How Chesapeake Built A Health care system From Scratch
Picture this: you live in a city of 73,000 people, but the nearest hospital requires driving across railroad tracks, through drawbridges, down winding two-lane roads. When you need emergency care, you’re competing with residents from neighboring cities who always seem to get the better appointments. What would you do? In 1967, two determined men from Chesapeake drove to Richmond with a simple request that would spark a decade-long battle.
1967: A City Without Healthcare.
Dr. Stanley Jennings and lawyer Jim Leftwich faced immediate rejection. State officials didn’t even recognize Chesapeake as a real city. They were told their residents could simply travel to Norfolk or Portsmouth for care. But these men had witnessed something powerful: neighbors willing to wait two hours on street corners just to see their local doctor. They knew their community deserved better.
“We don’t recognize you as a city” – State Health Officials, 1969.
What happened next proves the power of grassroots healthcare advocacy. Residents organized petition drives, packed town halls, and turned hospital planning into their rallying cry. When federal funding seemed impossible, 1,300 volunteers canvassed every neighborhood in this 353-square-mile city. They held dance marathons, garage sales, and cookouts. One determined woman even solicited donations while pushing a baby carriage on a sweltering day.
1,300 Volunteers Raised $1.24 Million.
After years of bureaucratic roadblocks, Chesapeake finally achieved something remarkable. They convinced regional health officials to recognize them as a distinct medical district. The Tidewater Regional Health Planning Council found that 44 percent of Chesapeake residents lived more than 20 minutes from emergency care. The proposed hospital would cut that time in half. Federal grant money finally followed.
90% Occupancy Rate From Day One.
When Chesapeake General Hospital opened in January 1976, something extraordinary happened. Within days, 85 percent of beds were filled. By spring, occupancy rates hit 90 percent and stayed there. The community that fought so hard for healthcare access was finally getting the care they deserved, close to home. But this was just the beginning of their healthcare transformation.
National Recognition. Neighborly Care.
Today, Chesapeake Regional Healthcare stands as proof that community-driven healthcare works. This 330-bed system employs over 2,600 people and delivers almost 3,000 babies annually.
This growth wasn’t just about getting bigger. It was about getting better. It was about earning your trust. And this commitment to excellence has been recognized on a national level. In 2024, Money Magazine named Chesapeake Regional Healthcare one of the Best Hospitals in the country, and one of only six in all of Virginia. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranks us as a high-performing hospital for treating seven different conditions, including heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and colon cancer surgery. Our nurses have achieved Magnet Recognition®, which is the highest national honor for nursing excellence. From cardiology to cancer care, from labor and delivery to patient safety, our teams are consistently earning national awards for the quality of their work. We’re especially proud to be a Comprehensive Stroke Center, and we treat the most stroke patients in the entire region.
Passion can make magic happen.
This is the outcome of that fighting spirit from the 1960s. It’s proof that a hospital founded by a community can deliver world-class care. Whether you need routine care or specialized treatment, you deserve healthcare that puts your community first. Ready to experience the difference that community-focused care makes?