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History of Logan County Hospital

     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.

    The year 2008 showed 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.