History of Logan County Hospital
Logan County Hospital was established after the appointment of the first hospital
Board of Trustees. The first meeting of that body was December 17, 1946. The first
members were C. A. Spencer, R. B. Hooker, B. H. Flyr, G. H. Newcom, and Dewey
Council.
By January 15, 1947, C. A. Spencer had resigned from the board and was replaced by
H. J. Wolfe. At the meeting on that date, the site for the new hospital was chosen:
Lots 21 through 29, Block 14, City of Oakley, the address being 320 Hudson, Oakley,
Kansas.
In February 1947 the board traveled to Cheyenne Wells, Colorado to view a hospital
with the architect, a Mr. Mann from the firm Mann & Company, Architects. In March,
visits to Hays, Russell, and Phillipsburg were made. In July, a contract with the firm of
Thomas Williamson & Co., Architects was signed. Also in March, 1947 the county
issued bonds for $105,000.00 for the construction of a hospital.
In June 1949, the county issued additional $95,000.00 in bonds for the construction of
a hospital. In August 1949, bids were accepted for construction in the amounts of: O.D.
Milligan, Manhattan, Ks., General Contractor for $136,230.00; Salt City Electric,
Electrical Contractor for $18,389.00 and Merriman Plumbing, Mechanical Contractor
for $33,931.00; for a total price of $188,550.00.
A lease for the operation of the hospital with Lutheran Homes and Hospitals, Fargo,
North Dakota, was signed prior to the opening of the hospital. An open house was held
on December 10, 1950, with the Lessee taking over the operation on January 15, 1951.
The memorial book which is in the lobby of the present hospital notes the persons
who contributed to the fund raising for equipping the hospital.
The hospital operation was transferred back to the Board of Trustees from the
Lutheran Homes and Hospitals Society on September 15, 1958.
In April, 1975 the Board accepted bids on a new hospital at the location of 211 Cherry,
Oakley, in the amounts of $661,300 for General from Busboom & Rauh, Salina, Ks.;
Holdredge Electric $132,450; Mechanical from Allen’s Plumbing and Heating $416,210;
Kitchen equipment from Pegler & Co. $46,963 for a total of $1,256,923.
The new hospital was opened on September 1. 1976. Several expansions of the
present building have been done over the years, including an assisted living wing
consisting of eight one-room apartments, and an independent living wing consisting
of twelve two-room apartments. Additionally, a clinic area was constructed at the
west end of the hospital and a connecting corridor and offices were added later.
Minor additions to Physical Therapy and other areas have also taken place over the
years.
In 2000, Rod Bates, long time administrator of the hospital, retired. He was
succeeded in December of 2000 by Jay Plank, who had been working with the
hospital in Harper, Kansas. It was also at this time that the hospital had applied for
and received designation from the federal government as a Critical Access Hospital.
This designation is a part of a federal program which exists to ensure that rural areas
of the country have access to health care.
The designation as a CAH (Critical Access Hospital) has served to bring about a
revitalization of the hospital and the knowledge that the future of health care in this
area is being adequately addressed. To that end, LCH expanded by agreeing to
operate the Logan County Manor.
The county purchased the old Oakley Manor from Beverly Enterprises in 2000 and
asked the hospital to take over operation of the facility. One of Mr. Plank’s first major
projects was the remodeling and reopening of the Manor as the Logan County Manor.
The home reopened in August of 2001 and has provided services to Logan County
residents and residents of the surrounding area since then.
The hospital has purchased a new x ray unit and in 2007, a new CT scanner, and has
upgraded its physical facility with new heating boilers and new air conditioning. The
hospital has also continued transportation and meals on wheels services to the
residents of the area and continually works toward the goal of “good patient care”.
Several medical specialties hold clinics once or more a month at the hospital, and the
hospital maintains a close relationship with New Frontiers Health Services, the
organization that owns and operates the New Frontiers Rural Health Clinic.
2008 has shown additional improvements to the hospital, with the addition of
Computerized Radiography and PACS digital radiology storage equipment. Goals in
2008-2009 are to increase the capacity of our Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
Department and Physical Therapy Services.
| 785-672-3211 |
| Logan County Hospital 211 Cherry Avenue Oakley, Kansas 67748 |
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