70 Years of Making a Difference

1. TMH is the largest private employer in Leon County with more than 5,000 colleagues
2. The "Memorial" in Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare is in honor of the men and women who gave their lives serving our country.
3. Since 1953, TMH has worked with local high schools, colleges and universities to create educational and research facilities.
4. TMH was established at the former Air Force base known as Dale Mabry Field. The hospital was housed in barracks used during WWII.
5. TMH's footprint expands beyond Tallahassee to neighboring communities, including Quincy, Blountstown and Monticello, so more Big Bend residents would have access to high-quality medical care.
6. The name has changed three times in 70 years - Tallahassee Memorial Hospital to Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center and now Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.
7. On November 4, 1949, Tallahassee Memorial Hospital opened its doors on the corner of Magnolia Drive and Miccosukee Road. 
8. In an effort to unify not-for-profit hospitals nationwide, Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, along with 29 other organizations, established the Voluntary Hospitals of America (VHA) in 1977. 
9. In 1996, TMH launched the first Electrophysiology Program in the area as part of the Heart & Vascular Center. Dr. Marilyn Cox was the founding physician. TMH's program is one of only a handful in the country to be founded by a female physician. 
10. Before TMH was founded, there was no blood bank in Tallahassee and the nearest hospital was an hour away.
11. In 1972, TMH established the first ambulance service for Tallahassee. Before this service, funeral homes handled emergency calls.
12. To bring more physicians to the community, TMH established the Family Medicine Residency Program in 1973.
13. TMH's Home Health Care program became the first program to be licensed in the state of Florida (1976).
14. In 1981, TMH opened the helipad on the Main Hospital to allow faster transportation services for patients during emergencies. 
15. Surgeons at TMH perform more than 17,000 surgeries each year.
16. TMH provides more than $22 million in uncompensated care each year.
17. The first cardiac catherization lab opened at TMH in May 1973.
18. TMH is a proud supporter of the community - in fact, the organization is committed to buying from local and regional suppliers whenever possible.
19. In 1985, TMH opened the region's first Newborn, or Neonatal, Intensive Care Unit. 
20. Dr. Todd Patterson was the first neonatologist to care for babies in TMH's NICU.
21. When TMH was building the Bixler Trauma & Emergency Center, the TMH Auxiliary volunteer team raised more than $500,000 in donations. 
22. Did you know that Dr. Orson Smith has been caring for our community since 1962? He started in cardiology and transitioned into lipidology.
23. When Tallahassee Memorial Hospital was first built it cost $1.5 million, but $6,000 for the land.
24. In the 1950s, the polio epidemic was in full swing. TMH was the only hospital between Jacksonville and Pensacola who cared for polio patients. 
25. In 1954, TMH received national recognition for the swift and effective treatment of a polio-like virus that swept the region. 
26. Mr. M.T. Mustian served as the administrator of Tallahassee Memorial Hospital for 25 years.
27. TMH is home to the only Neuro Intensive Care Unit in the region.
28. The only pediatric intensive care unit in the region is at TMH.
29. In 2013, TMH opened the first freestanding emergency center in Tallahassee. The Emergency Center - Northeast provides special features for pediatric and geriatric patients and their families.
30. In 1958, TMH underwent its first renovation - a new wing to add emergency services, obstetric, an additional medical unit and expand surgical services. 
31. Since opening in 1974, the Tallahassee Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program has graduated 391 residents. 
32. In 2001 TMH launched a hospitalist program with 4 doctors, these physicians are based exclusively in the hospital and care for patients during their hospital stay. Today it includes more than 30 physicians.
33. In 2003, Mark O'Bryant joined Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare as President & CEO.
34. In 2011, TMH opened the Transition Center.  An innovative concept focused on helping patients discharged from the hospital receive the follow-up care and resource support to help them get healthier. 
35. In 2005, a state-wide study recommended a trauma center be established in the Big Bend area. TMH stepped up to the plate and establish the Bixler Trauma & Emergency Center - a level II trauma center for the region. 
36. TMH is home to the Florida Panhandle's most advanced neurosurgery team.
37. Did you know TMH is home to an endovascular Neurosurgery program? Our neurosurgeons can remove blood clots and repair aneurysms in the brain without opening the skull.
38. Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare is home to the only Comprehensive Stroke Center in North Florida.
39. Did you know the only Certified Child Life Specialist in the area is at TMH? Our Child Life Program focuses on helping children and families while receiving medical care to reduce stress and ensure children are communicated with at their level.
40. In 2016, TMH teamed up with Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville to expand pediatric specialty care in the capital area - starting first with pediatric cardiology. 
41. The Tallahassee Memorial Women's Pavilion is the first facility in the Big Bend region and 19th in the state to receive the prestigious Baby-Friendly Hospital designation.
42. Did you know about Women's Pavilion is named after Dr. A.D. Brickler? Dr. Brickler has proudly delivered more than 30,000 babies throughout his career.
43. More than 75% of the babies born in the Big Bend are delivered right here at TMH!
44. The only trauma center in the region is at TMH. Why is that important? A trauma center provides life-saving emergency care to severely injured or sick patients - ranging from a brain injury to a car accident.
45. The Tallahassee Memorial Animal Therapy Program is the only one of its kind in the Big Bend. There are over 170 therapy animals in the program including dogs, cats and even a miniature horse. The teams visit hospital patients, rehabilitation centers, hospices, courthouses and more.
46. Did you know the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center is the longest continuously accredited cancer program in the state of Florida? Our accreditation started in 1951.
47. Our cancer program includes gynecological oncology and surgical oncology - these two specialties are exclusively available at TMH within our region. 
48. At our the Bixler Trauma & Emergency Center - the top traumas we treat are falls, auto accidents, penetrating wounds and burns. 
49. Our oncology program is focused on beating cancer.  In fact, our Cancer Center has a bell for survivors to ring following their last treatment.  Talk about a victory bell!
50. Some members of our community know TMH as the "big hospital," but how big is it? The Main Hospital, Women's Pavilion, Bixler Trauma & Emergency Center and professional office buildings are more than 900,000 square feet combined. Once the M.T. Mustian Center opens that number will grow to more than 1.2 million square feet.
51. The Tallahassee Memorial Orthopedic Center is the only program in the area to offer complete orthopedic care - from orthopedic trauma and custom joint replacement to an renounced rehabilitation center and expert outpatient physical and occupational therapy program.
52. Have you heard about Own the Bone? No, its not about Halloween. It is a program dedicated to preventing osteoporosis bone breaks. TMH has one of the top programs in the country for this initiative. 
53. Having a total joint replacement can make people nervous. At TMH, we are committed to helping our patients walk the same day of surgery, so they have a better recovery. 
54. TMH has a vision of leading our community to be the healthiest in the nation - that's why you will often see us out at community events and offering free screenings.
55. More than 17,000 surgeries are performed at TMH each year.
56. Our emergency centers and urgent care center treated patients during nearly 140,000 visits last year.
57. Nearly 4,000 babies are born at the Tallahassee Memorial Women's Pavilion each year.
58. Our Laboratory is pretty busy - they performed nearly 1.5 million test last year.
59. Which is higher - the population of Wakulla County or the amount of admissions at TMH last year? TMH - we saw more than 32,000 admissions.
60. TMH is a leader in the state of Florida for telemedicine - a way to allow patients and healthcare providers to connect over long distances.
61. There are three physician residency programs at TMH - Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and General Surgery.  It is an effective way to bring more providers to our area since many physicians practice in the community where they complete their residency program.
62. In 2013, TMH established a nurse residency program for new nurses transitioning into their professional career. 
63. The Tallahassee Memorial Heart & Vascular Center was the second program in the country to hold the highest accreditations for Chest Paint Center and Atrial Fibrillation. 
64. Each year, TMH proudly sponsors more than 100 programs and organizations throughout the region to help the community.
65. Did you know how many nurses care for patients at TMH?  If you guessed more than 1,300, you would be right!  
66. TMH has received the National Research Corporation's Consumer Choice Award for 12 years running. 
67. There are more than 650 physicians on medical staff at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, representing more than 50 specialties. 
68. One of the first CT EMI scanners in the country was at TMH. Our Imaging Department has continued to grow as one of the largest and most experienced inpatient and outpatient programs in the region.
69. The most comprehensive mental health services and treatment options in the area are at the Tallahassee Memorial Behavioral Health Center.
70. The first Golden Gala, the premier black tie event in Tallahassee, was started in 1984 with Barbara Mandrell. The event has grow to host about 1,600 guests each year with A-list musical talent including Maroon 5, John Legend and James Taylor.