Fifteen Years of Care: PVCH’s Impact Beyond the Numbers

This week, as we celebrate Hospital Week, we’re shining a light on the people, partnerships, and purpose that keep Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH) at the heart of healthcare in Pawnee County. The timing is especially meaningful: 2025 marks 15 years since the founding of PVCH under local ownership and a new partnership with HaysMed.

Over the past decade and a half, PVCH has grown from a vision into a vital healthcare provider serving our families, friends, and neighbors. We’ve expanded our capabilities, brought in new providers and services, advanced our technology, and continued to serve with compassion and excellence — all while staying rooted in the values of small-town care.

 A Shared Investment in Local Health

Sustaining a rural hospital takes more than operational know-how — it requires shared responsibility and long-term planning. Since our founding, Pawnee County has invested $7.84 million in tax support to help make local healthcare possible. These funds have been critical to keeping services close to home and ensuring our doors stay open to everyone who needs us.

But that’s only part of the story.

To build on this foundation and support ongoing sustainability, PVCH has contributed more than three times that amount — a total of $26.46 million — back into the hospital’s infrastructure and operations, including:

• $6.99 million in modern buildings and medical equipment
• $12.78 million in lease and bond payments
• $6.69 million toward final building principal payments

This reinvestment reflects operational necessity and our belief that rural communities deserve the same level of excellence and access as urban areas.

More Than a Milestone — A Mission in Motion

 While county funding plays a pivotal role, it only covers a portion of what it takes to run, maintain, and improve a hospital. That’s why PVCH has continually sought to go further — expanding services, recruiting, and retaining skilled professionals, and keeping pace with evolving clinical standards.

We’ve embraced an evolving model of care and collaborated with regional and state partners to bring sustainable solutions to our rural setting. Through it all, our mission remains clear: to keep care local, personal, and high-quality for the people who call Pawnee County home.

 A Community Effort Worth Celebrating

 Anniversaries are a time to reflect, but also to look ahead. As we mark our 15th year and celebrate Hospital Week, we extend our sincere thanks to the many people who make our work possible: the talented providers and staff who give their all every day, the county leaders who believe in strong rural healthcare, our donors who raise and invest funds to support greater health outcomes, and the community members who continue to trust us with their care.

Together, we’ve built more than a hospital — we’ve created a dependable, forward-looking health resource for generations to come.