News

January 10, 2018

Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton Turns 50 in 2018

The Medical Center has a year-long plan to celebrate history and set vision for the future
 
Good Samaritan Medical Center will kick off the celebration of its 50-year history with a birthday party for employees on Tuesday, January 16.  Five decades ago on January 13, 1968, Cardinal Richard Cushing presided over the blessing of the new hospital which attracted more than 2,000 residents.  The hospital was a 7-story stand-alone structure built on a 35-acre site which was completed after more than two and a half years of construction.
 
“I am extraordinarily pleased that my return to Good Samaritan Medical Center as president coincides with the celebration of the 50-year anniversary of this prestigious organization,” said Harry Bane, newly appointed president.  “Half a century of ‘Amazing People Caring for Others’ is our theme for 2018.  More than a tagline, it is an important message to embrace and carry forward as we solidify our position as the premier regional choice for healthcare.”
 
Fifty years ago, the vision of a new hospital to serve residents in Brockton and surrounding communities gained the attention and commitment of the Archdiocese of Boston due to the tremendous shortage of beds at the time.  Over the last five decades, Good Samaritan Medical Center’s history has been influenced by The Cardinal Cushing Hospital, The Goddard Hospital, The Caritas Christi Health Care System and, most recently, Steward Health Care System.
 
Key milestones and historical moments will be revisited throughout 2018 in ways that will involve employees, physicians, board members, volunteers, patients and the community.  For example:
1968:  The hospital’s first patient from Columbia Point in Boston was treated and admitted for a fractured hip and shoulder.
1976:  Construction on a new Emergency Department began.  From its inception, the hospital’s strategic location at the junction of Routes 27 and 24 made it a prime destination for trauma patients.
1980:  The first CT scanner in the region was installed at Good Samaritan, allowing the hospital to offer state-of-the-art imaging services and setting the stage for innovation in technology.
1994:  The merger of Cardinal Cushing and Goddard Memorial Hospital represented the collaboration of two organizations who recognized the changing landscape of the healthcare environment.  
2009:  A fully accredited Radiation Oncology Center was built on the campus bringing expert guidance and advanced technology for optimal cancer treatment to patients close to home.
2011:  An influx of significant capital investments from Steward Healthcare began with the construction of a $30 million Emergency Department which treats more than 64,000 patients annually.
2013: The hospital was an early adopter of Robotic-Assisted Surgery and quickly became one of the busiest and most proficient centers in the Northeast.
2017:  Good Samaritan earned the designation as the first and only Level III Trauma Center in the area, servicing over 70 cities and towns representing more than 1.2 million residents.
 
“We have much to reflect on and to celebrate this year,” adds Bane.  “We hope our internal family as well as the countless patients whose lives have been touched by Good Samaritan will join us with nostalgia, fondness and enthusiasm for the future.”