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Historical Timeline

1911 

  • Samaritan Health System was formed in 1911.

1938

  • Lutheran Health Systems had long-standing history dating from 1938.

1976

  • McKee Medical Center opened in Loveland as an 80-bed acute care hospital and the first between Omaha, Nebraska and the West Coast to have all single patient rooms. 

1995

  • Lutheran Health Systems agrees to lease North Colorado Medical Center.

1999

  • Sept. 1, 1999 – Nonprofits Samaritan Health System and Lutheran Health System announce merger, creating Banner Health. Lutheran Health System was known as a respected health care provider in the rural West and Midwest. Samaritan Health System was known for clinical excellence provided in communities in California and Arizona, primarily in the Phoenix metro area.

2000

  • Peter S. Fine appointed president and chief executive officer of Banner Health.

2002

  • McKee Cancer Center opens allowing patient to access medical and radiation oncology, clinical trials, support groups and other resources in a single location.

2005

  • Banner opened its first brand-new hospital, Banner Estrella Medical Center, built with state-of-the-art technology in electronic health records and Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) system to reduce and eliminate medical errors. Banner Estrella served as the franchise model for all new hospital construction and “paper-light” processes.
  • Second Century Project at North Colorado Medical Center opens featuring new CardioVascular Institute of North Colorado; new intensive care unit, new operating suites, Monfort Family Birth Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and heart failure clinic.
  • McKee Medical Center completed the Legacy Phase I with the addition of a three-story wing featuring a new family birthing center, intensive care unit, expanded surgical services, morgue and support services.

2006

  • Banner opened the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, now a leading destination in Arizona and the nation for Alzheimer’s disease care and treatment through research, and support to patients and families.

2007

  • Banner Gateway Medical Center opened, using the Banner Estrella’s franchise model.

2008

  • Sun Health transitioned into Banner Health, creating Banner Boswell Medical Center, Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center and Banner Sun Health Research Institute.

2009

  • Cardon Children’s Medical Center opened on campus of Banner Desert Medical Center.
  • Banner Simulation Education Center, the largest known “virtual hospital” of its kind at the time, opened at Banner Corporate Center – Mesa.
  • Banner Medical Group (BMG) was established and named its first CEO. As of 2017, BMG has more than 1,200 providers representing 79 specialties in 212 locations.

2010

  • The David Walsh Cancer Center opened on the campus of Sterling Regional MedCenter in Sterling, Colo.
  • Banner Ironwood Medical Center in San Tan Valley opened.

2011

  • Banner Health and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center open the Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center on the campus of Banner Gateway Medical Center.
  • Banner Health Network incorporated; contracts signed with seven major insurers. As of November 2018, BHN serves more than 700,000 covered lives.
  • Moved to an employment model in psychiatry services which led to higher quality outcomes and better engagement from the medical staff.

2012

  • Banner Medical Group opened its first Banner Health Center. BMG now operates 16 health centers to date.
  • Banner received HIMSS Stage 7 recognition for electronic health record adoption for 21 of its hospitals. Stage 7 is the highest level on a nationally recognized scaled used to track EHR progress at hospitals and health systems.

2013

  • Banner introduces the patient account (formally the MyBanner portal), enabling customers to securely access their health information 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
  • Banner named Top 5 of Large Health Systems by Truven Analytics  for clinical quality for the third time in four years.
  • Arizona Regional Medical Center in Apache Junction is integrated in Banner, becoming Banner Goldfield Medical Center.
  • Banner Pharmacy Services division is created.
  • The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health recognized six Western Division critical access hospitals as HealthStrong™ Award winners by iVantage Health Analytics. Hospitals receiving the awards were: Washakie Medical Center in Worland, WY, East Morgan County Hospital in Brush, CO, Community Hospital in Torrington, WY, Ogallala Community Hospital in Ogallala, NE, Platte County Memorial Hospital in Wheatland, WY and Page Hospital in Page, AZ.

2014

  • Casa Grande Regional Medical Center is welcomed into the Banner Health System as a Banner Casa Grande Medical Center.
  • University of Arizona and Banner enter into agreement to create a statewide health care organization and comprehensive new model for academic medicine.
  • Banner was listed as a 2014 Top 10 BOLD (Best Organizations for Leadership Development) by the National Center for Healthcare Leadership.
  • Ogallala Community Hospital opened a $2-million Ogallala Specialty Clinic and Infusion Center.

2015

  • In April, Banner opened its 26th acute-care hospital: Banner Fort Collins Medical Center in Colorado and in August of the same year Banner Payson Medical Center is welcomed into the Banner Health system.
  • University of Arizona Health network is officially welcomed into Banner Health system to form Banner – University Medicine encompassing Banner – University Medical Centers in Tucson, South and Phoenix. This will historically change the health care landscape in Arizona.
  • Two of Banner’s Home Health facilities were recognized on the HomeCare Elite™ “Top 500” list: Banner Home Care – Greeley, CO and Payson Home Health – Payson, AZ. 
  • This year marked the return of the Women’s and Infant Services line of service at East Morgan County Hospital (EMCH) after having been discontinued for the previous 23 years. From 2015 to the end of 2018, EMCH has delivered 217 babies.

2016

  • Banner launches a completely redesigned BannerHealth.com website. The site is mobile and consumer-friendly with enhanced find-a-doctor features.
  • Banner Alzheimer’s Institute (BAI) was featured on 60 Minutes regarding a research trial, in Coloumbia, that is still underway and will be pivotal in the prevention are of Alzheimer’s research.
  • Banner completes acquisition of 32 urgent care facilities in Phoenix and Tucson. This creates Banner Urgent Care. To date, Banner operates 46 urgent care entities. 

2017

  • Washakie Medical Center celebrated the opening of a $24 million hospital renovation.
  • Banner Behavioral Health Hospital started construction on a new patient tower, with 96 private rooms, to better manage the needs of the behavioral health patients that present for care at one of the many Banner Health facilities.
  • Reinvention through Imagine; the vehicle for our transformation to become more consumer-focused.
  • Banner adopts a new Mission statement: “Making health care easier, so life can be better,” identifies Sofia, a customer face to represent the people we serve and created six new Values to define the culture we want at Banner.

2018

  • Rural Banner Hospitals in Wyoming and Nebraska joined emergency management coalitions to prepare emergency response for the August solar eclipse. Small communities throughout the eclipse path welcomed millions of visitors, and the event transpired without major incidents.
  • Banner introduced Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at McKee Medical Center and North Colorado Medical Center which expands cancer care services in the state of Colorado.
  • Banner announces construction of new hospital, Banner Ocotillo Medical Center, scheduled to open Winter 2020. This is the first hospital built by Banner since Banner Ironwood Medical Center opened in 2010.
  • Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix opens new 16-story tower in November. Updated Emergency department opened earlier that year in June.

 2019

  • New tower at Banner - University Medical Center Tucson opens in April, bringing state-of-the-art resources to those who live in the communities. 

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