---

Description

---

HCH has anchored Hillsboros Main Street for over 80 years And our area roots go back well over 100 years Throughout that time our emphasis on local values and personal care has stayed as strong as ever It is our background in caring and our optimistic look to the future that keeps us strong As we look to the future with new technologies and treatments we are mindful of our roots Quality care lcose to home is more than a slogan

Mission
The mission of Hillsboro Community Medical Center is to provide quality health services that are responsive to the needs and values of the community we serve

---

History

---

Hillsboro Community Medical Center has a long history in caring for residents

The settlers of the Hillsboro community gave early expression of their faith in God and of their gratitude for His blessings by building churches and schools The feeling of the need for a hospital to serve the physically sick was also present almost from the beginning

1880 Brother Tobias Martin and Sister Amanda Dohner from Pennsylvania contacted Krimmer Mennonite Brethren Church in Marion County Kansas about establishing an Orphans Home which later became a Home for the Aged

On March 17 1889 the institution was dedicated to the service of the Lord as a Home for the Friendless and the Homeless The State of Kansas granted a charter to this new institution later that same year It was decided that the KMB Church and Bro Martin would jointly carry on the work of this institution The conference gave the home the official title of the quotIndustrial School and Hygiene Home for the Friendlessquot

October 23 1893 the Conference decided that a larger building was needed for the home By October 18 1896 the building was completed and dedicated for service

For about 20 years this Institution was the Home for Aged and Friendless people It was unique in its organization and with the 105 acres of land it was more or less financially selfsupporting But what made it a real home for the aged and the friendless was the Love of God in the hearts of those in charge They worked hard and faithfully doing their work as unto God and not unto man God richly blessed the institution

On May 10 1915 the institution was rechartered under the new name of Salem Home and Hospital Some of the rooms were rearranged and equipped to serve as hospital rooms Arrangements were also made and equipment installed to take care of minor and major surgery

Limited space was available for hospital service in the home and more room was badly needed to carry on During the years 1917 and 1918 a new hospital building was erected sponsored largely by the KMB Conference but financially also supported by the other churches in the community and by the City of Hillsboro

The original Old Home for the Aged that was built near Hillsboro in 1896 was struck by lightning on April 19 1944 and quotwas completely destroyed by the resulting fire after all the inmates as they were referred to in those days of the home as well as some of the contents had been removedquot The most needy patients were immediately moved into what was then known as the Annex to the Hospital and this division was then for many years known as The Salem Home

On February 14 1945 the temporary Home for the Aged organization invested some of the money received from the Salem Home and Hospital Corporation in the purchase of what was then known as the Mission Home

During the years that had elapsed the Hospital in Hillsboro operated by the Salem Home and Hospital Corporation had become too small for the community needs and was also found to be inadequate as far as equipment was concerned Many in the community felt that a new larger and better equipped Hospital was needed in this community The new hospital was completed in November 1956

Remodeling plans to change the old hospital building into a Home for the Aged were immediately made and in late November the actual remodeling work got under way Residents moved in on May 6 1957

A new addition was added to the hospital and dedicated in 1975 Residents from the Home for the Aged were moved to Salem Home

In 1988 Home Health was offered at Salem Hospital Inc

New Life Development Center was added in 1992 The geriatric psychiatric unit was one of the first in the state of Kansas and remains a top quality facility

In 1998 church delegates at Salem Hospital Inc voted to transfer all assets to a Public Building Commission of the City of Hillsboro The City then subleased the assets back to Salem Hospital Inc the corporate entity under which the organizations was founded The medical center remains a private notforprofit organization It was during this transition that the name was changed to Hillsboro Community Medical Center

August 31 2008 The sale the acute care hospital side of HCM is finalized The hospital is now called Hillsboro Community Hospital The new owners Hospital Management Consultants plan a new hospital to be built at the corner of Highway 56 and Industrial Road The nursing home will once again be called Salem Home It will remain a private notforprofit organization The current board of directors will remain the directors of Salem Home and a new administratorCEO has been hired