The History of FMCH

1901:

Sisters of Saint Francis transform the Schwartz property, just south of Old Settler's Park, into St. Elizabeth's Hospital with room for 15 patients.

1912:

St. Elizabeth's closes: A new 30-bed Sacred Heart Hospital is constructed on Avenue H. Sisters of the Third Order of Saint Francis from Peoria, Illinois, are asked to administrate.

1925:

An addition is built onto the Sacred Heart facility to meet increased space needs.

1956:

A second addition is built onto Sacred Heart to add patient rooms, a surgery and obstetrics area, an emergency room, a lobby/office and a cafeteria.

1977:

The Sisters discontinue their association with Sacred Heart Hospital. The building and equipment are sold to a non-profit Board of Directors for one dollar. The facility's name is changed to Fort Madison Community Hospital.

1986:

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new hospital along Highway 61 is held on June 18th.

1987:

The facility is constructed at a cost of $10.2 million on a 20-acre site at the west end of Fort Madison. On Sunday, May 31st, the new, 58,000 square-foot hospital and adjoining office building is dedicated.

1990:

An expansion is completed onto the Professional Office Building.

1997:

A 9,415 square-foot Urgent Care facility and a 12,860 square-foot Medical Clinic is added and dedicated during ceremonies and an Open House on June 29th.

1999:

A 4,500 square-foot addition is made to the Surgical Department and dedicated to Dr. E.J. DeLashmutt. It was constructed at the north end of the hospital, providing an additional operating room, an expanded sterile storage area, and a larger, more private, outpatient SurgiCenter for those receiving same-day surgery.

2001:

Existing inpatient rooms are remodeled to be single, private rooms. 17 additional private rooms were added to accomodate patients. FMCH was named a 100 Top Hospital in the Nation by Solucient.

2003:

FMCH was again named a 100 Top Hospital in the Nation by Solucient.

2005:

A two-story, 32,000 square foot, building addition opened on the East end of the hospital facility. The addition’s lower level houses hospital business functions and conference space. The main (ground) level provides the facility with additional physician clinic space. The Women's Center, a comprehensive service for women in need of obstetrical or gynecological care, opened in the new addition. Later in the year, the FMCH Wound Healing Center, complete with hyperbaric oxygen chambers, was added.


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