Fitzsimons Army Medical Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fitzsimons Army Medical Center |
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Unit Crest
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| Active | 1918 - 1999 |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Hospital |
| Motto(s) | "Comfort Heal Relieve" |
Fitzsimons Army Hospital, later called Fitzsimons Army Medical Center (FAMC) from 1974, was a special hospital for the United States Army. It was located on 577 acres of land in Aurora, Colorado, USA. This important facility opened its doors in 1918 and closed in 1999. Today, the land is being used for new civilian projects. These include the Anschutz Medical Campus and the Fitzsimons Innovation Community.
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History of Fitzsimons Army Medical Center
Why Fitzsimons Hospital Was Built
The United States Army started this hospital during World War I. They needed a place to treat many soldiers who were hurt, especially from chemical weapons used in Europe. Denver was known as a good place to treat people with tuberculosis. Because of this, local citizens asked the Army to build the new hospital there.
Opening and Naming the Hospital
The hospital was first called Army Hospital 21. It officially opened in the autumn of 1918 in Aurora, Colorado. At that time, Aurora was a very small town with less than 1,000 people. In July 1920, the hospital was renamed Fitzsimons Army Hospital. This was to honor Lt. William T. Fitzsimons, the first American medical officer who died in World War I.
Building 500 and World War II Service
A large new building, known as Building 500, was finished in 1941. It was the biggest building in Colorado at that time. Fitzsimons was very busy during World War II. It treated many soldiers returning from the war. It also became one of the Army's top places for medical training.
President Eisenhower's Stays at Fitzsimons
In the 1950s, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was the President of the United States, stayed at Fitzsimons three times. He received treatment there for his heart condition. In September 1955, while on vacation in Denver, he had a heart attack. He was cared for at Fitzsimons. In 2000, some rooms on the hospital's eighth floor were made to look just like they did when President Eisenhower was recovering there.
Fitzsimons Hospital Closes Its Doors
In July 1995, a special group decided that Fitzsimons Army Medical Center should close. The hospital officially closed in 1999. Only the Edgar J. McWhethy Army Reserve Center stayed open, but it moved to a different part of the site.
What Replaced the Hospital?
The land where Fitzsimons once stood is now being redeveloped for civilian use. This big project is expected to cost billions of dollars. New buildings include the University of Colorado Hospital's Anschutz Inpatient Pavilion and the Children's Hospital. The medical campus also has research and education facilities for the University of Colorado Denver. One of these is the Ben Nighthorse Campbell Center for Native American Research, named after U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell.
Other new buildings on the former base include the Bioscience Park Center and Bioscience East. These are commercial lab buildings. There is also 21 Fitzsimons, a town center with homes and shops. A new Veterans Affairs Medical Center opened here in 2018.
United States Army Medical Equipment and Optical School (USAMEOS)
Fitzsimons Army Medical Center was also home to the United States Army Medical Equipment and Optical School (USAMEOS). This school trained technicians for the Army. They learned how to repair medical equipment or work in optical labs.
What Did USAMEOS Technicians Do?
Technicians trained in Biomedical Equipment Repair were called BMETs. They installed, maintained, and repaired important medical equipment. This included machines that help keep people alive, diagnostic tools, and imaging devices. Optical laboratory technicians learned how to make and repair glasses and other optical items.
Training at USAMEOS
The training at USAMEOS was very detailed and hands-on. Students spent many hours in class each day. They learned about things like how the body works, basic electricity, and how digital circuits work. They also learned how to fix different types of medical equipment, including X-ray machines. After finishing the basic course, students would often work in an Army unit to get real-world experience. The school closed in 1999 when the base closed.
Fitzsimons was also a training center for Army practical nurses. The last class of these nurses graduated on March 22, 1996.
Images for kids
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The Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in 1989
