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Description

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Van Buren County Hospital has a long standing reputation for advancing rural health care We are proud to have been the first hospital in the state to be an affiliate of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics UIHC Through this long standing relationship we offer specialty clinics hosted by UIHC physicians right here on our campus By webinar our physicians have the opportunity to participate in Grand Rounds to stay current with the latest developments in clinical care And soon we will be the first hospital in the state to link into UIHCs electronic medical record offering our patients state of the art seamless care between the two facilities

We are fortunate to have highly skilled physicians midlevel providers and staff members who continue to educate themselves on the latest developments in their fields while continuing to serve our patients Our providers understand their patients health histories and know them as individual people This important aspect of health care is often overlooked in larger health care settings

We serve our community through many avenues to meet the varied needs of our residents These include our Parents as Teachers program a free in home service which ensures that all children are schoolready a child care center including a state of the art preschool a Job Opportunities Service assisting individuals with and without disabilities in training for seeking securing and maintaining employment and an assisted living center offering senior residents a beautiful secure and supportive place in which to live

We have many additional services to meet your needs please explore our site to learn about our rehabilitative services surgical care obstetric and newborn care and much more Learn about our dedicated staff who each ensure that your needs are met

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History

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History
In the mid1940s the Keosauqua Commercial Club began to work toward the goal of establishing a hospital in Van Buren County Through a community fund drive the community leaders raised 75000 An additional 92000 was obtained through the federally funded HillBurton program The hospital was among the first in the state to receive HillBurton funds

In 1946 70 of the county voters elected to establish the new hospital The hospital opened in 1951 equipped for 20 acute care patients and seven newborns In 1962 voters approved by a 7549 margin a 300000 bond issue An additional 170000 in federal funds was received to build additions expanding the hospital capacity to 40 beds

In 1984 the hospital board contracted with Sisters of Mary of the Presentation Health Corporation of Fargo North Dakota to manage the facility During the midtolate 80s the hospital was redecorated and modernized

The 1990s brought significant changes to the hospital The hospital established an affiliation with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Through this affiliation and other arrangements with area hospitals over 20 specialty clinics were established

The hospital opened the countys only state licensed child care center in 1990 and a regional Ag Health and Safety Center in 1991 In 1992 Van Buren County Hospital opened the countys only Job Opportunities Center helping residents find employment And also in 1992 a regional wholesale bakery was opened through the hospitals kitchen In 1993 four rural health clinics were established in Douds StockportCantril and Birmingham Iowa

In 1994 the hospital was one of four hospitals in the state to participate in a 72 million National Library of Medicine grant The grant funded the establishment of a telemedicine network which enabled VBCH to have immediate twoway audio and visual communications with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Ottumwa Regional Medical Center and Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota

In 1997 the hospital completed a major expansion project A generous donation from the late Hollis and Kathleen Arnold estate was followed by a capital campaign through which businesses and residents in or associated with Van Buren County raised 11 million toward this new expansion

The 44 million expansion included space for our active medical staff visiting specialists emergency room physical therapy cardio pulmonary rehabilitation respiratory therapy laboratory services radiology and occupational therapy departments

On May 1 2002 the hospital began operating as a Critical Access Hospital

In 2003 Van Buren County Hospital doubled the size of its physical therapy department to accommodate the expanded number of physical therapy patients the hospital serves

In 2004 the hospital opened Village Terrace a 10unit apartment complex for senior assisted living attached to the hospital That same year the hospital opened a new operating room recovery suite and a new acute care wing with all private beds

In 2005 the hospital board voted to begin a multiyear multisite project to replace or remodel its existing rural clinics In 2005 the hospital in conjunction with the Douds Masonic Lodge remodeled the downstairs of the Masonic Lodge into the new Vickie Butler Douds Medical Clinic The clinic is utilized by patients from a threecounty area and is a nice addition to the main street of Douds Iowa

In 2006 the hospital remodeled the Farmington Medical Clinic replacing the flooring interior walls carpeting ceiling tile desk heating ventilation and air conditioning system This gutremodeling project provided the residents of Farmington and the surrounding area with an essentially new clinic with larger rooms and enhanced privacy

In 2006 the hospital also opened its new Birmingham Clinic a 240000 project which provided the residents in the northern half of Van Buren County and southern Jefferson County a new medical clinic located right on Highway 1 The clinic features enhanced patient privacy large rooms extended clinic evening hours and a soothing prairie view

In 2007 the hospital purchased a building on Bonapartes Main Street and remodeled it into a new with an historic flair medical clinic

In 2007 the hospital purchased land for the construction of its new Fox River Clinic located on Highway 2 convenient for the residents of Cantril Milton and Davis County The clinic opened in late 2007