In the 1890s, as the winds of change swept through the nation, industrial development and innovation began altering the lives of the 32,000 residents of the City of Lancaster, Pa. Electricity, the automobile and other advancements fueled a promising manufacturing future, even for the 150,000 residents of rural Lancaster County. But one vital community resource remained unfilled: Medical services were limited for the general population, and most physicians performed treatments and surgeries in the home.
Rev. D. Wesley Bicksler, pastor of Salem Evangelical Church, passionately sought a solution to the health-care issue. With 60 Lancaster business and community leaders, Bicksler drafted and received approval for a charter establishing Lancaster General Hospital (LGH) in September 1893. Moving quickly, the hospital accepted its first patient on the morning of Dec. 18, 1893, in a modest, three-story brick residence at 322 N. Queen Street, in Lancaster.
The mission of the hospital, clearly stated in the charter, was simple: To meet the needs of the community by providing the best possible care to anyone who needs it, at the lowest cost, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay. “Much has changed in 125 years, but our foundation has remained the same: to advance the health and well-being of the communities served by engaging, educating and guiding people to take charge of their health, ultimately transforming the way care is delivered by providing coordinated and affordable, high-quality services,” said Jan Bergen, LG Health president and CEO.
Throughout 2018, LG Health has recognized the anniversary of Lancaster General Hospital by honoring employees, celebrating the health system’s advancements through community events, and looking forward to future opportunities to better serve the local community.
Community Residents Celebrate Health Care
The Lancaster community has been deeply involved in the success of the hospital since its inception. The same remains true today, as LG Health works with various community partners to improve regional health-care resources.
As part of many community celebrations, LG Health hosted Embrace125 in September, a gala that commemorated LGH’s history. Embrace125 showcased elements of LG Health’s history but focused on the opportunities that lay ahead, including the need to expand quality behavioral health services, and formally launched the LG Health Behavioral Health Community Impact Fund. The fund will support mental health awareness programs and services, expand substance abuse prevention, and increase mental and emotional wellness education in schools. It will also provide financial support to qualified patients, helping reduce barriers to care.
In addition to Embrace125, nearly 200 LG Health employee-volunteers welcomed thousands of attendees to a family-friendly 125th Anniversary Community Celebration at the Suburban Pavilion in Lancaster. Various interactive displays provided entertaining and educational health information for adults and children. Highlights of the children’s’ activities included the MEGA Body, a 50-foot inflatable human body, which allowed families to learn about the body from the inside out.
Adult attendees participated in brain wellness activities, including memory games and balance screenings, diabetes assessments, heart health activities, cancer prevention awareness and an interactive photo mural.
To demonstrate the growth of the health system, LG Health launched an interactive digital timeline, which includes facts and photos from each decade that highlight LG Health’s history, Lancaster County milestones, and medical breakthroughs. (Check out the timeline at www.historyoflgh.org). LGH unveiled a 55-inch touchscreen version of the timeline in its main lobby. The interactive timeline allows patients and visitors alike to relive the historic moments that have greatly impacted LG Health today and for years to come.
The yearlong celebration also recognized LG Health's historic and future commitment to clinical quality and excellence. LG Health employees, local health care providers, community and business leaders were invited to participate in the dialogue on how a culture of quality, safety and continuous improvement can enhance our community's overall health amid a shifting health care environment.
As part of this ongoing discussion, noted physician, author and public health researcher Atul Gawande, MD, spoke about reaching a pivotal moment as clinicians collaborate to transform health care and create systems that work best for both patients and clinicians. “The role of the physician is changing, and we have a higher purpose to use our medical capacities to help people live the lives they want,” he said. “I encourage you to view yourself not only as a technician but as counselors, guiding your patients to decisions that best reflect their goals and priorities.”
This year has marked a year of growth for LG Health, with the addition of the state-of-the-art Frederick Building in the spring, the opening of Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital in July and, most recently, the opening of Lititz of Kissel Hill Urgent Care in August.
Employees, the Foundation of LG Health’s Success
When it first opened, the hospital had a modest staff consisting of a bookkeeper, four physicians and a small nursing team that met the needs of 53 patients in its first year. Today, nearly 9,000 employees provide quality care, directly and indirectly, to more than 36,100 inpatient, 1.2 million outpatient, and 107,108 urgent care and retail visitors each year.
Nursing education has been part of Lancaster General Hospital since 1893, but it wasn’t until 1903 that a formal nurses’ training school was established. This long-standing tradition of education has expanded to include the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences and Lancaster General Hospital’s Family Medicine Residency Program, as well as various ongoing development opportunities for LG Health staff.
“At LG Health, our people are our most valuable asset. We are incredibly blessed by the clinical and professional skills, compassion and commitment of our employees,” said Alex Jorgensen, chief Human Resources officer, adding that leadership is constantly looking for opportunities to create the best possible work environment for each team member.
In appreciation of the staff’s daily dedication, LG Health held multiple employee-recognition events, including distribution of commemorative 125th anniversary picnic blankets in May and BBQ meals for all employees in September.
“LG Health has developed a strong network of partners, including our colleagues at Penn Medicine,” Bergen said. “Our opportunities continue to grow and thrive from visionary investments in technology and infrastructure, allowing LG Health to continue to deliver services as a best-in-class health system that is nationally recognized for quality of care.”