History of Freeman Health System

1922

John W. Freeman donated his family home, located at 2008 Sergeant in Joplin, as the site for the first Freeman Hospital in honor of his late son Orley. 

1925
After a 75-bed wing was added to the original home, Freeman Hospital opened its doors to patients, with a staff of 19 nurses and five physicians and surgeons. 

1958

A state-of the art addition opened south of the hospital, complete a with six-room operating suite, air conditioned labor and delivery rooms and 18-bed nursing home on the fifth floor. 

1975
Freeman Hospital moved to the outskirts of Joplin on a tract of land donated by Joplin businessman Myron McIntosh. The location at 1102 West 32nd Street (now Freeman Hospital West) provided room for much-needed growth and future expansion as well. 

1977

In 1977, Freeman became the first hospital to use ultrasound in diagnostic services and nuclear medicine.

1986
Freeman completed a $12.5 million expansion in 1986, increasing the hospital capacity to a 175-bed facility.

1987

In 1987, Children's Miracle Network began at Freeman to raise funds for local sick and injured children.

1993

Freeman acquired Sale Memorial Hospital (now Freeman Neosho Hospital), extending its service to the residents of Newton and McDonald counties in southwestern Missouri.

1995
Freeman merged with Oak Hill (now Freeman Hospital East) to become Freeman Health System.

1996

Ozark Center, the area's largest behavioral health provider, joined Freeman Health System, increasing patient access to mental healthcare.

1997
Through a partnership with KSN-TV 16, Freeman First Alert Doppler radar went live to save lives by providing early and accurate warnings of potentially dangerous storms. 

1998

Ronald McDonald celebrated the grand opening of Ronald McDonald House of the Four States on land donated by Freeman. 

1999
Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute opened, bringing a unique concept in heart care to the region. It houses all facets of cardiovascular care in one location, making care more convenient and accessible to patients. 

2000

Freeman became the first healthcare system in Missouri and the sixth in the nation to earn ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9002 registration in December 2000. 

2001
The Joplin Family Y South and Freeman Wellness Center open on property owned by Freeman Health System. 

2001

Freeman Cancer Institute opened, providing the region with comprehensive cancer care including diagnosis, treatment and lifestyle management and featuring some of the most advanced cancer-fighting tools and therapies available. 

2003
Freeman achieved ISO 9001:2000 registration, the most widely recognized mark of quality in the business world today. 

2007

Freeman opened the largest expansion project in its history, a six-story wing that added 56 private patient rooms and tripled the size of the emergency/trauma center.
 

Bill & Virginia Leffen Center for Autism, developed in consultation with the Cleveland Clinic Autism Consulting Group, opened an applied behavior analysis (ABA) program for preschool children with autism. 

2008
Freeman Women's Center opened, offering comprehensive women's services under one roof. The center includes offices for a high-risk pregnancy physician, gynecologists and obstetricians; Wes & Jan Houser Women's Pavilion and Pink Door Boutique.

2009

Freeman Center for Geriatric Medicine opened with two geriatricians, physicians who care for older patients by helping them address mobility and medication issues and connecting them with medical specialists, social services and community resources when needed.

Freeman Hospital West became the only hospital in 60-mile radius to offer the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, designed to provide comprehensive, specialized help for victims of sexual assault.

Freeman earned ISO 9001:2008 registration.

2010
Freeman Surgical Center opened, providing state-of-the art technology, convenience and amenities for patients needing outpatient procedures.

Bill & Virginia Leffen Center for Autism establishes Special Education Center to offer specialized training to students from prekindergarten through 12th grade.

2011

The Autism Diagnostic Team began evaluations in January 2011 at Bill & Virginia Leffen Center for Autism. Previously, families had to travel great distances to receive diagnostic services for children with autism spectrum disorders.
 

Thanks to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, Freeman Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) underwent a $1.3 million expansion and renovation. In May 2011, the expansion included the addition of 10 new beds and provided new equipment and technology, allowing more treatment for premature and critically ill babies, giving them every opportunity for a healthy life. 

On May 22, 2011, a devastating EF-5 multi-vortex tornado struck Joplin, taking 161 lives, injuring hundreds, and destroying roughly 8,000 structures. In the hours and days following the storm, Freeman physicians and nurses worked tirelessly to treat more than 1,700 patients, providing the best healthcare possible in the aftermath of the disaster. 

Responding to the community's needs after the tornado, Freeman established a 12-bed Transitional Care Unit for patients who are still too ill for the medical floor but have progressed to the point that they no longer need the level of care provided in the ICU. 
 

In July 2011, Freeman Center for Digestive Health, the largest digestive health service provider in the region, opened for business. The center provides a wide variety of treatments and services for patients with gastrointestinal conditions.
 

Freeman Health Academy, the first program of its kind in our community, began. The program gives youths the opportunity to learn about employment opportunities in healthcare.
 

Freeman Neosho Women’s Pavilion opened its doors in November 2011, providing Neosho residents with digital mammography and bone densitometry services.

2012
Will’s Place opened in January 2012 to provide comprehensive behavioral health services to children ages 2-18.

In early 2012, 20 new adult psychiatric beds opened at Freeman Hospital East to meet an increased need for psychiatric care. 

The 5th floor of Gary & Donna Hall Tower at Freeman Hospital West opened in March 2012, adding 29 private patient rooms with advanced medical capabilities.

In March 2012, Freeman Rehabilitation & Sports Center opened. The center provides comprehensive therapy services including physical, occupational, speech, hand, aquatic, and lymphedema therapies, as well as sports performance evaluations.

On May 22, 2012, Freeman celebrated the lives of tornado survivors, honored the memory of victims and paid tribute to the heroic efforts of Freeman employees and other caregivers during the Morning Has Broken memorial service.

The 6th floor of Gary & Donna Hall Tower at Freeman Hospital West, dedicated to patients needing critical care services, opened in October 2012.

2013 

In March 2013, Ozark Center officially opened a second Pre-Adult Transitional Housing (PATH) apartment complex, a new residence for homeless youth in need of long-term housing, as well as assistance developing essential life skills.
 

On March 27, 2013, Freeman physicians, nurses and staff unveiled and dedicated the Beacon of Hope Tornado Memorial. The memorial was constructed to pay tribute to those who survived the storm, those who were lost in the storm and those who fought to save the community.
 

Freeman Hospital West opened its newly transformed cafeteria, kitchen and servery in June 2013. Throughout the 14-month construction process, Freeman Hospital West continued to serve 1,000 meals daily, thanks to a temporary kitchen set up in mobile units outside the building.

U.S. News & World Report ranked Freeman as number one in southwestern Missouri and number four in the state for a second consecutive year. In addition, Freeman received special designation in seven high-performing specialties. 

In July 2013, Freeman established a cardiology clinic in Miami, Oklahoma.

In 2013, Freeman was awarded a "Grow Your Own" grant from the Missouri Hospital Association. The $50,000 grant was used to expand Freeman Health Academy to serve students ages 10-12.
 

Arkansas Autism Connection was developed in 2013 by Freeman and Ozark Center in consultation with the Cleveland Clinic Autism Consulting Group to provides clients with ABA, a behaviorally based autism treatment. 

2014
Freeman announced it affiliated with Children’s Kansas City to enhance care for children in southwestern Missouri in January 2014. As part of this collaboration, Children’s Kansas City opened a permanent office with seven specialty clinics, on the Freeman Hospital West campus.

Freeman Ambulance Service is celebrated its tenth year of operation in May 2014.

Freeman received the 2014 Truven Health Advantage Award for Overall Performance and the Truven Performance Efficiency Award, both of which recognize hospitals, health plans, government agencies and employers that use data analytics to improve quality of services. 

In July 2014, Freeman Health System expanded its nationally recognized cardiac care to the Grove, Oklahoma area.

CareChex® awarded a multitude of service lines across Freeman Health System with top rankings at the national, state, regional and local levels based on medical excellence and patient safety.

In September 2014, Carl Junction Schools and Freeman announced a partnership to provide a comprehensive school-based health program for students and staff. 

March of Dimes recognized Freeman for having zero elective early inductions or Cesarean deliveries performed before the 39th week of pregnancy.

Freeman received recognition for its commitment to patient safety from The Leapfrog Group. Leapfrog awarded Freeman an A grade in the Fall 2014 Hospital Safety Score, acknowledging Freeman’s success in protecting patients from errors, injuries and infections. Freeman was the only hospital in southwestern Missouri to earn an A and one of 11 hospitals in the state to receive the top rating.

Freeman announced in December it had acquired the top-of-class TrueBeam linear accelerator – an innovative piece of technology that enables doctors to use a radically different approach to treating cancer with image-guided radiotherapy.

2015 

In March, The Neosho R-5 School District announced a partnership with Freeman Neosho Physicians Group to provide healthcare to students and faculty in an easily accessible venue. The partnership provides a timely, convenient means for parents to obtain care for their child.
 

Freeman Health System joined forces with Pittsburg State University (PSU) in April 2015 to become the university's official sports medicine and rehabilitation partner.
 

A $3 million gift from the Cornell-Beshore family enabled Freeman to improve cancer treatment facilities and upgrade technologies to benefit patients with cancer. In honor of this gift, Freeman changed the name of Freeman Cancer Institute to Cornell-Beshore Cancer institute.
 

Freeman was designated a Level II Stroke Center by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in July. Freeman was the first and only hospital in the area to earn this distinction.

2016

Freeman named "Best 50" for supply chain excellence by Global Healthcare Exchange, LLC (GHX®). Founded in 2000, GHX uses cloud-based supply chain management technology and services to reduce costs, remove waste and drive efficiency for better patient care.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri has recognized Freeman Health System as a Blue Distinction® Center+ for Maternity Care and Cardiac Care.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri has named Freeman Health System as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, spine surgeries are among the most frequent types of elective surgeries in the United States.

Freeman partners with McDonald County R-1 to provide priority scheduling to school district students and staff.

Wes & Jan Houser Women’s Pavilion has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology.

Freeman Health System and Girard Medical Center are proud to announce a new affiliation to support health needs of the region to ensure greater access to quality healthcare.

Freeman Health System was recognized by “Becker’s Hospital Review” as being tied for fifth in the nation and is among the top 36 hospitals with the lowest 30-day readmission rates for hip and knee replacement surgery.

2017 

Freeman internal Residency program becomes the first and only in the area to gain accreditation by ACGME.

Freeman receives eigth consecutive Consumer Choice Award.

Freeman Neosho Rehabilitation Services has been recognized by Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes, Inc. (FOTO®) for the Outcomes Excellence Award for othopaedic rehabilitation.

Freeman Health System was honored with an “A” grade in The Leapfrog Group Spring 2017 Hospital Safety Score. Freeman is one of 22 hospitals in Missouri to receive the grade.

Freeman Health System celebrated the opening of Freeman Lung Institute with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The clinic, the first and only in the area, gives patients access to screening, diagnosis, treatment and support of life-threatening lung diseases in one convenient location.

Freeman Health System has received the Mission: Lifeline® Silver Receiving Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association® for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks.

Cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists at Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute have successfully performed the first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures in the area. The minimally invasive technique gives hope to patients who suffer from severe aortic stenosis, but who are not ideal candidates for a complex open heart surgery.

Freeman Health System recently received a generous donation of six Caregiver Beds® from Caregiver Company. Totaling $31,500, the beds increase comfort for loved ones staying overnight in patient rooms.