HISTORY OF LITTLE COLORADO MEDICAL CENTER

                                               formerly Winslow Memorial Hospital

As early as 1948 the citizens of Winslow began exploring their options for a new hospital. Several attempts at securing federal funds for construction of a hospital were unsuccessful as a plan for Arizona to receive federal funds through the State Department of Health had not been set up. There was an effort to turn the Winslow Indian Hospital into a hospital that would care for Native Americans and non-Native Americans. Legislation was even introduced in Congress that would have permitted a contract to this purpose, but this plan was finally abandoned. Remodeling of the small Winslow General Hospital, which had been serving the community with limited facilities, was also considered but not pursued.

In 1951 Winslow Memorial Hospital was started with donation of land and a start­up fund of $45,000 (a memorial fund started by the families of two young Winslow women who lost their lives in an automobile accident). An "organizing group" was appointed by the Winslow City Council and a nonprofit corporation was formed. Architects estimated the cost of the new hospital at $155,000 and a huge city-wide canvass to raise the money was started. There were several plans for donation, but the most popular was the memorial donation which could be to the general fund or designated to purchase a room, service or equipment Construction began in April 1953. The final cost was $255,000 with $114,000 funded by the Hill-Burton Program.

The new hospital opened as a 27-bed facility in February of 1954, with surgical, obstetrical, radiology, laboratory, pharmacy and emergency services. The Santa Fe Railway donated funds to Winslow Memorial Hospital several times in the first two years of operation to help with the hospital's expenses. In 1965 the Board of Directors considered remodeling the overcrowded facility due but halted the plan due excessive cost.  By 1967 it was evident the community needed a larger and more modern hospital and applications were submitted for funding to build a new hospital north of the original building. The land for the expansion had been acquired in 1961. The funding for the new hospital was arranged through Hill-Burton funds and Winslow Memorial Hospital became the first hospital in the West to receive an FHA-insured Section 242 loan for construction.  Ground was broken in March 1970 for a 30,000 square foot 42-bed facility that was modem in design and function. The move to this new $1.2 M hospital was made in October 1971.  Plans were made to remodel the 1954 building into a nursing home and this was accomplished over a several year period. In 1976 the remodeled building was leased by Winslow Convalescent Center for 25 years.   For its first 20 years the present hospital facility met the health care needs of Winslow and nearby communities. During this time the USPHS Winslow Indian Hospital closed its inpatient services. In an agreement between the two facilities, the USPHS Winslow Indian Hospital physicians were granted obstetrical and pediatric privileges at Winslow Memorial Hospital. In a subsequent agreement, which continues to the present, the PHS physicians, an integral part of the Medical Staff of Winslow Memorial Hospital, admit and treat patients here.

In 1992 plans were finalized to enhance the services at Winslow Memorial Hospital with a $5.5M expansion and remodeling of the building. Over the next two years a 14,000 square foot addition was built to the west side of the building. Included in the addition was a new emergency room, laboratory, materials management and expanded surgical suite. In the remodeling of the original building, six adjoining patient rooms were converted to four large labor/delivery/recover/postpartum (LDRP) rooms. A new Medical Record Department was created, the pharmacy was expanded and the Radiology Department doubled in size.

The bonds issued in 1992 for the expansion and remodeling project were refinanced in 1998 at a substantial savings in interest. Additional funds were generated with this refinancing and were targeted for an inpatient behavioral health treatment center. A large building was purchased and remodeling was partially completed when the Board of Directors reluctantly decided not to continue the project. Behavioral health care reimbursement was changing and it became apparent the hospital could not afford to build this unit and operate it at a loss. The building was later purchased by the City of Winslow.

Winslow Memorial Hospital has continued to serve the people of this community and surrounding areas, even though there were times when keeping the doors open was in question. Most recently, in December 2002, the hospital was within days of closing due to staggering debts to its suppliers and several years of struggling financially. The hospital stayed open due to the hard work and dedication of its employees, the assistance of Winslow Indian Health Care Center, the City of Winslow, the Governor of Arizona, and a management agreement with Northern Arizona Health Care. Over the last three years the hospital has turned around financially and has been able to increase its services.