Melrose-Wakefield Hospital

Melrose-Wakefield Hospital
Hallmark Health System
Melrose-Wakefield Hospital Main Entrance
Geography
Location	585 Lebanon Street, Melrose, Massachusetts, United States
Coordinates	42°27′37″N 71°3′41″W / 42.46028°N 71.06139°W / 42.46028; -71.06139Coordinates: 42°27′37″N 71°3′41″W / 42.46028°N 71.06139°W / 42.46028; -71.06139
Organization
Care system	Private
Hospital type	General
Services
Emergency department	Level II trauma center
Beds	234
History
Founded	July 28, 1893
Links
Website	http://www.hallmarkhealth.org/melrose.html
Lists	Hospitals in Massachusetts

Melrose-Wakefield Hospital is a 234-bed non-profit hospital located in Melrose, Massachusetts. It is one of two general hospitals (along with Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford) operated by Medford-based Hallmark Health System.

Melrose-Wakefield Hospital was home to the world's first cochlear implant and laser surgery and it was among the first hospitals in the country to offer same day surgery. It is also among the top 10% of hospitals in the nation for stroke care and the top 15% in the nation for heart attack treatment.

Following a failed merger attempt with Boston-based Partners Healthcare, Melrose-Wakefield's parent company announced in June 2016 that it was seeking approval to merge with Wellforce, the operator of Tufts Medical Center in Boston and Lowell General Hospital in Lowell.

On July 28, 1893, the Melrose Hospital Association was established with forty-eight corporate members at the home of Decius Beebe on West Foster Street in Melrose, Massachusetts. The bylaws of the Association stated that the purpose for which the Association is constituted is to establish and maintain a hospital for the treatment and care of needy, sick and disabled persons of both sexes, and also of persons who may be able to pay for such treatment in whole or in part; such receipts to be used in the partial support of the hospital.

At first, the hospital was not fully self-sufficient, with the city often appropriating a sum of money towards its yearly expenses. During its beginnings, every third Sunday in May, local area churches collected contributions to support the hospital. In addition, the Hospital Guild, formed during the hospital's first year, held several fairs as fundraisers.