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Description

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Welcome to Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital
Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospitals primary mission and general responsibility is to meet the health care and wellness needs of our health care community The hospital is dedicated and responsible for carrying out this mission in the most effective and economical way possible

The hospital is dedicated to providing and fostering a comprehensive community health center which will provide one level of patient driven quality medical care emergency medical care home health care hospice care community health and wellness education and other related activities We have a responsibility to serve the needs of the unborn the newborn the young the elderly the dying and the entire family without discrimination of age race sex religion national origin or ancestry handicap sexual orientation or ability to pay

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History

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1954
Planning committee met spearheaded by chairman M John Pintz

1957
After a dedication and groundbreaking the hospital opened with a staff of 29 people including a hospital administrator a director of nursing a chief engineer 4 RNs 4 LPNs 8 aides 4 cooks 1 maid 1 volunteer receptionist 1 xray tech 1 lab tech 1 office manager and 1 accounts receivable clerk
The first year of operation of the hospital the average daily census of acute patients was 14 and reached a high of 60 shortly after building the addition in 197273

1965
Medicare and Medicaid programs were established This completely changed Memorial Hospital accounting and business office operations and brought on the submission of an annual Medicare and Medicaid cost report

1972
A major renovation and expansion of the hospital occurred with the increase of beds from 40 to 82

1973
Harold W Brown became administrator of the hospital on April 1

1975
First Joint Commission Accreditation

1978
The opening of the Home Health Care Agency

1978
Harold W Brown was chosen as Wisconsin Hospital Administrator of the Year

1980
Prairie du Chien Hospice program started

1982
The hospital celebrated its 25th year anniversary with a gala celebration including a Las Vegas Night of fun and gambling

1983
During this year the major diversification in services was the starting of Swing Beds Skilled Nursing as a demonstration project
Hospital started inhouse stress testing and nuclear medicine and expanded home health to Iowa and Grant County Wisconsin
The first computer software and hardware was purchased

1985
Hospital gave a portion of its land to the Memorial Hospital Housing Association obtained a Farmers Home Administration 50 year loan for 675000 at 1 and built LaBatisse on Dousman elderly apartment congregate housing
The beginning of a State Rate Review Commission This state bureaucracy controlled charges expenses staffing and capital

1986
The start of diversification into senior citizen meals The hospital had previously contracted and provided meals to the Crawford County prison Initially the hospital contracted with the County for congregate meals that were served weekdays in the hospital employee dining room This was followed a year later by contracting with the County for home meals meals on wheels and later by bulk meals to the northern part of the County
In conjunction with Gundersen Lutheran Hospital a satellite hemodialysis unit was started at the Hospital

1987
Hospital purchased the St Gabriels convent converted it to an assisted living facility and licensed it as a Community Based Residential Facility CBRF with a capacity for 15

1988
Harold W Brown received the Harold Macomber Coon MD Memorial Award
Differentiated Case Management of patients was started at the hospital This was one of the first rural hospitals to implement this program
The hospital developed a Feeling Good wellness program for employees with plans to expand it to the community

1990
Hospital was awarded Accreditation with Distinction which at that time was given to the top 5 of all hospitals accredited
In cooperation with the State of Wisconsin Childrens Trust Fund University of Wisconsin Extension and Prairie Education Resource the Family Resource Center was started
Significant additions to the facility was added the outpatient wing educational room dietary storage and office area

1991
The hospital started the selling of durable medical equipment along with providing home oxygen to patients in their homes This was a continuation of the long range plan to provide services in the home

1992
Expanded the Community Based Residential Facility to 30 beds with each room having a minimum of a lavatory and sink and added three tworoom suites with half baths At the same time part of the old section was remodeled and a child day care known as WEE Care Child Care was started
The hospital received from the State of Wisconsin the Lieutenant Governor Scott McCallums Child Care Recognition Award for outstanding achievements and excellence in employeesupported child care

1994
The hospital in recognition of its diversification and specifically recognizing the Family Resource Center received the Wisconsin Hospital Association Global Vision Award

1997
Harold W Brown received the first National Rural Health Association Volunteer of the Year for service to the Association
In May the hospital started URGENT CARE walk in
The hospital became a rural training site for Southwest Wisconsin Area Health Education Center AHEC

2003
Hospital designated as a Critical Access Hospital CAH

2004
The National Rural Health Association NRHA recognized Harold W Brown for his dedication and commitment to rural health care by presenting him with the firstever Lifetime Achievement Award