St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center

St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center is a 43-bed facility specializing in orthopedics, cancer care, emergency services, robot-assisted surgery, breast care and women's services.[2]

St. Mary's Hospital, Pueblo, Colorado

St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center's history of caring for the people of southern Colorado began more than 130 years ago.[3]

In 1882, the Sisters of Charity opened St. Mary's Hospital in what had been a two-story boarding house. The hospital eventually outgrew this building and a new, four-story, 90-bed structure was built. This facility was in use until the mid-1950s.[3]

In 1881, the Colorado Coal and Iron Company (predecessor of the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company, CF&I), hired Dr. Richard Corwin to come to Pueblo and start a company medical clinic.

Dr. Richard Corwin

The first building was located on company grounds near the Minnequa Plant in south Pueblo and became known as Minnequa Hospital. In 1882, a typhoid outbreak among the iron workers overwhelmed the small hospital so a larger, 30-bed facility was built. In 1902, a completely new, 200-bed facility was built near Lake Minnequa. Upon the death of Dr. Corwin in 1929, the hospital renamed itself in honor of its founding physician.[3]

Colorado Fuel & Iron's Minnequa Hospital

By the late 1940s, the CF&I wanted to get out of the healthcare business and St. Mary's was aggressively seeking funds for needed expansion. Based on the Sister's good reputation, the board of directors voted to transfer ownership of Corwin Hospital to them for $1.[3][4]

In 1950, Corwin Hospital consisted of three two-story wings and 200-beds. In 1953, the Sisters of Charity decided to consolidate both hospitals. St. Mary's would be razed and Corwin Hospital would be expanded by building over and around the existing structure, a first in American construction history. The new, St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center was dedicated in 1957, with nearly 500 beds and some of the most advanced medical equipment in healthcare. This, in turn, drew new specialists to the area. Soon to follow, was a medical office building, outpatient pharmacy, EEG Lab, cafeteria and dining room, which further enhanced the large, modern facility. A psychiatric unit opened in 1960 followed by an on-site blood bank in 1961 and the hospital's first intensive care unit in 1962.[3]

St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center in 1964.

Further enhancements followed in the 1970s. A helipad was built and Flight For Life service was initiated. The Southern Colorado Family Medicine residency clinic was opened and a new, circular-designed ICU was added. The 1980s saw further growth with the addition of another new wing. The 1990s brought about the opening of a new clinic, the St. Mary-Corwin Health Center, on Pueblo's northside. In 1995, the Sisters of Charity joined with other Catholic healthcare providers to form Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI). The following year, Colorado CHI hospitals signed a joint operating agreement with the Portercare Adventist Health System to form a new management company, Centura Health.[3][5]

In the 21st century, St. Mary-Corwin is a modern medical facility with its own Flight For Life base, comprehensive cancer center, residency program and one of the first stroke centers in Colorado. In order to meet future needs, a 220,000 square-foot, five-story expansion was completed in 2006, which "stands as a model of medical technology, efficiency and comfort."[6] The addition, two-thirds the size of the existing hospital, includes a new emergency department, one-stop cancer center, rooftop helipad, enhanced diagnostic imaging services and 112 private patient rooms, along with many other equipment upgrades and amenities.[3]

St Mary-Corwin Medical Center today

• Official website