Healing HealthCare Systems Celebrates 25 Years

July 24, 2017 – This summer marks the 25th anniversary of Healing HealthCare Systems (HHS) as a company.

The first hospital to use C.A.R.E. Programming was the Bradley Center in Columbus, Ga., which began broadcasting C.A.R.E. With Music in its public areas in June 1992.

Later that fall, HHS Founders Susan E. Mazer and Dallas Smith performed and spoke at their first national conference, the Symposium on Healthcare Design in San Diego. Their presentation was titled, “Music as Environmental Design.”

The following year, Washoe Medical Center in Reno, Nev., became the first hospital to broadcast The C.A.R.E. Channel. It was the same year that the first graphical web browser, Mosaic, was launched at the University of Illinois.

“Little did we know back then how much the Internet would change the way we consume information, access entertainment, and do business,” said Haydn Bertelson, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, HHS. “In addition to The C.A.R.E. Channel television broadcast in over 1000 hospitals, clients are adding a streaming version for patient access from home, and we’ve launched iOS and Android mobile apps as well.”

“Our website is a resource not only for information about C.A.R.E. Programming, but also how to improve the patient experience,” she added.

In the 25 years since HHS was founded, many changes have occurred in healthcare as well, including legislation to protect privacy (HIPAA), allow death with dignity in some states, overhaul Medicare, assess healthcare providers (HCAHPS survey), and reform healthcare (ACA).

“We’re grateful to all those who have partnered with us to bring C.A.R.E. Programming into their facilities,” said Bertelson. “Together, we’re making a difference in the lives of patients every day, across the country and abroad.”

For more company milestones and major events that have influenced healthcare in the past 25 years, go to this interactive timeline.