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A History of Healing
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Our story began in 1907, when Dr. Arthur W. Rogers and his wife, Theresa Limberg Rogers, purchased a 200-acre estate on the shores of the Nashotah Lakes that included a 32-room Italian-style mansion built in 1882 with four octagonal wings and a central courtyard. Dr. and Mrs. Rogers converted the property into the Oconomowoc Health Resort, but within a year, fire destroyed the mansion. After the fire, Dr. Rogers formed the Oconomowoc Health Resort Corporation and sold stock to finance the construction of the current four-story structure. Several outbuildings were added to house therapy services, medical staff and hospital personnel. Dr. Rogers, a graduate of Rush Medical School with a specialty in psychiatry, provided innovative therapy, including the Baruch Hydrotherapeutic Plant for individualized bathing in spring water. After his wife's death in 1930, Dr. Rogers renamed the institution Rogers Memorial Sanitarium Corporation and converted it into a nonprofit, charitable institution in her honor. Dr. Rogers subsequently bequeathed his entire estate to the sanitarium and died shortly thereafter in 1937. Until 1952, Rogers Memorial Hospital Sanitarium was managed by Dr. James Hassall, who was a member of the board of directors. Upon his death, by suicide, Owen Clark and Thomas Spence managed the sanitarium for several years. In 1955, Dr. Owen Otto became the Chief of Staff and the facility was renamed Rogers Memorial Hospital. In 1958, a new wing was added and treatment of higher acuity patients began. Dr. Otto also brought a mutual friend to the RMH board; his name was Fr. Michael Stolpman, an Episcopal priest serving the diocesan office located in Milwaukee. Fr. Michael Stolpman started the Barnabas program at Rogers, which served impaired clergy. Rogers Memorial affiliated with the Memorial Hospital of Oconomowoc (now Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital) in 1986; however, this relationship was not successful. Rogers Memorial Hospital was re-established as a private, nonprofit hospital in 1970, with Dr. Otto providing leadership of the hospital until his retirement in 1987. From 1988 until 1992, Scott Wallenfelsz served as hospital president. It was during this time period that the Barnabas program for impaired clergy members and their families was in existence, as well as a hospice program. After Wallenfelsz left in 1992, Faith Quandt, who was Chairman of the Board, served as interim president until David L. Moulthrop, PhD, was hired as CEO in February 1993. Under Dr. Moulthrop's leadership, the hospital transitioned to a medical model of care, with treatment services under the direction of physicians, and began a diversification of treatment services. Starting in the mid-1990s, Rogers Memorial opened three residential centers at the Oconomowoc campus: The Herrington Recovery Center (for chemical dependency) in 1996; The Eating Disorders Center in 1997; and the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Center in 1999. The Multi-Purpose Center, which houses the experiential therapy and Center for Organizational Advancement staff, opened in 1999 and an extensive Ropes and Challenge Course was constructed. Plans for construction of a new wing to the main hospital building were also underway. These plans were put on hold when, in February 2000, Rogers Memorial purchased a psychiatric hospital in West Allis (which had been operated by the Charter Hospital System). Through this timely acquisition, Rogers Memorial doubled the size of its inpatient and partial hospitalization services and began to develop strategic partnerships with other providers to enhance behavioral healthcare services in Southeastern Wisconsin, including the Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert and Community Health, and Columbia-St. Mary's. In cooperation with Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Rogers Memorial opened a day treatment program in Kenosha in April 2003. This program was a strong step forward in the hospital’s commitment to develop the highest quality network of child and adolescent services possible, and led to the opening of another day treatment site in Brown Deer the following year. The Child & Adolescent Center also opened in January 2003. The center offers intensive psychiatric treatment for teens combined with adventure-based therapies. In 15 months, the center doubled in capacity and added cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment services. The Child Center, slated to open by summer 2007, will offer similar services for children ages 8 to 12. In January 2006, a 37,000 square foot expansion of the main hospital building at the Oconomowoc campus included a new entrance, lobby and admissions area with a large amount of space devoted to treatment and education services. Construction of a new admissions and patient care areas at Rogers Memorial Hospital-Milwaukee begins in 2007. Rogers Memorial is currently governed by a board of directors and is proud to remain a not-for-profit facility. The hospital is staffed by highly qualified mental health professionals including teams of physicians, therapists, counselors and other professional staff. |
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