The Christ Hospital Celebrates 125 Years

This year marks The Christ Hospital’s 125th anniversary. The hospital, deep-rooted in Cincinnati’s history, has transformed the healthcare industry locally, regionally and nationally. As the hospital looks to the future, it is important to reflect on its history and achievements.

The  Christ  Hospital’s  tradition  of  excellence  began  in  1888. During this time the poor in Cincinnati’s overcrowded West End were increasingly ill.

December 23, 1888, James Gamble, co-founder of Procter & Gamble Company, and other concerned citizens started an association named for Gamble’s late wife. The Elizabeth Gamble Deaconess Home Association was formed with the goal “to train deaconesses and missionaries, and to carry on religious, educational and philanthropic work.” He asked Isabella Thoburn, a missionary on leave, to oversee the association.

In 1889, Thoburn encountered an ill woman crying in the streets. The woman was from out-of-state and therefore could not be admitted to the city hospital. As a result, Thoburn brought the woman to the Deaconess Home and cared for the woman in her own room.

Thoburn shared the story with The Elizabeth Gamble Deaconess Home Association board in March of 1889. The board was inspired by Thoburn’s story and acknowledged the need for a hospital that accepted non-city residents. As a result, Christ’s Hospital was created.

Christ’s Hospital opened at 46 York Street in a home donated by James Gamble on September 23, 1889. “We trust this humble beginning will grow into something of which Cincinnatian will be justly proud – namely, the great hospital of these Central-Western States,” said Rev. H.C. Weakly, DD, former hospital secretary, at the formal opening of The Christ’s Hospital in 1889.

By 1893, the small, four-building complex was bursting at the seams. The Gamble family purchased a building and four-acres of land on Auburn Avenue in Mt. Auburn. After renovations, the new hospital opened June 2, 1893. This location has become the hospital’s permanent home. In 1904, the name was changed to The Christ Hospital.

Much has changed since The Christ Hospital’s humble beginnings. However, physicians, staff and volunteers would tell you that what continues to matter the most, providing exceptional care, has remained the same. “We’ve certainly seen The Christ Hospital grow from a hospital to an entire network,” says Brian Mannion, MD, Medical Director of Oncology at The Christ Hospital. Today The Christ Hospital  Health Network encompasses more than 100 locations throughout the Tri-State.

“If you look at our 125-year history, The Christ Hospital was founded in compassion and driven by excellence,” says Mike Keating, president and  CEO of The Christ Hospital. “We are proud to be ranked in the top five percent in the nation for patient satisfaction, and top six percent in the country for nursing excellence. Our culture is deeply rooted in James Gamble’s philosophy of  reaching out and caring for others in the community.”

Michael Jennings, MD, Chief Clinical Officer, adds, “If you go back, the original mission of the hospital was to serve the community, but it also has a lot to do with education and research. We have education programs in nearly every specialty in medicine. I think that is one of the secret gems about our community hospital – our very deep and profound commitment to medical education and to clinical research.”

Throughout the history of The Christ Hospital, innovative technology has played an integral role in ensuring that patients receive state-of-the-art medical attention. “In 1902, we were the first hospital in the region to admit a woman to the hospital medical staff,” says Keating. “In 1962, we were the first hospital in the region to open an intensive care unit. In 1982, we were the first hospital to do a ceramic hip replacement. About 15 years ago we were the first to do a disk replacement. And, the heart and vascular service line has pioneered regionally, nationally, and globally, various clinical trials across a continuum of cardiac care.” Each department at The Christ Hospital has celebrated a number of milestones.

“The Elizabeth Gamble Deaconess Home Association’s mission has been to have state-of-the-art healthcare in this region,” says Jim Wendel, MD  obstetrician and past president of the medical staff. “That is very evident to what is going on now to upgrade the campus in order to provide the most state-of-the-art healthcare.”

For 35 years Robert Stephens, MD, has been a part of The Christ Hospital. “When I was first in practice, I went to all of the different hospitals and after a period of time I felt most comfortable at The Christ Hospital. There is an exceptional comradery between the doctors. I think the administration is incredibly supportive of us,” says Stephens.

Stephens  is  now  the  Medical  Director  of  Women’s  Health Services and works with seven of his partners exclusively at The Christ Hospital.  Women’s Health Services features six operating rooms, dedicated exclusively to gynecological needs – unique to the city and the region. “We have an incredible group of talented surgeons that have allowed us to institute new technologies that have come up over the years,” says Stephens.

Since, 1985 Dean Kereiakes, MD, has been at the forefront of cardiovascular disease treatment and research at The Christ Hospital. Kereiakes is currently the medical director of the Heart and Vascular Center and the Carl and Edyth Lindner Center for Research and Education. The cardiovascular disease treatment and research center at The Christ Hospital does more clinical trial research than any other institute in Ohio, including the Cleveland Clinic.

“I can honestly say that every major advance in cardiovascular medicine that has occurred in the last 40 years has been introduced at The Christ Hospital in this region,” says Kereiakes. “This includes the first open heart bypass, the first balloon angioplasty, the first stent, the first drug eluting stent, the first dissolvable stent – it goes on and on. The first MRI compatible pacemaker or defibrillator. We’ve done four “first-in-man” and nine “first times” in the United States using leading edge technology. We’ve been so fortunate that even our house staff in training gets exposed to these technologies years in advance of when they are approved for general, commercial use in the United States. We are a community hospital in Cincinnati that stands shoulder to shoulder with some of the major academic institutions in the U.S.”

The new Joint and Spine Center opening in the fall of 2015 is going to revolutionize the level of care, diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic, spine and sports injuries. Patients will find non-operative care, inpatient and outpatient surgery and rehabilitation at the new center. The Joint and Spine Center will feature 90 private inpatient rooms, 12 operating rooms, physical and occupational therapy, pain management, imaging services, conference and educational facilities and physician offices.

“The new Joint and Spine Center is probably one of the biggest things to happen at The Christ Hospital in the past 20 or 30 years,” says Patrick Kirk, MD. “As an orthopedic surgeon, it’s a huge leap forward for the community and for the region in our field. That is what will enable us to continue to grow from the point where we are now to market and regional leaders.”

The Christ Hospital Health Network’s mission is to improve the health of the community and create patient value by providing exceptional outcomes, affordable care and the finest experiences. Today, its physicians and staff provide advanced outpatient, inpatient, and emergency services to meet the needs of thousands of patients each year, from across the Tri-State.

To celebrate 125 years of outstanding service and commitment to the community, The Christ Hospital is hosting a gala.

“We are hosting a gala at the Duke Energy Center. It is going to be a big affair. I think it is an opportunity to let the community know what The Christ Hospital has been doing for the past 125 years, celebrating what we’ve accomplished, while looking forward to the future. And plan another 125 years moving forward,” says Stephens.