Carraway Hospital
Physicians Medical Center Carraway is a 617-bed hospital located at 1600 Carraway Boulevard in the Norwood neighborhood of Birmingham. The building is known for its landmark revolving blue star. In 2007, the hospital changed its name from Carraway Methodist Medical Center after a group of doctors purchased the facility out of bankruptcy.
History
Carraway Hospital was founded by Doctor Charles N. Carraway, who contracted with the areas industrial employers to provide health care to workers' families based on a monthly fee. He built a 16-bed infirmary adjacent to his home in Pratt City, then moved in 1916 to the present site in Norwood, calling it Norwood Hospital.
Carraway brought in other doctors to practice under one medical group, inspired by the success of the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota which he had visited numerous times. Incorporated in 1926 as the Norwood Clinic, the physicians group remains the largest single physicians group working at Carraway.
The hospital began courting possible buyers in 2001, including talks with Ardent Health Services of Nashville, HealthSouth, Tenet Healthcare and others.
Bankruptcy
In September 2006 the hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with ownership of the facility placed up for auction. After negotiations with several groups, including Baptist Health System, a group of doctors bidding as Physicians Medical Center LLC submitted a high bid of $26.5 million. The name change occurred the next year. The familiar blue star was kept along with the Carraway name.
References
- Smith A. (1996) Culture of Excellence: A History of Carraway Methodist Medical Center. 2 vols. Birmingham: Carraway Hospitals Foundation.
- Velasco, Anna (November 8, 2006) "Local doctors submit highest bid for Carraway." Birmingham News.