« All NewsLexington Medical Center Celebrates its 40th Anniversary
Posted by: Jennifer Wilson, Public Relations Manager | January 19, 2011
West Columbia, S.C. – Lexington Medical Center will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Thursday, January 20th, 2011 with a series of special events honoring employees and community members who have played important roles in the hospital’s history and mission of providing quality health services that meet the needs of the community.
Lexington Medical Center opened its doors for the first time on January 6, 1971 with 125 beds and 250 employees. The hospital was the dream of community members who wanted health care close to home for the people of Lexington County. A kind and generous West Columbia woman donated land for the construction of a hospital at the intersection of Interstate 26 and Highway 378. During the years, Lexington Medical Center evolved from a small county hospital to a modern medical complex with state-of-the-art technology and medical firsts. Today, there are 414 beds and 5,200 employees. The hospital is the largest employer in Lexington County.
Several events will take place on Thursday, January 20th to commemorate the 40th anniversary milestone:
The hospital will host a breakfast at 8:30 a.m. for four employees who have worked at the hospital from the day it opened through today. The 40-year employees are Carol Jodie, clinical coordinator; Danny Hugueley, senior application analyst; Sharon Rogers, clinical supervisor; and Ronelle Schumpert, monitor technician. The breakfast will take place inside the hospital.
After breakfast, each of the 40-year employees will ride in a limousine to Columbiana Centre in Columbia for a special shopping trip. Then, they will have lunch at 12:15 p.m. at the Copper River Grill on Bower Parkway in Columbia.
Thursday night, the hospital will host a 40th Anniversary Reception inside Lexington Medical Park 2 on the Lexington Medical Center main campus. The reception will be from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Attendees will include George Rentz, first hospital administrator; Eunice Medhurst, first director of Nursing; Charles Corley III, MD, one of the hospital’s first physicians; Raymond Boozer, an original planning committee member; and Aubrey Bryant, current Lexington Medical Center chief of staff. The 40-year employees will also be recognized.
News reporters and photographers are welcome at all events. Those attending should contact Jennifer Wilson, Lexington Medical Center Public Relations Manager, at 803-939-4512 or 803-447-3122. Media kits with a DVD, photographs and information on the hospital’s history will be available.
Lexington Medical Center, in West Columbia, S.C., anchors a county-wide health care network that includes six community medical centers throughout Lexington County and employs a staff of 5,200 health care professionals. The network also includes the largest extended care facility in the Carolinas, two occupational health centers and more than 40 physician practices. At its heart is the 414-bed state-of-the-art Lexington Medical Center, with a reputation for the highest quality care. Lexington Medical Center won "Best Hospital" by readers of The State for ten years in a row, "Best Hospital" by readers of the Free Times, "Best Place to Have a Baby" by readers of Palmetto Parent, the "Consumer Choice Award" from the National Research Corporation and the prestigious "Summit Award" from Press Ganey.
