Johnston Memorial Hospital

Message from our CEO

Physician founded over 100 years ago, with the responsibility to provide for the health of the residents of Southwest Virginia, Johnston Memorial Hospital is a community hospital at its very core. We've grown and changed in order to meet that need in more advanced ways, but our commitment to that initial mission is as strong as ever. Over the last decade, we've opened a brand-new facility and added several key specialty services, including cardiac and cancer care. Most recently, we opened the Children's Resource Center at Johnston Memorial in partnership with Ballad Health's Niswonger Children's Network.

While all of these things help to demonstrate our dedication to providing specialized, high-quality care to those we serve, I'm also incredibly proud of the way we do it. I know without a doubt, that none of our accomplishments could happen without an extraordinary team that is committed to bring their best to the job every day. It takes compassionate caregivers, exceptional medical staff and dedicated volunteers and board members – all of which you will find here at Johnston Memorial.

I've been fortunate to serve in Southwest Virginia for over a decade, and I'm pleased to be a part of the ongoing vision here at Johnston Memorial and in our community. I look forward to all we can accomplish together to help improve the health of our region and thank you for continuing to choose Johnston Memorial Hospital for your care.

Sincerely,

John L. Jeter, CPA, MBA     
Vice President/Chief Executive Officer     
Johnston Memorial Hospital

Leadership

• Chad Couch, MD – President, Northern Region
• John Jeter – VP, Chief Executive Officer
• Bryan Mullins – VP, Pulmonary/Critical Care, Ballad Health; Administrator/Chief Operating Officer, Johnston Memorial
• Brooke Davis – Chief Financial Officer
• Jessie Sulzer, MD – Chief Medical Officer
• Melissa Whited, RN, DNP, MSN, RN, NE-B – Chief Nursing Officer
• Jackie Phipps – Director, Human Resources

1905

First hospital in Abingdon established     
Dr. E.T. Brady, a leading Abingdon physician, established the first hospital on Court Street in December 1905. The small wooden structure had a 12-bed capacity and was a private endeavor. Dr. Brady served as Chief of Staff with two physicians and four resident nurses.

1910

Hospital changes ownership     
Because of insufficient patronage, the hospital was forced to close its doors in 1910. Community leaders ventured to Richmond and convinced George Ben Johnston, MD, and Amis Willis, MD, to buy controlling interest in the hospital. They chose F.H. Smith, MD, as the administrator.

Surgical conditions     
F.H. Smith, MD, noted the primitive surgical conditions he found at the early hospital. "We had no sterilizing plant. The surgeons brought with them a trunk full of sterile supplies, and took back other material for sterilization. Yet, there were only four deaths in the first year."

1917

Incorporation     
The hospital became incorporated.

1919

New 40-bed hospital opens     
In July 1919, the doors of a new 40-bed George Ben Johnston Memorial Hospital opened with over 500 people attending the formal opening. The hospital was built with community support and dedicated to the memory of its founder, who died in 1916. The original 1919 building is still used by several departments at Johnston Memorial Hospital. The well-constructed wing houses administrative offices, the endoscopy suite, and health information management departments. The original structure has undergone several massive renovations during its many years of service.

Laboratory services     
The 1919 structure brought modern laboratory services to Johnston Memorial Hospital. When the hospital first opened, physicians conducted many of the diagnostic tests in what were described as a "scant laboratory," with minimal equipment and technology. The JMH laboratory of today is a state-of-the-art facility under the direction of pathologists. The laboratory has contained a chemistry lab, hematology lab and an independent blood bank.

1920s

Radiology services     
During the 1920s, a Radiology Department was added to Johnston Memorial Hospital, helping make the hospital one of the leading diagnostic facilities in the region. The Radiology Department came under the administration of the hospital chief of staff.

1920s–1930s

Obstetric physician     
During the 1920s and 1930s, the first physician specializing in obstetrics joined the medical staff. A Children's and Baby Ward were opened and furnished by contributions from the Johnston Memorial Hospital Ladies Auxiliary and the Hospital Club of Abingdon.

1940s

Cadet nursing corp     
During World War II, several nurses and physicians were called into military service. This decade saw the advent of the Cadet Nursing Corp, a group of nurses' aides, who served on the floors in many capacities.

Surgical and delivery room construction     
In the late 1940s, construction began on a new wing for modern surgical and delivery rooms.

1950s

Operating and delivery rooms construction complete     
The decade of the 1950s was a time of major expansion at the Abingdon hospital. A new wing housing modern operating and delivery rooms was opened. Renovation projects included a modern kitchen and dietary department.

1958

Pediatric and physical therapy wing added

1960s

Johnston Memorial Hospital School of Nursing     
The 1960s was the last full decade in operations of Johnston Memorial Hospital's School of Nursing. Since its beginning, JMH had served as a training residence for nursing students from throughout the region.

1967

New wing added     
Construction on a new wing began in 1967 and was completed in the 1970s.This addition increased the hospital's bed capacity to 154 with 12 newborn bassinets. New services offered during this decade include surgical intensive care and outpatient surgery.

1971

Johnston Memorial Hospital Nursing School graduates last class

1985

Construction on new wing begins     
Construction beings for a new wing, which included a state-of-the-art emergency department and new facilities for radiology, respiratory care, and outpatient ssurgery.

1989

Non-invasive cardiology department added

1994

Renovations completed     
A number of changes occurred during the 1990s including completion of a multi-floor parking facility, new entrance and lobby area, and renovation of the first floor.

1998

Open MRI     
In September of 1998, Johnston Memorial Hospital added the region's first and only open MRI to its Radiology Department.

1999

ER renovations completed     
In February 1999, a complete renovation and expansion project was completed in the Emergency Department.

2001

Endoscopy and surgical suite renovations     
Renovation of the second floor of the 1919 building was completed in April to house expanded endoscopy services. Also, a sixth operating room, additional storage space and new locker rooms for surgeons and nursing staff were added.

2002

PET scanning services     
A Mobile Diagnostic Pad added for the implementation of mobile Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scanning Services.

Sleep lab     
Johnston Memorial Hospital added Sleep Medicine services including a state-of-the-art sleep lab.

2003

Central energy plant     
A central energy plant was constructed which combined hospital heating, cooling and emergency power generation into a separate facility.

Women’s imaging center     
Johnston Memorial Hospital Women's Imaging Center was established and located in Glenrochie Professional Building.

2004

Second MRI installed     
Second MRI unit was installed in the new radiology facility attached to the hospital.

Rehabilitation services     
Outpatient Physical and Occupational Therapy clinic opened off-site.

2006

Diagnostic imaging center     
Johnston Memorial Hospital opened a diagnostic center in the Urgent Care Center to perform X-rays, and lab draws outside the hospital.

Outpatient surgery waiting area renovation     
Renovations were completed in the waiting area to provide additional comfort to patients and their families.

2007

Cancer center     
Johnston Memorial Hospital opened a new cancer center, located at Johnston Meadows, to provide comprehensive care to cancer patients.

Bristol East Diagnostic Center     
To provide additional imaging services to the community, Johnston Memorial Hospital opened a diagnostic imaging center in Bristol, Va., just off Exit 7.

Joint Trails program     
Joint Trails, a progressive knee and hip joint replacement program, opened on the 3rd floor of Johnston Memorial Hospital.

2008

Urgent care center     
Johnston Memorial Hospital opened the Urgent Care Center to provide convenient and timely treatment for cases that don't require emergency room care.

Diabetes care center     
The Diabetes Care Center was opened to provide the latest in diabetes care, treatment and education.

2009

Surgery center     
The outpatient surgery center opened to provide same day surgical procedures in a comfortable, healing environment.

Johnston Memorial and Mountain States Health partnership     
The partnership between Mountain States Health and Johnston Memorial Hospital was made official in April 2009, ushering in a new era of health care for the residents of Southwest Virginia.

2010

Comprehensive wound care     
The Center for Comprehensive Wound Care specializes in addressing the underlying cause of difficult-to heal wounds and treating them to control infection and improve the overall health of patients.

2011

New Johnston Memorial Hospital built     
Johnston Memorial Hospital achieves Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) GOLD certification.

2014

Johnston Memorial Hospital launches first 24/7 cardiac cath lab in Southwest Virginia

Food

JMH Café

The JMH Café serves a variety of food options for visitors and is located on the 1st floor.

The Café is open for:

• Breakfast – 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Lunch – 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Dinner – 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

…and the late night grill is open 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Room service

Room service dining is also available, which allows you to order what you want, when you want it. Here are a few tips to remember when ordering:

• Call 258-3663 from your room
• Please allow up to 45 minutes for delivery
• Visitors may order a meal to be delivered, so that they can eat with a patient. Charges do apply. Payments may be made by credit or debit card only.

Vending machines

Vending machines are located on the 1st floor of the hospital, near the café.

About Abingdon, Virginia

To find out what Abingdon has to offer, please visit www.abingdon.com.

Low-Emission Vehicle Parking – Twenty-four parking spaces close to the building have been designated for low-emitting vehicles in an effort to encourage our guests to drive fuel-efficient cars.