Our History
Humble beginnings
In 1879, three Franciscan Sisters arrived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on a mission to provide nursing care to the community. Out of a small house on Fourth and Walnut streets, they began operating their health care ministry. At the same time, a group of Felician Sisters was also providing ministry and health care services to families throughout Wisconsin. Little did either group realize that their Missions would link together and evolve over the next century into one of the region’s largest and most respected health care organizations.
Thirty-five miles to the south in Racine in 1882, Franciscan Sisters rounded up 10 beds and converted the old Blake House on Campbell and 16th Streets into a hospital.
As the areas expanded, so did the need for health care. In 1884, St. Joseph’s Hospital opened at 4th and Reservoir Streets. A rapidly growing patient population spurred the construction of a number of new hospitals over the next few decades including a new location for St. Joseph at 50th and Chambers and St. Michael Hospital on Villard Avenue along with the Felicians’ St. Francis Hospital at 16th and Euclid Streets. These new facilities dramatically increased patient capacity and provided the opportunity to expand a number of important programs to meet the growing need for health services.
In 1983, Wheaton Franciscan Services, Inc. (WFSI) was founded and Elmbrook Memorial Hospital, started by the Miseracordia Sisters, became part of the Wheaton Franciscan System. A year later, The Wheaton and Felician Systems each began providing home health services which are now offered under the name of Wheaton Franciscan Home Health & Hospice.
Covenant Healthcare
The Felician and Wheaton Franciscan Sisters deepened their partnership with the formation of an integrated delivery system known as Covenant Healthcare in 1993. Hospitals included St. Joseph, Elmbrook Memorial, St Michael, and St. Francis Hospital.
The following decade brought more changes including the acquisition of extended care facility Marian Franciscan Center, along with the first transitional care facilities in Wisconsin including Franciscan Woods, which opened on the campus of Elmbrook Memorial in 1993 and The Terrace at St. Francis, which opened on the campus of St. Francis Hospital in 1994.
To better serve its patients, Covenant Healthcare launched a number of full service outpatient centers as well as other specialty services Cancer Care Centers featuring leading-edge treatment options, Outpatient Surgery Centers, Rehabilitation Services, Diagnostic, Rehab & Fitness Centers and Women’s Health Centers.
In 2004, The Wisconsin Heart Hospital (TWHH) opened in Wauwatosa and is now the state’s only specialty heart hospital.
All Saints Healthcare
In 1991, the two major hospitals in Racine - Saint Mary’s and St. Luke’s - affiliated to become All Saints Healthcare System. St. Luke’s had once operated in a rented house in 1872 and moved to a 20 bed hospital building in 1876 affiliating with St. Mary’s to form All Saints. All Saints Medical Group was formed in 1994 with the consolidation of the Racine and Kurten Medical Groups into All Saints Healthcare.
A Common Name and Mission
In July of 2006, ever striving to fulfill their Mission and meet the changing needs of the times, the Sisters’ corporate entity Wheaton Franciscan Services brought together its two Wisconsin regions - Covenant Healthcare and All Saints Healthcare - to be known commonly throughout Southeast Wisconsin as Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare and Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group.
In 2007, The Wisconsin Heart Hospital joined Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare and the Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group.
As Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare continues on the course set by its founding Sisters, it looks to its rich past to guide its future. No matter what changes the future might bring in terms of technology of care, its Mission remains the same - to live out the healing ministry of Jesus by providing exceptional and compassionate health care service to all who need it.