History

Lancaster Regional Medical Center is founded on St. Joseph Hospital’s heritage, which dates back to 1883 when the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia established the first hospital in Lancaster County, Pa., in a building erected in 1877 by the Brothers of St. John of God. During that first month of this hospital’s existence, the Sisters came to Lancaster from Philadelphia with an operating budget of $2.50 and two apples. The building did not have electricity, running water or even beds. One morning Sister Cecilia placed her two apples on a windowsill near a statue of St. Joseph, and asked him to multiply the food for the people who would come for care. Later that day, two barrels of apples appeared before the building with a note that read, “To the Sister Cook.” From that moment on, Lancaster has had a place where health care has been a spiritual journey. By 1884, the first operating room was established, and the hospital was incorporated in 1885. During St. Joseph Hospital’s first full year of operation, the number of patients treated was 121, the second year treated 181, and by 1891 the hospital was aiding 300 patients. 

Around the turn of the century, a new wing was opened for surgery and the Training School for Nurses was established. Updates, purchases and building projects were fast in coming during the first half of the 1900s. New buildings took the place of the original structure in the 1950s, and prayer was delivered over the loudspeakers starting in 1956. The building plans were augmented by the George C. Delp Pavilion, named after one of the hospital’s most notable trustees and supporters. New services, groundbreakings and ambitious projects had been part of the ever-developing culture of quality medical attention and faith-based community concern at St. Joseph Hospital. Sisters and physicians of note, persons of all callings are now heralded in the institution’s history. 

 Almost 120 years since the Sisters came to Lancaster, St. Joseph had grown into a tertiary level care hospital, with a medical staff representing more than 30 medical specialties and a full continuum of care. Today, the hospital’s community includes inpatient, outpatient, home care and community outreach programs.     

In July 2000, St. Joseph Hospital changed its name to Lancaster Regional Medical center after being acquired by Health Management Associates, which is headquartered in Naples, Fla.  Health Management is the premier operator of acute care hospitals primarily in the southeast and southwest areas of non-urban America. When Health Management acquires a hospital, it immediately sets out to upgrade the quality of healthcare delivery and simultaneously expand its medical services so that community residents no longer need to commute to major urban centers for specialty medical care, except in rare instances. Apart from providing additional medical services, Health Management upgrades the physical facility to today's technology. Currently, they operate 58 hospitals in 15 states with almost 8,500 licensed beds.