The 1918 flu pandemic prompted Manteca leaders to pursue a hospital for the community.

That first hospital — located in the building that has since been renovated and now houses the HOPE Family Shelter on the southeast corner of Yosemite and Sequoia avenues — opened on Aug. 1, 1919. Built at a cost of $25,000, it boasted 18 private rooms, two wards, an operating room and two bathrooms.

Dr. Roscoe Gray who moved from the Bay Area to Manteca to build the hospital, couldn’t make a go of it. The hospital closed on June 4, 1920 forcing those needing hospital care to travel to Stockton.

That was the case for the next 42 years.

Then 60 years ago on Feb. 26, 1962 Manteca Hospital —the predecessor to Doctors Hospital — opened its doors on North Street.

It was in an 11,000-square-foot one-story building costing $335,000. To provide perspective that’s the square footage of roughly four 7-Eleven convenience stores and less than today’s median selling price of a home in Manteca.

Within that 11,000 square feet were 28 beds including a four-bed maternity ward, 2-bed labor unit, three four-bedroom wards, five two-bedroom wards, and a two-bed unit with reverse air serving as an isolation and recovery room.

There was two surgical units with one serving as an emergency room, one central supply unit, a nursing station, an X-ray room, a small laboratory, a kitchen, dining area, an office and two lounges — one for the doctors and one for the nurses.

It took six months to build after ground was broken on Aug. 2, 1961 on the edge of the just built Magna Terra Estates neighborhood developed by the late Antone Raymus.

The first physicians were Dr. Russell Carter Sr., Dr. Robert Winters, Dr. George Veldstra, Dr. Benjamin Taylor and Dr. Oscar Eisner all of Manteca as well as Dr. Gilbert Den Dulk and Dr. James Ben, both of Ripon.

The push for a Manteca hospital started in 1955 when a community-based group formed the South San Joaquin County Hospital Association. The group’s goal was to establish a district hospital using a tax assessment.

The group was headed by Bill Perry as president. Other members were Walter Proper, Judge Priscilla Haynes, Roy Reedy, Lena Kapka, and Tillie McCullogh.

When that effort failed to gain traction, the Central Valley Hospital Corporation was established to pursue a privately owned hospital. The first directors included Ralph and Rose Thole as president and directors Dr. Russell Carter Sr., dentist Lloyd Henry, and Bill Perry.

The first shift went by on Feb. 27, 1962 without a single patient admitted. The initial PM shift had the honor of admitting the first patient, Hugo DeGraff.

The next day on Feb. 28 Dr. Veldstra delivered the hospital’s first baby, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Limas. The couple was not charged. They also received gifts valued at over $500 from businesses in the community.

Within a year patient load was exceeding the capacity. Patients were being housed in hallways. The hospital gained state permission to expand.

Patient beds increased from 28 to 49 in 1965.

All electric beds were purchased to replace hand-cranked beds. Additional nursing stations were built. Other departments were enlarged. A new outpatient entrance plus a physical therapy department were also added. Respiratory care for outpatients and inpatients was also part of the expansion.

Then in 1968 two coronary units were added along with monitoring equipment. Two more coronary care beds were added in 1974 along with advance cardiac monitoring equipment.

The four bedroom units were eliminated in 1975. They were converted to two beds or private rooms.

A new emergency room was added in 1976 to triple that department’s capacity.

Then in 1977 National Medical Enterprises — the forerunner of Tenet Health Care Corporation — purchased the hospital. After acquiring the facility they changed the name to Doctors Hospital of Manteca.

In 1985 there was a labor and delivery addition, the nursery doubled in size, and an alternative birthing room added. The hospital added a nuclear medicine unit. There was also outpatient beds added, two new operating rooms built, and a new dining room added.

The last big expansion was in 1988 as the number of beds increased from 49 to 73. A new high tech emergency room was completed. Other new features included a 12-bed intensive/coronary care unit a medical surgery multi-specialty unit, a pediatric room, conference room, and expansion of other departments.

In the years since Doctors Hospital has continually upgraded its facilities adding the newest proven medical care technology.

When the doors opened 60 years ago the hospital had 41 employees. Today there are more than 500 hospital workers.

The number of doctors with staff privileges has gone from seven to more than 150.

Back then fathers were not allowed in delivery rooms. Now mothers are allowed to have anyone they wish in the birthing unit.

Patients in 1962 typically stayed four to five days. Now many patients go home the same day or stay overnight.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com