In 1916, the Tryon Infirmary was founded by physicians Allen J. Jervey and Marion C. Palmer, in a boarding house that they rented.[3] One of their patients donated $10,000 to have a hospital built. Local donors from Tryon, North Carolina gave another $57,000 and also The Duke Endowment gave $40,000.[3] Jersey donated the land where a 24-bed hospital was built with a stone façade. On November 8, 1929, St. Luke's Hospital opened with eleven employees.[3]
The hospital expanded in 1954 and 1959, increasing the number of beds to 50. By the 1960s, St. Luke's Hospital could not be added onto anymore.[3] A $1.5 million bond was announced to residents for the construction of a new hospital. Advertisements were put in newspapers, both for and against a new hospital.[3] On February 16, 1968, residents voted in favor of having a new hospital built on North Carolina Highway 108 by Columbus, North Carolina on 25 acres that was donated by the St. Luke's Auxiliary.[3]
In the spring of 1970, there was a ground breaking for the new hospital. On April 16, 1972, St. Luke's Hospital opened at its new location.[3]
After St. Luke's hospital moved, the former property was given to Polk County and was renamed the Jervey-Palmer building.[4] It was used by the county for offices, including its social services department, a senior center and also for veteran's services.[4][5]
In 2008, St. Luke's Hospital and Atrium Health signed a partnership agreement.[6] In 2020, Atrium Health told the hospital that it would not be renewing their partnership. This then forced the board of directors to start looking for a new partner for the hospital. They did not want to sell it or have a partner turn it into a urgent care.[6]
On August 19, 2024, AdventHealth announced that it would be taking over the management of St. Luke's Hospital.[7][8][9] AdventHealth had signed an agreement to lease the hospital from Polk County for 20 years.[2] A new board will be created: two from St. Luke's board of directors, two from the community and five chosen by AdventHealth.[6] In early October, St. Luke's Hospital was rebranded to AdventHealth Polk.[10]
Services
In September 2006, St. Luke's Hospital became only the second medical facility in North Carolina to purchase the PROfx operating table,[11] it was purchased for $150,000 for hip replacement surgery.[11][12]
