History

Douglas County has a long standing history of providing health care to individuals in Douglas County and surrounding communities. St. Luke’s Hospital was opened in 1899 and located at 9 th and Elm. St. Luke’s was a six bed facility which cost patients $10-12 dollars per month. Due to a fire, it was remodeled and expanded to accommodate 22 beds. St. Luke’s continued to provided care until 1955 when Douglas County Hospital was built.

About 1917, there was a hospital located at 415 7th Avenue East. This was known as Mercy Hospital and had ten beds.

In 1922, Dr. Edwin Tanquist came to Alexandria to practice and had a great influence on health care in this community. Prior to his arrival, the village had received a gift of property which was to be used as a hospital. This facility then became known as the Tanquist Hospital in 1927. In 1944, at the request of Dr. Tanquist, the Franciscan Sisters assumed operations of the hospital and the name was changed to Our Lady of Mercy. In 1954 the hospital was expanded to 40 beds and the older building was used for a boarding care and was known as the Tanquist Memorial Home.

By 1955, there were two hospitals in Alexandria: Our Lady of Mercy (40 beds) and Douglas County Hospital (52 beds). Both hospitals served residents of Douglas County and surrounding communities. In the mid 1960's discussions arose about the cost effectiveness of two hospitals in Alexandria. With much consulting and planning, a merger of the two facilities became a reality on April 1, 1969.

Douglas County Hospital continues to grow and respond to the changing health care needs of our community. Various expansions have occurred over the past few decades. Some of the highlights are as follows:

• 1974 Expansion of various service areas and bed capacity to 101.
• 1981 Bed capacity increased to130 beds and expansion of current radiology and outpatient facilities.
• 1994 New emergency center and main entrance remodeling
• 1998 New radiation oncology unit which is a collaborative service between Douglas County Hospital and CentraCare/St. Cloud
• 2002 New surgery center. This center includes seven operating rooms, recovery rooms, outpatient procedures and outreach clinics.

As Douglas County Hospital meets the health care challenges of the future, we must always remember the traditions and superb efforts of those in the past, because it is these traditions which our future is built.