** Welcome to Anna Jaques Hospital **
Anna Jaques Hospital is a 123 bed community hospital serving 17 cities and towns in the Merrimack Valley. We offer the number one wound center in the nation, recognized for its 96.6% healing rate, an endocrinology and diabetes center, a Primary Stroke Service, Level III Trauma Center, and a birth center with neonatal care center. We offer fully digital operating room suites, high definition endoscopy equipment, and an MRI with total imaging technology that provides better diagnostic images of the full body. In addition, we are well on our way to fully implementing electronic medical records for increased patient safety and care. Welcome to Anna Jaques Hospital.
History Of Anna Jaques Hospital
Our Beginnings
Even now, we thank Miss Anna Jaques for her vision and charitable spirit, for it was her efforts that founded Anna Jaques Hospital in 1884. The original home of our hospital was a federalist mansion on the corner of Broad and Munroe Streets, formerly known as the Bagley Estate. At that time, hospital wards were arranged for 13 beds and the first patient was admitted on May 7, 1884. Now, the hospital has 123 beds and in 2005 we treated 8,010 inpatients, had 701 births, 6,304 clinic visits, 8,237 surgical procedures and 29,189 emergency department visits.
In 1885 the third Sunday in January was observed as Hospital Sunday, an occasion which netted $1400 from the 25 participating churches. This custom was continued for many years and eventually led to the formation of the Hospital Aid Association in 1889. Today the AJH Aid Association is a vibrant group of hardworking volunteers who in 2004 handed a check for $100,000 to the hospital. Every cent was raised from their volunteer work on behalf of the hospital.
By 1901 the hospital's original building had become inadequate. So three years later, in 1904, a new Georgian Revival style building was erected at 25 Highland Avenue. The photograph on this page shows the graduating class of nurses in 1904 in front of that building. It now serves as the centerpiece of our facility and a proud reminder of the healthcare tradition begun by Miss Anna Jaques. Today this magnificent building houses our administrative offices and one lucky person always sits in the office above the beautiful front portico that is graced with the Georgian Revival crested window.
Women always had a special place for care at Anna Jaques Hospital. The Women's Ward Unit was originally a large room in the main house. That room was later renovated in 1967 and now serves as the Higgins Conference Room. The commitment to women's health that was begun in the early 20th century continues today in the 21st century with a broad range of women's health services complimented by the Women's Wellness Initiative outreach program.
