Broward Health, formerly the North Broward Hospital District, is one of the 10 largest health systems in the U.S. Located in Broward County, Florida, Broward Health has the county’s first certified stroke center and only liver transplant program. Broward Health currently operates more than 30 healthcare facilities, including Broward Health Medical Center, Broward Health North, Broward Health Imperial Point, Broward Health Coral Springs, Chris Evert Children’s Hospital, and Broward Health Weston.History of Broward HealthThe Beginnings of Consolidated Healthcare in Broward CountyIn the land boom of the 1920s, the Wallace Apartments were converted into the Edwards-Maxwell Hospital, the first hospital in Broward County. Soon, the land boom busted, followed by the September 1926 hurricane, one of the worst in county history. Due to lack of patients able to pay for care, the hospital was forced to close in 1929. It was reopened by Juanita Clay in 1932, and remained successful until it was purchased in 1937 by Medical Services, Inc., an insurance company owned by Dr. F.A. Brunson and M.L. Menger. Medical Services issued hospital and family insurance policies that required the use of their own hospital and doctors. The Broward County medical community rebelled, refusing to use the Medical Services hospital.In May 1937, the Broward County Medical Association (BCMA) met to discuss plans to build a public hospital, feeling that private hospitals could not be relied upon for continuity of service and only a community-owned hospital would offer security. The consensus of the meeting was to build a hospital supported by the city, county, or a hospital district. The result of the meeting was a unanimous motion to form the Broward Hospital Association (BHA). From that point on, the BHA began its mission to raise the funds needed to build a hospital. The Chairman, James D. Camp, as well as the other members, explored every possibility of finding funds; however, government-assisted funding simply wasn’t available. During this time, the county was experiencing such rapid growth, the need for facilities became critical.
