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ABOUT US - History of Cook Hospital
Auxiliary | Board of Directors | History of Cook Hospital | About Us | Senior Leadership
In October 1959, the Cook Hospital officially opened its doors with a 25-bed acute care facility.
Dr. Heiam along with other health care professionals staffed the new hospital making the Cook Hospital a reality. The first administrator hired was Ms. Pearl Bradbury. Her responsibilities were to oversee the finances, staffing, policies and procedures that are involved with managing a hospital.
In 1964, a 28-bed nursing home was built adjacent to the hospital. This addition also included a pediatric ward. In 1963, Mr. John T. Snyder had replaced Ms. Bradbury as administrator. Later, in June 1969, Mr. Nick Riley became the new administrator.
The 1970’s brought many challenges for the Cook Hospital from hiring a new administrator, hospital closing, staffing shortages to remodeling. Starting in 1971, Ms. Lineta Scott became the new administrator replacing Mr. Riley. In addition, an ongoing problem since inception is a challenge of obtaining and keeping qualified physicians. This became the next big challenge of finding physicians to staff the hospital. Due to the lack of physicians willing to work in a remote part of northern Minnesota, the hospital had to close its doors in 1972.
The year 1973 became a turning point for the hospital when Guido Schynoll began his employment with us allowing for the reopening of the hospital. A year later, in 1974, Dr. Harold D Johnston began his practice followed by Dr. Bruce D. Garbisch who opened his practice in October 1976. The hospital and the community are extremely grateful for these two physicians who are still a very imperative part of our medical staff today. Also in 1974, the hospital had downsized it bed occupancy to a 14-bed facility, by converting 13-beds to nursing home beds which increased to a 41 nursing home beds.
Beginning in the late 1980’s the idea to formulate a hospital board began to develop some discussion among the community members. With the creation of a board it would allow for a broader representation of the area that the hospital serves. This would allow for more community involvement other than the City of Cook. One thought was to create a district that would allow for potential assistance from a broader regional area. As technology became the necessity to sustain a successful business, the City of Cook found it a challenge to uphold its financial abilities. In addition, the hospital had out grown its structure and the community called for expanded services. Finally, in 1988, legislation was passed for the creation of a district.
The 1990’s brought more changes with a new district formed, additional physicians, and new services added. The Cook Hospital District was formed in early 1990. The District included several townships: Angora, Beatty, Field, Leiding, Linden Grove, Owens, & Willow River; the City of Cook and a few unorganized townships. Later, the following townships Portage, Camp 5, Crane Lake and the City of Orr joined the district. Mr. Allen Vogt, who served as acting administrator and assistant administrator since 1986, became the administrator in 1990.
Joining our elite medical team was Dr. Joanne IntVeld in 1990. Further services were required to better serve trauma patients by installing a helipad in 1992, allowing for helicopter transportation to more advanced health care centers. Besides these changes, in 1995 the hospital set forth on a major construction project (New Horizons) to expand the outpatient services. This project resulted in the expansion of medical imaging, laboratory, physical therapy & occupational therapy and a new emergency room.
Still Growing is a term that can be used to describe the decade of the millennium. In 2000, the hospital undertook another construction project (Project 2000), this one resulting in a new hospital entrance, dining room for the nursing home, dietary department, a computed tomography (CT) room, medical records, pharmacy, and business office as well as additional conference and meeting rooms. Still more construction was call for, in 2005, a $5 million project (Portaging in the Future) consisted of a new hospital wing, a new & remodeled rehabilitation department, a minor surgical procedure area, an expanded laboratory and medical imaging and a multi purpose room for the nursing home.
In early 2009 Dr. Lynn Didrikson was welcomed to our Medical Staff and our community. She is a wonderful addition to a well established Medical team and we look for success in attracting her to be a catalyst in continued physician recruitment.
Today, the Cook Hospital is a 14-bed Critical Access Acute Care facility with an attached 28-bed Long Term Care that employs a professional staff of more than 140. The hospital is governed by a board of thirteen District members designated by the voters of each township and the cities of Cook and Orr. Serving a rural/small town population of 10,253 and encompassing a radius of 2,500 square miles. The hospital has a 24-hour emergency service, radiology, pharmacy, laboratory, physical therapy, occupational therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, and speech therapy.
Adjacent to the hospital is the Scenic River Health Service Clinic which provides three physicians to assist the hospital with providing 24-hour emergency room coverage and inpatient services. The Cook Hospital provides emergency services to Cook, Orr, and Nett Lake Basic Life Support Ambulance Units as well as ancillary services to the Scenic River Clinic in Cook.
2009 celebrated the 50th anniversary of the hospital with great fanfare. The community turned out with wonderful enthusiasm celebrating the Medical Staff, Care Staff, Emergency Care Personnel, the fabulous volunteers and auxilians who work tirelessly in support of the hospital and nursing home. The coming year will have its own challenges but with it the “Stars among us” will keep shining and be the backbone of continued strength and stability.
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