History of HMC

The amazing story of The Hopedale Medical Complex began in 1955 when Dr. Lawrence J. Rossi founded Hopedale Hospital with the help of local citizens. Dr. Rossi, who passed away on February 9, 2001 at the age of 84, was nationally recognized for his innovation in the health care field. Below is an excerpt from an interview he gave explaining how the Complex grew from a tiny hospital in a rural town to a 218-bed modern health care facility serving its surrounding communities and beyond. Dr. Rossi's vision is re-lived every day through the dedicated and talented staff that works at HMC. Indeed, Hopedale Medical Complex is where healthcare and hope meet every day!

The story in Dr. Rossi's own words: "The Hopedale Medical Complex began as a 20-bed Hopedale Hospital in 1955. The Hospital was built on five acres of land owned by my wife, Lorayne, and I. Money to build the Hospital was raised by a volunteer group from the surrounding communities. Approximately 300 (promissory) notes were sold to the public and $75,000 was raised. In addition, I personally guaranteed over $50,000 for equipment and furnishings. I agreed to be responsible for repaying the $75,000 to the note holders who were given a first mortgage on the hospital building and property.

The original Nursing Home was opened in 1958. It was the first Nursing Home built in Illinois from original plans. Hopedale House, a 24-bed addition was built in 1962. (This was possibly the first assisted living facility in Illinois!) At this point, my wife and I carried a mortgage debt of over $500,000. We could have stopped and smiled about our future as for-profit private owners because Medicare was right around the corner. Construction of private for-profit heath facilities zoomed and we were one of the first "on board." However, this did not appeal to us. We decided the Medical Complex really should not be family owned. It was the Community's hospital. A non-profit charitable foundation was formed in 1961 to own the Complex. The Foundation was named "The Hopedale Medical Foundation." It is operated by a Board of Directors, majority of which are local citizens. These Board Members receive no pay and there are no stockholders, no individual owners.

Expansion continued with the Foundation in 1964 when the size of the Nursing Home was doubled. A new kitchen, laundry and Medical Arts Building were completed. A physical therapy wing with rehabilitation beds was also added at this time. In 1974, a new surgery wing and operating rooms were added. In 1976, a new Medical Arts Building was constructed. In 1978, six triple apartments for the elderly were completed. The Medical Complex had also acquired additional real estate in its immediate vicinity for future expansions. In April, 1987, the Hopedale Medical Complex mortgage debt was paid off in full. Growth continued with the retirement housing in 1994 as we constructed Hopedale Commons West, an assisted living facility for the elderly, and a later addition in 1999 Hopedale Commons East independent living. Other parts of the hospital which have been renovated with updated equipment are the surgical and intensive care units and the formation of the Midwest Vascular Institute. A new 26-bed Nursing Home, Hillman Pavilion, was built in 2000. Editor's Note: The new 34,000 sq foot Hopedale Wellness Center, Dr. Rossi's final dream, opened on July 4, 2002. This beautiful, modern facility was dedicated in his memory.

Today...

Today, the Hopedale Medical Complex includes Hopedale Hospital, Hopedale Nursing Home, Hopedale Commons, and triplex residential units for the elderly. In addition, the Medical Arts Physicians building offers numerous physicians, a dentist, podiatrist, and pharmacy. Satellite doctor's offices are now available in Mackinaw, Manito, and Atlanta.

The Medical Complex employs about 250 local people, and the annual payroll exceeds $6 million. Our annual scholarship program has granted over $200,000 in scholarships to area students. The Hopedale Medical Complex has never requested nor accepted grants or gifts from the federal government. However, since The Foundation is an IRS 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, it does accept tax deductible, charitable contributions. Two of the Medical Complex's newer buildings were built in large part due to the generosity of local donors. (See Charitable Gifts)

For the Hopedale Medical Complex to remain viable and strong and continue to serve the health needs our rural area, local doctors must give their support, and the people of the surrounding communities must also remember how important it is to request their personal physician make use of our facility."