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History
Manning
General Hospital was constructed in 1926 and 1927 under the
direction of Dr. O.W. Wyatt. Built with a Spanish
architectural style, the original hospital featured massive
concrete steps that took patients directly to what is now
the second floor of the current hospital. Outfitted with
the most up-to-date technology of the time, the hospital,
then known as
 Wyatt
Memorial Hospital, opened in November 1927.
The
facility was named in memory of Dr. M.B. Wyatt, O.W.'s
brother who died during an influenza outbreak in 1918, near
the end of World War I. Dr. O.W. Wyatt practiced medicine
in Manning until the early 1940's. His son, Dr. Merlin
Wyatt, also practiced medicine in Manning for several years
before volunteering to serve with the Armed Forces in World
War II. During the war years Wyatt Memorial Hospital was
run entirely by the nursing staff.
After the
war, Dr. O.W. Wyatt retired, and Dr. Merlin Wyatt, having
contracted a respiratory disease during the war,
discontinued his medical practice. In 1946, Dr. R.B.
Anderson purchased the hospital and operated it for several
years. In 1949, Dr. Anderson sold the facility to the
Community Hospital Association. Later that year, CHA
changed the name of the facility to Manning General
Hospital. Dr. Anderson and the other doctors retained stock
in the new corporation and further issues of stock were sold
in the Manning community. Later, Dr. Anderson gave his
shares of stock, in equal shares, to five local churches.
This assured that there would be a quorum for the annual
meeting and put control of the non-profit organization into
local hands.
In 1975 the
hospital building and the nursing home were joined at a cost
of $28,000. This also included remodeling of the elevator to
serve all floors of both buildings. In 1986, due to the need
of space for outpatient clinic offices, it was decided that
the hospital building and the old nurses annex building
should be connected. This was completed at a cost of
$95,375 and was remodeled to serve as offices for
Administration.
In January
1997, Manning General Hospital began a massive renovation.
The project brought many new improvements, including two
new birthing suites, additional offices, storage, and a new
nursery located next to the central nurse’s area. Also in
1997, the name of the hospital was changed again, to Manning
Regional Healthcare Center. With this change came the
consolidation of three corporations: Manning General
Hospital, Manning Plaza and the Community Hospital
Association. The total healthcare system was now under the
umbrella of Manning Regional Healthcare Center.
With the
increased volume of outpatient services, remodeling and new
construction was again a necessity. In 1999 Manning
Regional Healthcare Center hired a contractor to construct a
new wing on the east side of the Plaza and an addition to
the south side of the Hospital. The total cost of this
project was $4,500,000.
Construction began in December 1998. The wing on the east
side of the Plaza, completed in February 2000, included a
new kitchen and employee cafeteria in the basement, two
private and eight semi-private long-term care rooms on the
second floor, along with a personal care room and a lounge.
The
addition to the south side of the hospital was completed in
June 2000. A large parking lot was built to accommodate the
new front entrance on the south side of the facility. The
new addition houses a large reception area, the business
office, outpatient clinics, central supply, a minor
procedures area, recovery room and a large surgical suite.
When the
consolidation of the hospital, Plaza and Community Hospital
Association took place in 1997, it was felt that the
identity of the hospital portion of the healthcare system
was lost by not maintaining a separate name. Therefore, in
2005, the Manning Regional Healthcare Center Board of
Directors decided to re-adopt an old name by officially
referring to the hospital as Manning General Hospital once
again.
The Manning
General Hospital continues to be an important component of
the total healthcare system at Manning Regional Healthcare
Center. The hospital joins forces with the Manning Plaza,
the Manning Family Recovery Center and the Manning Community
HomeCare staff to provide a comprehensive four-part
healthcare package close to home for residents of West
Central Iowa.
With all of
the changes throughout the years, one thing stays constant:
quality care from quality people. That is why you will
find people you know caring for people you love in the
Manning General Hospital. |
