Rich History in Siouxland
UnityPoint Health — St. Luke's traces its roots back to 1884 when Sioux City's first hospital, Samaritan Hospital, was opened.
The hospital as it exists today was founded in 1966 through the consolidation of Lutheran and Methodist Hospitals in Sioux City. Soon after the consolidation, the hospitals begin making plans for a brand new building for St. Luke's patients. In 1972, St. Luke's beautiful new central building, located at 27th and Stone Park Blvd., welcomes its first patient. And, over the years, additional work is completed on the central building adding new floors and vital areas of care.
In 1989, Physician Center One opens on St. Luke's campus, housing St. Luke's physicians as well as independent medical offices. Just one year later, construction begins on an $18 million expansion and renovation project to improve outpatient care at St. Luke's. The project creates a new main patient entrance off of 28th Street and more parking, a cardiology center and Institute for Health Education. During this time, our school of nursing officially becomes known as St. Luke's College. Today, St. Luke's College - UnityPoint Health offers programs in nursing, radiology and respiratory care as well as certificate programs in medical laboratory science and phlebotomy and a clinical pastoral education program.
In 1996, St. Luke's also joins Iowa Health System, a grassroots partnership of Iowa hospitals in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and Dubuque.
Campus enhancements continue with the 2003 opening of Physician Center Two which houses the hospital's Same Day Surgery Center. Later, the surgery center becomes a joint venture between St. Luke's and our physician partners and is known as Pierce Street Same Day Surgery.
In 2005, St. Luke's announces a $10 million project to enhance women's and children's services including the building of a new neonatal intensive care unit, expansion of labor and delivery and renovation of the mother and baby unit. Work on the neonatal intensive care unit, which cares for approximately 400 newborns each year, is completed in 2005. St. Luke's welcomes families into the newly expanded labor and delivery and renovated mother and baby unit in 2006. Throughout this time, St. Luke's remains Siouxland's number one choice for childbirth with three out of every four Siouxland families choosing St. Luke's.
St. Luke's growth continues with the renovation and construction of St. Luke's new surgical area in 2008. The project adds 8,700 square feet to the existing surgical space and renovates another 25,000 square feet on the hospital's first floor. Completed in 2010, the project includes new surgery suites, recovery and pre- and post-operative areas and comfortable waiting area.
In 2012, St. Luke's College moves from its original location just south of the hospital to Physician Center One. It is a move that ensures future health care professionals have access to enhanced learning classrooms and labs. With the move, Physician Center One is renamed the St. Luke's College building and Physician Center Two is subsequently renamed Pierce Street Physician Center.
To better align our name with our strategic vision for the future, Iowa Health System and its affiliates including St. Luke's changes its name to UnityPoint Health in April 2013. The change allows the Iowa based organization to reach outside of its borders to include hospitals in neighboring states. Because of the change, the names of our affiliates have as transitioned, as well:
- St. Luke's is now known as UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's
- St. Luke's Clinic Network is UnityPoint Clinic
- St. Luke's Home Care is UnityPoint at Home
With a huge surge in demand for outpatient services expected within the next 10 years, St. Luke's opens its doors on Sunnybrook Medical Plaza in September 2013. Located in the bustling Sunnybrook Business District area of Sioux City, the state-of-the-art facility provides a new access point for expanded outpatient and physician services, advanced medical technology and the added convenience of unique amenities designed with patients' specific needs in mind. Offering a wide range of outpatient services including imaging, cardiology, primary and urgent care and specialty services, Sunnybrook Plaza Medical advocates seamless scheduling, strong patient involvement in the health care decision making process and enhanced communication between providers involved in all aspects of the patient's care.