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Description

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About Us
Vernon Memorial Healthcare includes Vernon Memorial Hospital a critical access hospital with 25 beds six area physician clinics Bland ClinicVMH Hirsch ClinicVMH VMH Family Practice and Complementary Medicine La Farge Medical ClinicVMH Kickapoo Valley Medical ClinicVMH and VMH Outpatient Specialty Care home health and hospice services three retail pharmacies a Wellness Center and restaurantgrille

Vernon Memorial Hospital provides primary and secondary acute care services as well as diagnostic preventative and emergency services on both an inpatient and outpatient basis In addition the VMH medical staff includes boardcertified physicians in family practice general practice general surgery pediatrics and orthopaedic surgery

Vernon Memorial Healthcare Mission Statement
Vernon Memorial Healthcare will strive to have the Vision to continually provide the highest standard of care to our patients and their families while being close to home Our Mission is to provide costeffective accessible care and service using professionally educated staff and superior technology to meet the health care needs of our community Our caring and commitment to the community will be demonstrated by our emphasis on Health promotion and disease prevention through education

Value Statement
G Go for it with

R Respect for all

E Excellence in service

A Adjustment to change and

T Team Spirit

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History

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History
The Vernon Memorial Hospital Association was formed in November 1946 The Association organized a countywide fund drive to build a new hospital Federal funds were promised if matching local funds could be raised The fund drive brought in 104200 with the county board contributing an additional 50000 and the City of Viroqua voting a 60000 bond issue

Vernon Memorial Hospital first opened for patient care on September 21 1951 with a bed capacity of 31 On November 15 1951 the twelve member board of directors approved the first addition to the original building adding 17 more beds

A maternity wing was dedicated in May of 1956 A diagnostic and outpatient wing opened in 1969 The south wing was completed and dedicated in 1971 and the hospital reached a bed capacity of 53

In October 1994 a three level addition housing Patient Registration and Accounts the Gift Shop the Outpatient Clinic a Birthing Center and a mechanical area was dedicated The main entrance was also moved from Main Street to the East side of the building

The remodeling of the Emergency area was completed in September 1995 In April 1996 a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the HEART Center that includes Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics and Rehab and the VMH Wellness Center The Physical and Occupational Therapy departments were remodeled in 1997

A Renal Dialysis unit was opened on the first floor of VMH in 1998 Construction of a therapy pool racquetball court and HEART Center expansion was completed in 2001 just prior to VMHs 50th anniversary celebration

Members of Vernon Memorial Hospital Inc voted unanimously in January 2003 to change the organizations corporate name to Vernon Memorial Healthcare Inc

A three level interior addition was completed in November 2004 This houses The VMH Center for Minimally Invasive Orthopaedic and General Surgery on second floor a resource center lobby cafeacute and new gift shop on first floor and office space and staff sleeping quarters on the lower level

VMH also owns and operates the Kickapoo Valley Medical Clinic in Soldiers Grove acquired 1193 Bland Clinic in Westby acquired 1194 Hirsch Clinic in Viroqua acquired 7194 LaFarge Medical Clinic acquired 10103 and Solar Town Pharmacy in Soldiers Grove acquired 6105

A new 144000 square foot medical office building adjoining Vernon Memorial Hospital was completed in June 2006 This building a collaborative project between Vernon Memorial Healthcare and Gundersen Lutheran Health System brought Viroqua health care services into one convenient location The building houses Hirsch ClinicVMH on 4th floor Third floor was left vacant for future expansion Second floor is home to the Gundersen Lutheran Viroqua Clinic First floorincludes the VMH Family Practice and Complementary Medicine Clinic The Viroqua Center for Orthopaedic Surgery Outpatient Specialty Care and General Surgery the VMH Retail Pharmacy and Gundersen Eye Clinic In the lower level is a restaurant The Grille at VMH a Conference Center with community meeting rooms a Skills Lab used by VMH for staff training and by WTC for its two year nursing program The technological data and mechanical systems of the building are also located on this level along with additional expansion space

Remodeling of the Hospital Pharmacy Laboratory and Imaging Departments was completed in the fall of 2007 The Hospital Pharmacy expanded into space formerly occupied by Central Supply and a storage area The Laboratory was moved from its longtime location on first floor to the former Outpatient Clinic sight directly north of the hospital lobby Imaging expanded into the former Laboratory Department

A new retail pharmacy in downtown Westby was opened on October 15 2008 The Vernon Memorial PharmacyWestby is located at 115 W State Street

A facelift was given to the VMH Birthing Center in the winter of 2009 Construction of the Gundersen Lutheran Renal Dialysis Center on third floor of the Viroqua Area Medical Office Building was also completed The new 4000 square foot unit opened to patients on February 3rd 2009

Gastroenterology and Infusion Services moved to the third floor of the Viroqua Area Medical Office Building on June 22 2009

Remodeling of patient rooms on the second floor of the hospital is ongoing

Plans are underway for the construction of a Center for Hospice Care in Viroqua to provide around the clock end of life care for terminally ill patients