OUR HISTORY
ABOUT US
ABOUT US
THE EVOLUTION OF THE RICHLAND HOSPITAL
The Richland Hospital is a 25-bed acute care Critical Access hospital with a long history of serving the health care needs of people in Richland Center and the surrounding area. The Richland Hospital, Inc. was first established in 1924, occupying the Bailey Mansion, which was located where a portion of the current facility now stands. Our existing Richland Hospital building is the result of many building and renovation projects.
HISTORIC TIMELINE
For over 100 years The Richland Hospital evolved from a very small hospital to a rural health care organization, serving three counties and their surrounding areas.

The Kermott Hospital & City Hospital

The Beginning of The Richland Hospital, Inc.
By 1927, a shortage of space was already apparent. An additional project began in August, 1929 and was completed in the following year. An elevator was included in this three-story addition.
The next addition to the hospital was completed in March, 1936. It added an x-ray room, isolation ward, operating room, obstetrical room and more patient rooms.
The Richland Hospital Expands as an Accredited Member of the American Hospital Association
Plans for the fifth addition of the hospital began in 1946 and the sixth addition was completed in 1953. These additions added the entrance on Park Street and increased the bed capacity to nearly ninety. The Hospital staff increased from its original 7, to 52 employees in 1949. After this, it took nearly ten years before another renovation took place.
1936 to 1953
1962 to 1975
Moderinization
Construction began in 1962 for the seventh addition, which, sadly, included removal of the last portion of the original building. This addition was opened in 1966 and expanded the hospital’s footprint, including many modernizations.
The eighth addition plans to the Hospital opened in 1975. With this renovation project came administrative space, offices, medical records, x-ray, and emergency room and a six-bed intensive care unit. During this time period, changes were also occurring on the Hospital’s grounds. Two houses on Second Street were removed for the creation of a 23-space parking area.
Purchasing Historic Homes for Nearby Use
By 1986, “The Lawrence House,” located on Second Street across from the hospital, was remodeled to be used as a hospital operated Learning/Day Care Center for children of hospital employees.
In 1987, the hospital purchased the house on the southeast corner of the hospital block, owned by Marie Carberry, and converted it into the Fiscal Services Annex.
By 1988, a hospital wide renovation program began that would take a number of years to complete. When finished, it enhanced the aesthetics, as well as the efficiency of the building tremendously.
In 1992, we purchased the house owned by the Ewers family located adjacent to the Fiscal Services Center. The house was slightly remodeled and at the time, was occupied by the Home Health Agency.
By 1927, a shortage of space was already apparent. An additional project began in August, 1929 and was completed in the following year. An elevator was included in this three-story addition.
The next addition to the hospital was completed in March, 1936. It added an x-ray room, isolation ward, operating room, obstetrical room and more patient rooms.
New Aesthetics
In 1997, the old high school was purchased from the Richland School District and was demolished. We used this land to construct an employee parking lot on the western part of the two-block lot. The Southeast portion of the lot was sold to a developer for construction of condominiums. In 1997, the Carberry, Ewers, Uzuanis and Rydberg houses were moved off hospital property and the Karlstad and Bailey houses were demolished to make way for the upcoming building project. The finance and home health departments relocated to the Lawrence house and the Children’s Learning Center moved to the renovated Miller house.
In 1998, administration offices were moved to the Schoonover house, following renovation, to allow remodeling. An agreement was reached for the purchase of the Kraska house, next to the administration building, in 1999. The Wisconsin Gas Co. building, on Highway 14 East (where WRCO is currently located), was purchased and renovated for use by the rehab therapies until completion of the hospital and clinic project. This project started in July, 1998.
Health Care Center Expansion
Richland Medical Center entered into a long-term lease at the Hospital-owned space. Physician services focus on the total health of the patient covering the entire span of life. Primary care physicians work with a team of specialty care providers to meet the needs of the communities served. During this same capital project, we saw improvements and renovations take place in its physical plant, including laboratory, patient accounting, medical imaging and emergency services. This project created an addition of approximately 104,000 square feet to the facility.
In 2006, thanks to great community support, the Douglas M. Kraemer Community Care Center opened. This care center provides a space designed with the specific needs of patients receiving chemotherapeutic treatments under the care of an oncologist. During this same time period, the hospital added a third Operating Suite.
In June 2007, the Richland Community Free Clinic, Inc. began operating as a unique Wisconsin 501(c)3 corporation in space held under the long-term lease maintained by Richland Medical Center. The Free Clinic is staffed by volunteers, provides access to clinic-based primary care with limited resources targeted to serve those patients without the financial ability to seek healthcare elsewhere. The Richland Community Free Clinic is open one day per week. We, as a health care organization, provide a limited amount of pledged support through access to basic ancillary services like labs and x-ray under the established Community (Charity) Care policy of the Hospital.
In 1997, the old high school was purchased from the Richland School District and was demolished. We used this land to construct an employee parking lot on the western part of the two-block lot. The Southeast portion of the lot was sold to a developer for construction of condominiums. In 1997, the Carberry, Ewers, Uzuanis and Rydberg houses were moved off hospital property and the Karlstad and Bailey houses were demolished to make way for the upcoming building project. The finance and home health departments relocated to the Lawrence house and the Children’s Learning Center moved to the renovated Miller house.
In 1998, administration offices were moved to the Schoonover house, following renovation, to allow remodeling. An agreement was reached for the purchase of the Kraska house, next to the administration building, in 1999. The Wisconsin Gas Co. building, on Highway 14 East (where WRCO is currently located), was purchased and renovated for use by the rehab therapies until completion of the hospital and clinic project. This project started in July, 1998.
Inpatient Renovation Project
During this Inpatient Renovation Project, we added new access to the helipad via the back elevator. The final phase included the completion of the administrative offices, a sleep study area, respiratory therapy and a new treadmill area for cardiology. The completion of this project brought the Richland Hospital’s total square footage to 164,000 square feet including the portion under long-term lease to Richland Medical Center. LTD. This portion of the project was completed in early 2010.
In the third phase of the project, the hospital administrative offices, respiratory services, and sleep study areas were completed on the hospital’s second floor. Staff moved in the fall of 2010. During this same period, the hospital purchased two houses located on the same block as the current hospital campus. The old apartment building was razed and the white house was renovated for call staff who need to stay overnight.
In 2011, Richland Hospital earned accreditation from World Health Organization as a “Baby Friendly” facility. That same year, the hospital was recognized in the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the Nation.
Richland Medical Center entered into a long-term lease at the Hospital-owned space. Physician services focus on the total health of the patient covering the entire span of life. Primary care physicians work with a team of specialty care providers to meet the needs of the communities served. During this same capital project, we saw improvements and renovations take place in its physical plant, including laboratory, patient accounting, medical imaging and emergency services. This project created an addition of approximately 104,000 square feet to the facility.
In 2006, thanks to great community support, the Douglas M. Kraemer Community Care Center opened. This care center provides a space designed with the specific needs of patients receiving chemotherapeutic treatments under the care of an oncologist. During this same time period, the hospital added a third Operating Suite.
In June 2007, the Richland Community Free Clinic, Inc. began operating as a unique Wisconsin 501(c)3 corporation in space held under the long-term lease maintained by Richland Medical Center. The Free Clinic is staffed by volunteers, provides access to clinic-based primary care with limited resources targeted to serve those patients without the financial ability to seek healthcare elsewhere. The Richland Community Free Clinic is open one day per week. We, as a health care organization, provide a limited amount of pledged support through access to basic ancillary services like labs and x-ray under the established Community (Charity) Care policy of the Hospital.
In 1997, the old high school was purchased from the Richland School District and was demolished. We used this land to construct an employee parking lot on the western part of the two-block lot. The Southeast portion of the lot was sold to a developer for construction of condominiums. In 1997, the Carberry, Ewers, Uzuanis and Rydberg houses were moved off hospital property and the Karlstad and Bailey houses were demolished to make way for the upcoming building project. The finance and home health departments relocated to the Lawrence house and the Children’s Learning Center moved to the renovated Miller house.
In 1998, administration offices were moved to the Schoonover house, following renovation, to allow remodeling. An agreement was reached for the purchase of the Kraska house, next to the administration building, in 1999. The Wisconsin Gas Co. building, on Highway 14 East (where WRCO is currently located), was purchased and renovated for use by the rehab therapies until completion of the hospital and clinic project. This project started in July, 1998.