Bates County Memorial Hospital: An Abridged History
Bates County Memorial Hospital officially opened its doors on September 16, 1960, but the roots of health care in Bates County go back much further. For nearly a century, our community has supported a local hospital presence that laid the foundation for the facility we know today.
In 1926, Mrs. S.C. Stayton recognized the need for a community hospital. She rented a two-story home at 107 S. Havana Street in Butler, Missouri, furnishing five upstairs rooms for patients, while local physicians equipped an operating room. The first patient was admitted on June 17, 1926.
In 1932, at the height of the Great Depression, Mrs. Stayton persuaded the city to purchase property for a new two-story hospital on the corner of Maple and College Streets. It was named Butler Memorial Hospital in honor of her late husband.
1932 – 1959
We are grateful to Bates County Museum for preserving photographs of staff and physicians who cared for our community during the Butler Memorial Hospital years.
In 1943, Butler purchased the building for $20,000. Though many additions and improvements were made over the years, by the 1950s, it was clear the community needed a new hospital to keep pace with state regulations and growing demand. An average of 1,400 patients were admitted each year, with up to 70 percent living outside the city limits.
1960 – The New Hospital
Under the leadership of Carl Henry and the first Board of Hospital Trustees, a $350,000 county bond issue was approved to build a new hospital. Construction began on the land where BCMH still stands today.
The County Court appointed five trustees in 1957: O.E. Bennett of Butler; Carl J. Henry (chairman) of Butler; Dr. L.D. Harper of Adrian; Fred Marquardt of Rich Hill; and Roy Hamilton of Amoret. The first administrator was Carl A. Virgien, a World War II veteran.
Bates County Memorial Hospital officially opened on September 16, 1960, with 65 employees. The new hospital featured 52 beds, 10 bassinets, a delivery room, two labor rooms, two operating rooms, a clinical laboratory, radiology, and an emergency room. In the first five months, 564 patients were admitted and 87 babies were delivered.
1969–1993
By 1969, BCMH needed more space. Patients filled the halls and lobby daily. A $550,000 bond issue funded 40 additional beds, increasing capacity to 90, plus a 10-bed nursery.
County-wide ambulance service began January 1, 1973, thanks to $10,000 from the city of Butler and a 1970 Oldsmobile High Top ambulance. The hospital also purchased a 1970 International High Top (pictured). Pictured are nurses, attendants and drivers in a photo published by the Democrat. Front row, from left: Sally Brummett, Thelma Houston, Gene Chambers, Shirley Moses and Faye Hewitt. Back row, from left: Benjamin Cozine, Jerry Jones, Warren Classen, Merle Kohen, Marlen Kohen and Cletus Schulte.
Today, BCMH provides 9-1-1 Advanced Life Support ambulance services, staffed 24/7 by Advanced Life Support Paramedics utilizing four ambulances to cover a 900 square-mile area with approximately 16,000 residents.
Two more expansions in 1974 and 1977 added space for medical records, respiratory care, a new pharmacy, outpatient office, waiting room, and treatment rooms.
Current day operating room at BCMH. The surgical suite at BCMH includes three operating rooms, a GI lab and state-of-the-art equipment. Much has changed in the world of health care, but BCMH continues to prioritize expansion of its services and maintaining quality equipment.
In 1987, a ceremonial bond burning marked the retirement of all hospital debt. From then on, hospital improvements were funded through reserves.
In 1993, BCMH added a new east wing, originally housing skilled nursing and providing expanded space for Rehabilitation Services with a separate entrance. The skilled nursing unit had a dining room, activity area and a hairdressing room. Today, skilled nursing is no longer offered at BCMH; the former wing now houses Patient Accounts and Patient Access, while the ground level serves as the Education Center. Rehabilitation Services moved to a dedicated space in the northeast corner after the hospital’s newest expansion.
Growing Services and Technology
BCMH has long prioritized offering the latest medical technology close to home. A single-slice CT scanner from the 1980s was replaced by an 80-slice Canon Aquilion Prime SP in 2020.
In 2004, BCMH became the first hospital in the Midwest to offer digital mammography, later upgrading to 3D mammography in 2016.
Between 2001 and 2003, a major expansion added a second floor for obstetrics, medical/surgical, and critical care units. Community members signed the crossbeam before it was raised to the top of the structure. The obstetrics unit later closed in 2009, and the space was converted into a surgical clinic.
Today, BCMH is a 60-bed acute care facility, the largest employer in Bates County, with more than 300 dedicated employees.
Family Care and Specialty Clinics
In 1997, BCMH opened its first rural health clinic in Adrian, Mo., through the efforts of Laura Thiem, DNP, FNP-BC, who served as the first nurse practitioner for the clinic. The late Bob Gunn, Adrian community leader and longtime hospital board member, also played a key role in establishing the clinic. A bronze plaque honoring his contributions is displayed at the Adrian Family Care Clinic.
A bronze plaque at Adrian Family Care Clinic honors Bob Gunn, community leader and BCMH board member (1990–1998), whose efforts were instrumental in opening the clinic in 1997.
The current Nursery Street Family Care Clinic was built in the late 1990s and was for a time used for Home Health services. In 2004, it was designated as a rural health clinic and in 2009, BCMH purchased the High Street clinic location from Dr. William Haynie. BCMH expanded into Rich Hill in 2017.
Construction of the Nursery Street Family Care Clinic in the late 1990s. Since 2009, Dr. James Miller has served patients at this location as part of BCMH’s growing Family Care Clinics.
Today, BCMH Family Care Clinics in Adrian, Butler, and Rich Hill provide primary care for all ages, with a team of three physicians, four advanced practitioners, and dedicated support staff.
Specialty Care Close to Home: Specialists have seen patients at BCMH since 1973. Over the years, the Outpatient Specialty Clinic has grown to include an infusion center and 14 specialties. By 2024, patient visits reached 20,736, reflecting the community’s strong reliance on local access to specialty care.
Resilience and Renewal
In 2020, our 60th year, COVID-19 deeply affected our community. Like hospitals everywhere, BCMH faced surges in transmission and hospitalizations that required new procedures and extraordinary teamwork. Every employee played a role, and we are proud of the dedication and compassion shown during this difficult time.
In April 2023, Bates County voters considered a ballot measure to fund countywide ambulance services through a property tax. The measure did not pass. BCMH has provided ambulance services since 1973, and this effort reflected ongoing work to sustain this vital community service in the face of rising costs.
In 2023, BCMH replaced its 2009 MRI unit with a new Canon Vantage Orian 1.5T system, offering clearer images, faster scans, and greater comfort for patients. The project, completed in June, was the final step in a multi-year imaging upgrade that also included a new CT scanner in 2019. With this investment, patients in our community continue to have convenient access to advanced imaging close to home.
Dr. Curtis W. Long, MD (center) and Gay L. Nissen, RN (left), with Ann Donnohue, RN, Outpatient Specialty Clinics Manager, stand in front of the donor wall at the Long-Nissen Infusion Center.
2024 – The Long-Nissen Infusion Center
In July 2024, BCMH opened the Dr. Curtis W. Long, MD, and Gay L. Nissen, RN Infusion Center, expanding local access to treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, antibiotics, and allergy injections. Supported by generous community donors, including longtime physician Dr. Curtis Long, the center was designed with private and semi-private rooms for up to 10 patients.
Since opening, more than 3,700 infusions have been provided close to home. At the one-year anniversary, a donor wall was unveiled to honor the many contributions that made the project possible.
In July 2025, BCMH received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Rural Recognition Silver award. The honor recognizes hospitals that meet rigorous standards for acute stroke care, including timely treatment, rapid transfers, brain imaging, and coordinated care. This recognition reflects BCMH’s commitment to eliminating rural health disparities and providing excellent care close to home.
Through each decade, BCMH has grown and adapted to meet the changing needs of our neighbors. While much has changed in health care since 1960, one constant remains: our commitment to quality care, close to home.