History
Pocahontas Community Hospital Through the Years
A Timeline of Growth, Dedication, and Service
The Beginning of a Vision
- 1960 – Planning began for a new community hospital.
- Feb 1, 1963 – City voters approved a $375,000 bond to build a 25-bed facility.
- Apr 6, 1966 – Voters approved expanding to 43 beds with additional funding.
- Jul 2, 1967 – Open house and dedication took place.
- Jul 28, 1967 – Hospital officially opened its doors with 43 beds.
- First trustees: George Cushing, Robert Flynn, Gary Burns
- First medical staff: Dr. John Rhodes Sr. (Chief of Staff), Dr. James Gannon, Dr. James Slattery
Building Services
- 1971 – Dr. John Rhodes Jr. joined the medical staff.
- 1979 – Major expansion added dietary, medical records, physical therapy, pharmacy, and administrative offices.
Expanding Care
- 1980 – Addition/remodeling completed for ancillary services.
- 1984 – Homecare services began.
- 1987 – Volunteer hospice services launched.
- 1989 – Cardiac rehab services began.
Restructuring & Specialization
- 1991 – Dr. James Gannon retired.
- 1992 – Hospice became Medicare-certified.
- 1993 – Dr. Catherine Butler joined medical staff.
- 1994 – Obstetric services were discontinued.
- 1995 – Partnership with Trinity Health began. Dr. Rhodes Sr. retired.
- 1997 – Dr. Rhodes Jr. resigned. Tonja Anderson, ARNP, joined medical staff. Occupational health services begin.
- 1998 – The Rhodes and Slattery Clinics joined to form the Pocahontas Trimark Physicians Group. Dr. Eugene Mullins joins the active staff of the Pocahontas Community Hospital. The hospital classroom was renovated.
- 1999– Conversion to a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital began. Patient and Emergency rooms were remodeled. Hospital Foundation established.
Modernizing for the Future
- 2000– Officially became a certified Critical Access Hospital and received Community Trauma Care (Level IV) status. CT & cataract surgeries began. The Hospital Foundation Board was formed.
- 2002 – Launched bone densitometry & breast stereotactic services. The Diabetic Outreach clinic received certification.
- 2003 – Groundbreaking for major 3-phase expansion project. The renovation of the Health Information and Laboratory departments was completed. Dr. Ted George joined the medical staff.
- 2004–2006 – Phased renovations added:
- Phase I: Radiology, Specialty Clinic, Materials Management, & Housekeeping
- Phase II: Surgery department, Emergency rooms, Observation rooms, Nurse’s Station, treatment room, Pharmacy, quiet room, Cardiac Rehab, Pulmonary Function and major renovations of the Business Office and front entrance, west patient rooms and the Home Health/Hospice Department
- Phase III: Opening of the new Comfort Care Suite, ambulance garage, conference center; renovation of the east patient rooms, dietary, maintenance, Rehab services; connection of the classroom and outside landscaping.
- 2005 - Dr. John Hodges, D.O. retires after serving Laurens & Pocahontas Hospital for 53 years.
- 2007 – Joanne Harbert, ARNP, joins hospital and Trimark. Radiology adds a computed radiography system. PCH celebrated its 40th Anniversary.
- 2008 - Dr. Eugene Mullins retires. Joanna Harbert, NP, resigns from medical staff. MIDAS transit bus is made available for patients to have free rides to Trimark or hospital. Barb Weber, ARNP, joins staff at hospital and Trimark.
- 2008–2009 – New CT scanner and digital mammography added.
- 2009 – Dr. Zachary Adkins, MD, joined. Scholarship program launched through Hospital Foundation.
Adding Services & Support
- 2010 – Wound Healing Center opened. Barb Weber, NP, resigned.
- 2011 – Began Mental Health programs and Sleep Studies. Stephanie Bellock, NP, joined.
- 2012–2013 – Expansion of cafeteria, admin offices, conference center, board room, medical records and landscaping. Remodeling began on lab, home health & hospice pulmonary rehab. Dr. Zachary Adkins resigns. Launched EPIC.
- 2013 – Dr. Emil Pecholt joined staff.
- 2014 – Recognized as a community healthcare leader. New board members, Jody Lyon, Jim O’Neall, and Gregg White fill vacancies. Radiology department adds lung cancer screening and calcium scoring to their tests. Dan Paulsen, EMS Director, is awarded “IHA Hospital Hero of the Year”. Lab acquired a new Automated Coagulation Analyzer through the Pocahontas Healthcare Foundation.
- 2015–2016 – New providers joined (Erin Peterson, ARNP; Kylie Maurer, PA-C; Abby Greenlee, ARNP; Shane Kirkgaard; Dr. Jennifer Boevers, DO). Jake Heuton joins board. Erin Peterson, NP, joins Foundation Board. Dr. Emil Pecholt resigns.
- 2017 – Ended Home Health, Hospice, Community Health, and Lifeline services. Paulette Gleason, ARNP, joined. Lisa Leppert, FNP retires. Erin Peterson, ARNP, resigns and leaves Foundation Board. Kyle Maurer, PA-C joins the Foundation Board.
- 2018 – Partnered with UnityPoint for home health/hospice. Lab added Biofire system through the Foundation. Pocahontas County Public Health took over Community Health Services. Sara Thorkildsen, FNP, joined. Selena Meacham, FNP, joined. Abby Greenlee, ARNP, resigned.
- 2019 – Signed City and County EMS Agreement to provide service to all residents of Pocahontas County, Selena Meacham, ARNP started at UnityPoint Clinic, Transitioned to Full Paramedic Level Service, Susie Aden received IHA Hospital Hero Award, Renovation complete in Rehab Services Department.
Pandemic, Updates & Expansions
- 2020 – Dr. Ted George Retired, 3D Mammograph Machine Purchased, E Jane Thompson Estate Purchase, Covid Pandemic Began, Started utilizing Avera E-Care Virtual Technology
- 2021 – Covid Pandemic continued, Purchased numerous pieces of equipment and supplies due to the pandemic, Purchased two new ambulances that have negative pressure, Changed hospital logo and trademark, Digital Radiology Room Updates
- 2022 – Completion of Ambulance Bay Project and Parking lots, Begin UnityPoint Clinic Renovation, EMS Essential Service Resolution Passed, RAGBRAI came to Pocahontas, Rehab Services Renovation Completed, Hired Holly Storms, CFO
- 2023 – Medicaid Direct Payment Started – 2.5 Million in Additional Funding, Purchased church parsonage and turned it into a parking lot, Purchased the Pocahontas Manor for future building site and helipad, Senior Life Solutions Program started, Melissa Frazier, ARNP and Allysha Huddleson, ARNP joined UnityPoint Clinic, Bariatric Room added to Hospital, UnityPoint Clinic Renovation Complete
- 2024 – Purchased the Baptist Church and turned it into green space, Major Parking lots renovation project complete, Helipad Project complete, Longtime Hospital Board Member, Don Beneke passed away after serving the hospital for over 20 years, Morgan Hohbach, ARNP joined UnityPoint Clinic.
Leadership Over Time
ADministrators
James Shipley → Orren Lee → Carolyn Hess → Jay Christiansen → Chuck Kelch → James Roetman (current)
Directors of Nursing
Etta Mae Peterson, RN → Lani Anderson, RN → Sherrie Laubenthal, RN (1998) → Erin Peterson, RN → Susie Aden, RN, MSN, CNL (Current)
Today
Staff
The hospital employs 100+ staff across departments like nursing, emergency care, radiology, surgery, rehab, and more.
Trustees
Rick Winegarden
Gregg White
Kim Wood
Jody Lyon
Patrick Sullivan
Foundation Board
Kylie Maurer, PA-C
Kerrie Woodley
Connie Schactner
Dr. Victoria Rittgers
Sheila Akridge
Parker Aden
Janet Bellows