Caring Through Generations

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From our first patient in 1908 to the nearly 300,000 patients we care for today, MeritCare Health System has been a health care partner to thousands, spanning generations.

Babies, parents, grandparents, great grandparents – at every stage of life, we have been here, combining each era's latest technology and knowledge with timeless, compassionate care. With a 100-year history, we have been privileged to know and care for generations of families in our region – a tradition we cherish.

The strength of families can often be traced to values passed down from one generation to the next. The same holds true at MeritCare. Thanks to our founders, our values include:

• Patients come first. Today, this priority drives every decision at MeritCare.
• Care for all. Our founders envisioned a hospital open to all, regardless of ability to pay.
• Readily available expertise. With over 425 doctors in more than 70 specialty areas, today's MeritCare has the depth and breadth of health care to meet wide-ranging needs.
• High quality care close to home. Our regional network spans 250 miles from Jamestown, N.D. to Bemidji, Minn., bringing services to your community.

Strong and stable, MeritCare is here for you today – and tomorrow, too. We are proud to light the way for generations to come. Thank you for allowing us to serve you and your family.

In honor of our patients, we're proud to share with you their stories – from St. Luke's first patient in 1908 to advanced care available today.

1908: Minnie Stoa

Minnie Stoa never intended to be a celebrity, but on Feb. 25, she became the first patient at St. Luke's Hospital. The 16-year-old from Buxton, N.D., needed an emergency appendectomy. Today, Minnie's story lives on. Her youngest nephew is a doctor at MeritCare.

 

1987: Alvaro Garza

Winter fun took a disastrous turn when 11-year-old Alvaro Garza broke through the frozen Red River. Local rescue teams rushed to the scene. Forty five minutes later, he was found – not breathing, with no pulse.

 

1989: Carol Lemier

Kidney failure in her late 20s left Carol Lemier with a dim future. Weakened and dispirited, she underwent months of dialysis; then came a life-changing gift. Nineteen years later, she recalls how one person's generosity made an incredible difference.

 

1994: Helgoe quadruplets

Even her determination to be a mother could not prepare Cathy Helgoe, Cavalier, N.D., for the news. "When the ultrasound technician held up four fingers, we were in shock," she says. Fourteen years later, Cathy has a lot more to tell.

 

2003: Greg Hahn

At first, Greg Hahn thought it was just another bout with indigestion. He took an antacid, but the pain continued, spreading to his arms and squeezing his chest. "That's when I got in my truck and headed to MeritCare," he says. "On my walk over, I smoked my last cigarette…"

 

2005: Tammy Peterson

When Tammy Peterson returned home one chilly evening in Warroad, Minn., she had no idea the nightmare that awaited her. Her estranged boyfriend had been drinking. He held a .22-caliber rifle. They struggled, she ran, but he began to shoot…