History

The Van Buren County Hospital opened in 1951, equipped for 24 acute care patients and seven newborns. In 1962, the hospital expanded its capacity to 40 beds. In 1984, the hospital board contracted with Sisters of Mary of the Presentation Health Corporation of Fargo, North Dakota to manage the facility.

The 1990s brought significant changes to the hospital. The hospital established an affiliation with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Through this affiliation and other arrangements with area hospitals, over 20 specialty clinics were established.

The hospital opened the county's only state-licensed Child Care Center in 1990 and in 1992 Van Buren County Hospital opened the county’s only Job Opportunities Center, helping residents find employment. In 1993, four rural health clinics were established in Douds, Stockport, Cantril and Birmingham Iowa, Stockport Clinic closed in 2010.

In 1997, the hospital completed a major expansion project. A generous donation from the late Hollis and Kathleen Arnold estate was followed by a capital campaign through which businesses and residents in or associated with Van Buren County raised $1.1 million toward this new expansion. The $4.4 million expansion included space for our active medical staff; visiting specialists, emergency room, physical therapy, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, respiratory therapy, laboratory services, radiology, and occupational therapy departments.

The 2000s - On May 1, 2002, the hospital began operating as a Critical Access Hospital.

In 2004, the hospital opened Village Terrace, a 10-unit apartment complex for senior assisted living, attached to the hospital. That same year, the hospital opened a new operating room/ recovery suite and a new acute care wing with all private beds.

In 2006, the hospital also opened its new Birmingham Clinic, a $240,000 project which provided the residents in the northern half of Van Buren County and southern Jefferson County a new medical clinic, located right on Highway 1. The clinic features enhanced patient privacy, large rooms, extended clinic evening hours, and a soothing prairie view.

In 2007, the hospital purchased a building on Bonaparte's Main Street and remodeled it into a new, with a historic flair, medical clinic. Also in 2007, the hospital purchased land for the construction of its new Fox River Clinic, located on Highway 2, convenient for the residents of Cantril, Milton, and Davis County. The clinic opened in late 2007.

In 2012, Van Buren County Hospital opened a 2.2 million dollar Community Services Center. The center houses the VBCH Child Care Center/Preschool, Job Opportunities, Parents as Teachers, Healthy Villages, Occupational Health, an Optometrist, Head Start, WIC and a community meeting room.

In 2020, Van Buren County Hospital became affiliated with MercyOne! MercyOne is a connected system of health care facilities and services dedicated to helping people and communities live their best life. At more than 20,000 colleagues strong, MercyOne makes health the highest priority. The system’s medical centers, clinics and affiliates are located throughout the state of Iowa and beyond.