History of North Memorial

History

Independent, healthy and strong, North Memorial Health Care - with over 700 health care providers in its system - continues to grow, meet, and prepare for the health care needs of its patients.

Located in the northwestern Twin Cities suburb of Robbinsdale, North Memorial is a familiar face in an always-changing health care community. Mergers, acquisitions and transfers of ownership have made many hospitals mere shadows of their former selves; however, North Memorial continues to be a recognized, stable, yet innovative leader in Minnesota's health care industry. North Memorial's history of responding to the health care needs of its communities has lasted for over four decades, and continues to be the main ingredient to its success.

In 1939, Dr. Samuel Samuelson built Victory Hospital on property he already owned in Robbinsdale. In a time when the only hospitals were located downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul (to be closer to physician's offices), building a facility in the suburbs was a bold step. Dr. Samuelson could envision the health care needs of a growing community, and the first suburban hospital in Minnesota was admitting patients.

In 1954, Victory became North Memorial Hospital when it was reorganized as a private, non-profit hospital. Three years later, North Memorial received accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals.

Over the next 50 years several expansion projects would take North Memorial from a 30 bed facility to a 518 bed medical center.

In addition North Memorial's early leadership in emergency care has catapulted into a successful emergency and trauma services center. The first totally integrated hospital-based medical transportation system in the state of Minnesota began at North Memorial, and now includes eight helicopters, 120 ambulances, and 725 employees.

North Memorial also includes eight primary care clinics located in the Northwest suburbs, as well as a state-of-art Outpatient Center that includes cancer, imaging, radiology, and educational services.

North Memorial Health Care is positioned for success as we enter the 21st century. Embracing change in medical treatment and technology, North Memorial will continue to provide compassionate, trusted care to the communities it serves.