Title: United Hospital, 1976

ID: OGLMC533

Primary Creator: Robinson, Elwyn B. (1905-1985)

Extent: 84.0 Photographs

Date Acquired: 04/04/1979

Subjects: Grand Forks - Health Care, Health and Medicine

Languages: English

The United Hospital is the result of a consolidation between St. Michael's and Deaconess Hospital. In 1892, the Deaconess Hospital was founded, while St. Michael's Hospital opened in December 1907. In 1966, James A. Hamilton Associates recommended that Deaconess Hospital build a new structure next to St. Michael's Hospital. In 1969, Herman Smith Associates stated in their reports to the Community Health Planning Council that the two hospitals consolidate and build a new facility on a new site.

As a result of the growing community and region, Deaconess Hospital, St. Michael's Hospital, the Grand Forks Clinic, and the University of North Dakota Medical Center Rehabilitation discussed the problems of lack of space for expansion. In 1971, Deaconess and St. Michael's Hospitals became legally, but not physically, one United Hospital. Organizers broke ground for the first facility on Medical Park, a 90-acre campus of medical services and facilities including an acute care hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a large specialty clinic, an orthopedic clinic, a family practice clinic, a nursing home, a chemical dependency center and a senior living center.

In 1977, United Hospital organized the first paramedic training program in North Dakota. Cardiac services had expanded to include open heart surgery by 1988. The United Hospital is now known as Altru Hospital and is part of Altru Health System.

Source: They Came to Stay, Grand Forks, North Dakota, Centennial 1874-1974

Grand Forks - Health Care
Health and Medicine

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Dr. Elwyn B. Robinson, Grand Forks, North Dakota

Acquisition Method: Donation; 79-582, 79-583, and 79-584

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). United Hospital Collection. OGLMC 553. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota.

Processing Information: Photographs by Dr. Robinson of the former Deaconess (79-582) and St. Michael's (79-583) hospitals were transferred to the United Hospital photograph collection in 2023. All of these photographs were from 1976, several years after the merger to form United Hospital.