Newman Memorial County Hospital was founded on March 6, 1922, and named in honor of a local businessman, George W. Newman, who donated $50,000 upon his death in February 1919 specifically intended for the creation of a local hospital. The total cost for building the hospital, including furnishings, was about $300,000. The additional funds were raised through a two-year tax levy.

Approximately 4,500 – 5,000 people visited the hospital at its open house on March 4 and 5, 1922. Visitors marveled at some of the state-of-the-art features within the new hospital, including water fountains on each floor featuring cool drinking water, running hot and cold water in each patient room, a baked enamel laundry chute, and the “miraculous” call buttons in each patient room.

This legacy of quality, local healthcare and community spirit has spurred many changes since 1922. Facility improvements have included the addition of the East wing in 1950 to add more patient rooms, the West wing in 1963 to create a pediatric unit, and the South wing in 1980 to add even more patient rooms to address the community’s growing needs.

Newman Medical Plaza, a four-story physician office building was completed in 1996. Central Care Cancer Center, featuring medical and radiation oncology treatment, was completed in 2003. In December 2003, the Inpatient Rehabilitation unit opened. Newman Medical Equipment, a durable medical equipment business, opened in the spring of 2004.

Newman Medical Partners opened their Orthopedics clinic in 2006, Surgical Specialists and Pediatrics in 2009, Family Medicine in 2010, and Cardiology in 2013. Express Care opened in 2011. The W.S. & E.C Jones Breast Care Center and W.S. & E. C. Jones Cardiovascular Lab opened in 2011 and 2013, respectively.

A ribbon cutting was held for the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy chambers at the Newman Regional Health Wound Care Clinic in February of 2018. HBOT can be used to treat: crush injuries, chronic bone infection, complicated diabetic wounds, compromised skin grafts/flaps, injuries received from radiation to the bone or soft tissues, and more.

In 2019, a new 19-bed emergency room and clinical decision unit, as well as a new on-site express care clinic opened. 2020 saw the expansion of Newman Regional Health’s Inpatient Rehabilitation unit from 7 to 10 beds and a pharmacy expansion that included the addition of a sterile compounding center. In 2021, Newman Therapy Services was relocated to join the hospital campus and a new simulated apartment suite was added to the Inpatient Rehabilitation unit in 2022.

In June of 2022, Newman Regional Health conducted the first robot-assisted surgical procedure using the da Vinci Surgical System.

Working from a bedside console in the operating room, your surgeon uses controls to execute tremor-free, intricate movements of surgical instruments at the end of high-tech surgical arms. The tools attached to the arms are mounted on robotic wrists that allow for 360° movement. The system also allows the surgeon to enhance their view of the surgical field by engaging various tools and a crystal-clear 3D high definition monitor with up to 10 power magnification.

The addition of 3D mammography was just the start of a $600,000+ investment to the W.S. & E.C. Jones Breast Care Center at Newman Regional Health scheduled that was completed Spring 2022. Other updates include the addition of a DEXA scan imaging test to measure bone density. These upgrades to the W.S. & E.C. Jones Breast Care Center were made possible by the Walter S. & Evan C. Jones Testamentary Trust and an allocation from the 2022 Lyon County budget.

In early 2024, the cardiovascular team performed the first application of Shockwave treatment to a patient in the WS & EC Jones Cardiovascular Lab. Utilizing a new technology, the treatment approach uses sonic pressure waves to safely treat problematic calcium in the coronary and peripheral arteries that can reduce blood flow in the heart and extremities.

“The cardiology team at Newman Regional Health is committed to giving our patients access to the latest cardiovascular innovations to treat heart disease,” said Dr. Michael Lloyd, Cardiologist. “Empowered by this novel shockwave IVL technology, we are excited to be treating some of the most complex forms of heart disease in our most challenging patient cases, all while remaining committed to improving patient outcomes. 

Additionally in 2024, the orthopedic and surgical teams performed their first procedure using the Mako Robotic-Assisted Surgical System. This high-tech equipment proves the surgeon with a highly accurate image, and a plan for partial and total knee replacement.

Mako helps surgeons plan for better outcomes, like less pain and shorter recovery times compared to manual partial knee replacement surgery.

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Newman Regional Health has been ranked among the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in America for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2023 and was recognized as one of the top 10 Hospitals in Kansas in 2018.

For more than 100 years Newman Regional Health has been dedicated to helping patients achieve their healthy goals.