Happy 40th Anniversary Henry Ford Medical Center - West Bloomfield

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Bloomfield – The medical center that became a hospital is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The community is invited to enjoy a display of photos from the archives the week of November 16.

When Henry Ford Medical Center – West Bloomfield opened on November 17, 1975, it was one of the first to provide multiple physician services miles away from a hospital.

Staffed by the Henry Ford Medical Group, and a pioneer in ambulatory care, the facility has been a model for those that followed. It was built on the premise that patients want to receive health care close to home and to serve communities in fast-growing regions in Southeast Michigan. At the same time, Henry Ford Health System maintained its commitment to Detroit.

The West Bloomfield groundbreaking was done in a spectacular fashion – with dynamite!

The building that opened in 1975 included the lobby, West Wing, and Emergency Department. Henry Ford II and Edsel Ford II spoke at the festivities.

The original parcel of 78 acres was later expanded to 160 acres, and extends one mile, to 14 Mile Rd. Maplegrove, Henry Ford’s nationally recognized substance abuse center, was added to the property in 1979.

Major additions over the years

In 1985, the medical center added Ambulatory Surgery and expanded the Emergency Department. The East Wing was built in 1993, and 2002 brought the Josephine Ford Cancer Center/Williams International Wing.

In 2009, Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital opened after more than three years of construction. During that time, many clinics moved permanently to the Farmington Road and Columbus (Novi) medical centers to make room for hospital services.

And a legend

In the ‘70s, West Bloomfield was a very rural area, and the medical center was surrounded by farms. A recurring story says that one day, the automatic doors opened, and a horse walked into Emergency. Security escorted it out of the building. Did it really happen? It’s not known if there is any truth to the story, but it has become a medical center legend.

The medical center is now part of Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, 6777 W. Maple, West Bloomfield.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Sally Ann Brown
(248) 325-3081
sbrown2@hfhs.org