiatric program begins.

1987

• Second physician office building is constructed on Van Buren Street with a walkway connecting to the hospital.

1988

• Bellin becomes a founding member of the Quality Management Network – a group of 40 health care organizations from around the country learning and applying quality improvement concepts.

1989

• Bellin Psychiatric Center forms. Groundbreaking for new Bellin Psychiatric Center Building at 725 S. Webster Ave.

1990

• Bellin Psychiatric Center moves into new building 725 S. Webster Ave.
• Ask-A-Nurse program begins

1991

• Construction begins on two-story addition to Van Buren Street section of hospital
• Bellin leaders attend a 2-week study mission to Japan in order to focus on learning principles of total quality management

1992

• Bellin introduces Patient Focused Redesign – redesign of hospital-based care systems to be focused on the patient and patient flow within the hospital

1993

• Establishment of “The Committee on Health System Performance” – a board-level committee responsible for monitoring and guiding Bellin’s quality improvement efforts
• Bellin is named a 100 Top Hospital in the nation by HCIA

1994

• Bellin Psychiatric Center moves to 301 E. St. Joseph Street
• Bellin College of Nursing moves into first floor of 725 S. Webster building
• The Bellin Foundation forms
• Bellin Medical Group forms; clinics include: Denmark Clinic (January); Daggett Medical Clinic (July); Brillion Clinic (September)

1995

• Physicians and Bellin Hospital GI lab move into 725 S. Webster building
• Bellin Medical Clinics join: Weisse Clinic (January); Bonduel Clinic (February); Family Doctors of Pulaski (Aldrich Clinic) (March); Family Practice Associates (April); Peshtigo Family Practice (May); Oconto Primary Care (August); Family Care Assoc. (September); Kewaunee Medical Clinic (October); Family Doctors of Green Bay (November)
• Bellin is a founding member of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the leading organization in the world in the learning and application of quality improvement concepts and principles in healthcare

1996

• Bellin Medical Clinics join: Pediatric Oncology & Hematology Clinic (April); Family Care Medical Clinic & Crivitz Medical Clinic (May); Family Doctors of DePere (August); Family Doctors of Howard (September).
• Bellin, as part of United Health, offers its first PPO in Green Bay market - United Preferred

1997

• Bellin Family Health Center opens on west side of Green Bay; Bellin Medical Clinics join: Medical Center OB/GYN Associates (February); Artwich Clinic, Oconto Falls and Suring (July); Mountain Clinic (August); Siefert Clinic (September).
• Bellin, as part of United Health, offers its first HMO is Green Bay; market -- United HMO

1998

• New Bellin Health name and logo is unveiled.
• Region's first pediatric intensive care unit opens - Christoph Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
• Shade Cardiac Care Center opens on 5th floor of Bellin Hospital consolidating outpatient cardiac services including cardiac rehab, electrodiagnostics and nuclear medicine, and joining the cardiovascular lab and cardiac short stay.
• Bellin opens Center for Well-Being, offering area's first non-traditional healthcare services, including yoga, qi gong, tai chi, and massage therapy.
• Northwestern University study positions Bellin Hospital as national leader in cardiac care.
• Bellin publishes its first Quality Performance Report to the Community.

1999

• Ask-A-Nurse receives 1,000,000th call in January (service started on Oct. 4, 1990).
• Bellin named "100 Top Cardiovascular Hospital" for its interventional cardiology program by HCIA.
• Bellin named "100 Top Hospital: Orthopedics" by HCIA.
• Bellin named "100 Top Hospital: Overall" by HCIA.

2000

• Bellin and Cardiology Associates form Bellin Regional Heart Center.
• Kids For Running kicks off during annual Bellin Run.

2001

• Clinics demonstrate a unified identity by implementing a name change, from individual clinic names, to "Family Medical Center", with the city or street noted to differentiate locations.
• Plans are announced and ground is broken on $40 million hospital redevelopment project.
• Green Bay Packers form marketing partnership with Bellin, St. Vincent, St. Mary’s, Prevea and Touchpoint.
• Bellin Run celebrates its 25 anniversary; grows to 7142 participants.
• The Cardiac Rehab program is awarded program certification for is cardiac rehabilitation program by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR).
• Sentinel lymph node mapping and biopsy, a new, minimally invasive procedure for identifying cancerous lymph nodes in breast cancer patients begins.

2002

• Bellin starts a new home infusion service, enabling patients to receive needed drug and nutritional treatments in their homes.
• Emergency Services expands its outpatient service hours of operation to 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Along with this expansion in operating hours, the name Clinicare will change to Bellin Health Emergency Services.
• Construction of new boiler plant is complete. Building is Phase I of $40 million hospital campus redevelopment project.
• New two-story addition to Van Buren Street building is complete. Addition is Phase II of $40 million hospital campus redevelopment project.
• Touchpoint Health Plan (of which Bellin is a partial owner) is ranked Best in the Nation for Effectiveness of Care – NCQA singles out the doctors of Touchpoint for having the best overall performance in the country.

2003

• 100 Top Hospitals® study names Bellin Hospital as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals, a leader among health care providers.
• Years of quality improvement work pay off…Bellin rated by HealthGrades as one of the best hospitals for quality; recognized by J.D. Power and Associates for “providing an outstanding patient experience”.
• ACT Fast, (Access Coordinated Treatment Fast) a new service designed to help physicians and referring health care organizations gain fast and easy admissions access for patients needing to be transferred to Bellin Hospital is unveiled.
• Hospital is named one of the nation's 100 Top cardiovascular hospitals by Solucient®.
• Bellin is a founding member of the Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality.

2004

• Emergency Department opens in order to increase access and better serve patients with emergent acute care needs.
• County Rescue’s EAGLE III helicopter and other emergency helicopters are now able to take patients directly to Bellin Hospital with the opening of its new heliport. The heliport is located on Bellin Hospital’s new four-story courtyard building.
• Bellin Health Heart and Vascular Center forms.

2005

• Bellin Health performs its first robotic assisted surgery. Bellin is one of only two hospitals in the state with this technology and one of a few in the world to be able to offer the ground-breaking technology.
• Bellin’s cath lab performs its 50,000th cardiac catheterization procedure, making it one of the busiest cath labs in the state.
• The Bellin Run grows to be the 6th largest 10-K run in the nation.
  
  Bellin Health, in partnership with the Oconto Community Hospital Citizens’ Foundation, opens the Bond Health Center, a 4-bed hospital and emergency department, in Oconto.
• The Bellin Health Hospital Center renovation project is completed. Started in 2001, this project has updated many areas of the hospital.
• Bellin Health Hospital Center hosts open house on Sunday, Oct. 16 with approximately 8,000 people attending. Invited guests included Patrick Fabian (Bellin’s TV spokesperson) and Packers greats Bart Starr, Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor.

2006

• Bellin opens two FastCare clinics in area ShopKo stores, the first retail health clinics in the area, offering a complete visit for only $39.
• The new Green Bay Health and Athletic Performance Center opens at 1630 Commanche Ave., featuring Bellin’s new XL athletic performance center, an expanded fitness center, expanded FMC-Ashwaubenon, a new occupational health office and clinic offices for Orthopaedic Associates and Green Bay Orthopedics. An open house on November 11 is attended by approximately 3,500 people.
• The Bellin Health Heart and Vascular Center is nation a 100 Top Hospital –Cardiovascular by Solucient.
• Bellin Home Health is named a top 100 home health agency by Outcome Concept Systems, a leading benchmarking company.
• Bellin introduces 64-slice CT, a new highly advanced diagnostic tool in the fight against heart disease and other conditions.
• Bellin achieves 59-minute door-to-balloon time for patients suffering a heart attack. The national average at this time is 120 minutes and the American College of Cardiology has set a goal of 90 minutes.
• The Bellin Run surpasses 10,000 registrants, making it the 7th largest 10K road race in the nation, while celebrating its 30th anniversary.

2007

• Bellin College of Nursing graduates first master’s degree class.
• Bellin named the exclusive health care partner of the Green Bay Packers.
• Bellin Foundation receives $1.25 million from Fulwiler family, the largest single donation in Bellin history.
• Clínica Hispana opens for Spanish-speaking patients.
• Bellin opens five clinics in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
• New 8,500-square-foot Behavioral Health Clinic opens.
• Bellin Heart and Vascular earns 100 Top Hospitals award for cardiovascular services.
• Bellin Run is the 4th largest 10K race in the U.S. as it prepares to enter the 2008 season.

2008

• Bellin Health celebrates its centennial, commemorated by the Welcome to 100 Years of Bellin Health exhibit at Neville Public Museum of Brown County
• Bellin opens The Cancer Team, 32,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility designed to address patients’ needs during and after treatment
• Bellin Health opens Brillion-area medical center, which includes the Family Medical Center – Brillion and Bellin’s first eye clinic
• Bellin College of Nursing breaks ground on new campus in Bellevue. The campus will also be home to the Bellin Health School of Radiologic Technology.
• Bellin Run has 15,149 registered participants, establishing a new record for the fourth consecutive year
• Bellin Health, Green Bay Packers sponsor unprecedented program which tests nearly 1,000 teens and young adults for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), the leading cause of death among youth athletes
• FastCare clinics open in Shawano and Suamico. Bellin now operates six retail health clinics
• Bond Health Center changes its name to Oconto Hospital & Medical Center to better reflect its services. The hospital provides care to its 10,000th patient
• Bellin Health completes $48 million initial bond offering to finance expansion of Emergency Department