CMH celebrates 35th anniversary

Citizens Memorial Hospital is celebrating 35 years in business this week. The hospital opened its doors on Sept. 28, 1982, as a 53-bed not-for-profit hospital district.

CMH began with three physicians on staff and 90 employees. The services offered at that time included emergency care, intensive care, obstetrics, surgery and recovery, medical-surgical care, laboratory, radiology, physical therapy, respiratory care and an auxiliary. More than 5,000 community members attended the grand opening celebration.

“There were only a few rural hospitals that were being established at that time we started CMH,” says Donald J. Babb, Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director of CMH. “Most people said we wouldn’t make it because there were so many hospitals across the country that was closing their doors.”

CMH did succeed and in 1984 became self-sustaining and suspended its original tax levy. In 1986 the Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation was added as not-for-profit 501(c)3 entity that was organized to assist the hospital in growth. 

Today, CMH is licensed for 86 beds and is a Level III Trauma Center. More than 2,000 CMH and CMH Foundation employees and 150 physicians and mid-level medical providers provide care for patients and residents in eight counties including Benton, Cedar, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Hickory, Polk and St. Clair.

Hospital services include emergency care, STEMI program, intensive and telemetry care, obstetrics, surgery and recovery, medical-surgical care, geriatric wellness, laboratory, radiology, respiratory care, cardiology, rehabilitation services (cardiac, physical, speech and occupational), and an auxiliary. CMH includes 32 primary and specialty care physician clinics, mental health, senior health center and emergency medical services for Cedar, Hickory, Polk and St. Clair Counties.

The CMH Foundation services include long-term care and residential care facilities, independent living communities, pharmacies, home medical equipment stores and a variety of home care services.

“It is amazing what CMH has been able to accomplish in 35 years,” says Babb. “With the support of Bolivar and area communities, we’ve been able to offer much-needed services for residents. Now we are looking toward the future and planning for the next 10 years. It is exciting to think about what services our patients will need and how we will be able to expand to accommodate that growth.”

For more information about CMH history, go to www.citizensmemorial.com/about/history.html.