75 Years of Service

Care Close to Home Since 1950

From a six-bed residence to a comprehensive rural health system serving northeast Colorado and western Nebraska

Our Mission

Providing excellent personalized healthcare for life.

Our Vision

To be the premier rural health system through continuous investment in patients, employees, and innovative technologies.

Our Values

The principles that guide everything we do

Stewardship

Responsible use of resources and community trust.

Compassion

Respectful, patient-centered care.

Diversity

Welcoming different backgrounds and perspectives.

Appreciation

Recognizing our workforce and those we serve.

Making a Difference Every Day

Real numbers that show our commitment to rural healthcare excellence

10,000+

Annual Clinic Visits

17,000+

Outpatient Encounters

1,200+

Emergency Room Visits

A Legacy of Care: The Story of Sedgwick County Health Center

This historical account was originally authored by Doris Heath, RN, a devoted nurse and longtime leader within our organization. Doris faithfully documented and preserved the story of Sedgwick County Health Center, revising this history in 2005 and again in 2017. Her decades of service in our hospital and as Director of Nursing at Sedgwick County Memorial Nursing Home shaped not only our clinical standards, but our culture of care.

The most recent updates have been thoughtfully expanded to reflect continued growth and system development. We remain deeply grateful for Doris’s stewardship of our history and are honored to carry her work forward.

  • 1. Frontier Medicine (Early 1900s) Medical care in Sedgwick County began in physicians’ homes, stores, and hotels. Itinerant doctors traveled the region to treat residents. A quarantine “pest house” on 10th Street isolated infectious patients, marking the community’s earliest organized public health effort.
  • 2. First Community Hospital (1921) The first formal community hospital opened in a 14-room house at 600 West 5th Street. Staffed by five physicians, this marked the beginning of structured, centralized medical care in Sedgwick County.
  • 3. Emergency Services Begin (1927) A four-bed emergency hospital opened on the second floor of 101 Cedar Street. This small but critical step expanded urgent care access for residents in the growing community.
  • 4. Early Maternity Care (1930s) A maternity home located south of Julesburg provided specialized care for mothers and newborns, strengthening local access to childbirth services during a time of limited rural resources.
  • 5. Hospital Expansion (1932) Due to increased surgical demand, a residence at 301 East 4th Street became a fully equipped six-bed hospital. As need grew, additional rooms were converted for patient care, expanding capacity to twelve beds.
  • 6. Growing Community Need (1940) A maternity home relocated to East 5th Street, reflecting ongoing growth in community health services and increasing demand for maternal and newborn care.
  • 7. Public Hospital Movement (Late 1940s) Citizens petitioned the newly formed Hospital Board of Trustees to establish a publicly funded hospital supported by tax revenue. Community commitment laid the financial groundwork for modern facilities.
  • 8. Dedication of New Hospital (1950) With $105,000 raised locally to match Hill-Burton funds, a new hospital was dedicated on November 19, 1950. The facility included modern operating rooms, laboratory services, and a six-bassinet nursery. The founding Administrator of the facility was Helen R. Schrader, RN.
  • 9. Civil Defense Preparedness (1954) A civil defense disaster room was established in the hospital basement, equipped with emergency medical supplies. Monthly admissions ranged from 40 to 70 patients.
  • 10. Facility Expansion (1958–1962) A new wing was added in 1958, followed by dedication of a 32-bed nursing home in 1962. Community fundraising and support played a key role in both expansions.
  • 11. Community Engagement (1970s) Memorial funds and local fundraising efforts supported medical equipment purchases. The Hospital Helpers (2-H Club) formed to strengthen financial and volunteer support for hospital and nursing home services.
  • 12. Valley Medical Clinic (1980) Valley Medical Clinic opened on campus, providing office and treatment space for three full-time physicians. This marked a major step toward coordinated outpatient care.
  • 13. Foundation & Sales Tax Support (1992–1996) Gateway Medical Foundation was established to support fundraising. In 1996, voters approved a 1% sales tax, funding major renovations and future expansion projects.
  • 14. Living Center & System Identity (1998) The Jacob J. and Anne B. Walter Memorial Living Center opened, expanding residential services. The same year, the Valley Medical Clinic of Big Springs was established. With the growth, the name Sedgwick County Health Center was adopted to reflect the broader continuum of care.
  • 15. Modern Growth & Integration (2005–2024) Facility expansions in 2005 strengthened emergency, surgical, and specialty services. In 2024, Valley Medical Clinic of Chappell opened, and integrated Mental & Behavioral Health services launched, continuing system-wide growth across Colorado and Nebraska.

A Legacy of Care: The Story of Sedgwick County Health Center

This historical account was originally authored by Dorris Heath, RN, a devoted nurse and longtime leader within our organization. Dorris faithfully documented and preserved the story of Sedgwick County Health Center, revising this history in 2005 and again in 2017. Her decades of service in our hospital and as Director of Nursing at Sedgwick County Memorial Nursing Home shaped not only our clinical standards, but our culture of care.

The most recent updates have been thoughtfully expanded to reflect continued growth and system development. We remain deeply grateful for Dorris’s stewardship of our history and are honored to carry her work forward.

  • 1. Frontier Medicine (Early 1900s) Medical care in Sedgwick County began in physicians’ homes, stores, and hotels. Itinerant doctors traveled the region to treat residents. A quarantine “pest house” on 10th Street isolated infectious patients, marking the community’s earliest organized public health effort.
  • 2. First Community Hospital (1921) The first formal community hospital opened in a 14-room house at 600 West 5th Street. Staffed by five physicians, this marked the beginning of structured, centralized medical care in Sedgwick County.
  • 3. Emergency Services Begin (1927) A four-bed emergency hospital opened on the second floor of 101 Cedar Street. This small but critical step expanded urgent care access for residents in the growing community.
  • 4. Early Maternity Care (1930s) A maternity home located south of Julesburg provided specialized care for mothers and newborns, strengthening local access to childbirth services during a time of limited rural resources.
  • 5. Hospital Expansion (1932) Due to increased surgical demand, a residence at 301 East 4th Street became a fully equipped six-bed hospital. As need grew, additional rooms were converted for patient care, expanding capacity to twelve beds.
  • 6. Growing Community Need (1940) A maternity home relocated to East 5th Street, reflecting ongoing growth in community health services and increasing demand for maternal and newborn care.
  • 7. Public Hospital Movement (Late 1940s) Citizens petitioned the newly formed Hospital Board of Trustees to establish a publicly funded hospital supported by tax revenue. Community commitment laid the financial groundwork for modern facilities.
  • 8. Dedication of New Hospital (1950) With $105,000 raised locally to match Hill-Burton funds, a new hospital was dedicated on November 19, 1950. The facility included modern operating rooms, laboratory services, and a six-bassinet nursery. The founding Administrator of the facility was Helen R. Schrader, RN.
  • 9. Civil Defense Preparedness (1954) A civil defense disaster room was established in the hospital basement, equipped with emergency medical supplies. Monthly admissions ranged from 40 to 70 patients.
  • 10. Facility Expansion (1958–1962) A new wing was added in 1958, followed by dedication of a 32-bed nursing home in 1962. Community fundraising and support played a key role in both expansions.
  • 11. Community Engagement (1970s) Memorial funds and local fundraising efforts supported medical equipment purchases. The Hospital Helpers (2-H Club) formed to strengthen financial and volunteer support for hospital and nursing home services.
  • 12. Valley Medical Clinic (1980) Valley Medical Clinic opened on campus, providing office and treatment space for three full-time physicians. This marked a major step toward coordinated outpatient care.
  • 13. Foundation & Sales Tax Support (1992–1996) Gateway Medical Foundation was established to support fundraising. In 1996, voters approved a 1% sales tax, funding major renovations and future expansion projects.
  • 14. Living Center & System Identity (1998) The Jacob J. and Anne B. Walter Memorial Living Center opened, expanding residential services. The same year, the Valley Medical Clinic of Big Springs was established. With the growth, the name Sedgwick County Health Center was adopted to reflect the broader continuum of care.
  • 15. Modern Growth & Integration (2005–2024) Facility expansions in 2005 strengthened emergency, surgical, and specialty services. In 2024, Valley Medical Clinic of Chappell opened, and integrated Mental & Behavioral Health services launched, continuing system-wide growth across Colorado and Nebraska.