About
Welcome to Images of Fairfield County online, produced in cooperation with the Lancaster-Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce.
Archives
Read past editions of Images of Fairfield County magazine.
Local Advertisers
The Facts
Realtor.com
Search for a new home, get moving tips and more at the
National Association of Realtors’ Web site.
Go there...
Gardening
How does your garden grow? Get the dirt on regional gardening.
Read more...
Food
What's cookin'? Get a taste of regional cuisine.
Read more...
Education and school listings
Check out school districts, colleges and universities in the Lancaster area.
Read more...
More Information
or to request a copy of Images of Fairfield County magazine, contact the Lancaster-Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce at (740) 653-8251.
Contact Us
Feedback
Let us know your thoughts...
Advertising Info
Need more info? Looking for ad specifications?
Local Advertisers
Health Care
Building on Tradition
Fairfield Medical Center celebrates 91 years of top-notch service
Fairfield Medical Center’s patients come from a four-county area. The 222-bed facility provides general and acute care.Fairfield Medical Center has a long, steady tradition of service to the community, as well as a vigorous roster of cutting-edge programs and services.
Founded in 1916, Fairfield Medical is the major provider of general, acute care to patients from Fairfield, Hocking, Perry and Athens counties. The Cardiovascular Institute was established in 2007 at the Lancaster campus.
“We do open heart surgery here, as well as angioplasty and coronary and artery bypass surgery,” says Mina Ubbing, the medical center’s president and chief executive officer.
The medical center offers a wide spectrum of services at its 222-bed facility in Lancaster and has multiple off-site services, including family practice physicians, diagnostic and laboratory services, and home health care. New technology available includes a 64-slice computed tomography (CT) scanner.
“We can do more detailed cardiac and thoracic imaging with it,” Ubbing says. “We’re one of the first hospitals outside of Ohio’s major metropolitan areas to have this capability.”
Cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy are available at Fairfield Medical Center, as well as some newer protocols, Ubbing says.
“Whenever possible, our goal is for patients not to have to go into Columbus [for treatment],” she says. “If they do need to go to Columbus, though, we want them to be able to do their after-care here. That’s true whether it’s for cancer, heart or other treatments.”
Fairfield Medical Center has its roots in Lancaster Municipal Hospital, which opened in 1916 and was a vision of Lancaster physician Dr. George W. Boerstler. The hospital has undergone significant changes through the years, including several expansions and the addition of numerous high-tech medical services.
In 1982, the hospital reorganized from a county-sponsored facility to a not-for-profit hospital corporation. As a result, the name changed from Lancaster-Fairfield County Hospital to Lancaster-Fairfield Community Hospital. In 1994, the name changed again to Fairfield Medical Center to better reflect the expanding services.
The center is Fairfield County’s largest employer, with 250 physicians and more than 2,000 employees working to ensure quality patient care.
More than 175 adult and teenage volunteers contributed 22,000 hours of service at the medical center in 2006. And since 1948, 22 Twig auxiliary support groups have donated $3.25 million for equipment and programs through various fundraising activities.
“Much of the center’s staying power is that we’re an independent community hospital,” Ubbing says. “Like our community, we have a rich heritage, and that’s what we’re celebrating during our 90th anniversary. Despite all of the building renovations, technological advances and patient growth, we’re still Lancaster and Fairfield County’s hospital.”
Story by Lisa R. Hooker
© Copyright 2007 Journal Communications Inc.
All rights reserved. No portion of this Web site may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.