West Holt Memorial Hospital: A Rural American Success Story

ATKINSON, Neb. -- According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Holt County has been facing a rural healthcare emergency far before the pandemic happened. 

Holt County is home to more than 10,000 people in its roughly 2,400 square miles. The county has needed an increase in medical resources. 

The USDA said that West Holt Memorial Hospital applied and got approved for a direct loan through USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Direct Loan Program in 2018. Even with that loan, they found themselves hit with increased costs, demands, and challenges as their project moved forward.

USDA RD said they were able to increase the hospital’s loan from $3,225,000 to $3,905,000 enabling the needed expansion to successfully conclude this year.

“Through collaborating with USDA Rural Development, we had the opportunity to increase our ability to provide comprehensive healthcare to our communities,” said CEO Brian Martin, West Holt Memorial Hospital, and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. “Without an organization such as the USDA RD, our facility may not have had the resources to achieve such a significant project on our own. Fortunately, in conjunction with USDA RD, we are now able to provide world-class care right here in North Central Nebraska.”

It was reported that the facility has now expanded from 14,892 to 16,908 square feet, adding a specialty clinic for increased outpatient services, a new surgical suite to accommodate the 100 percent increase in surgery demand, a larger laboratory to increase processing times, a renovated waiting area, multi-purpose space, new patient check-in area, new staff workspace, and a new boardroom.

“I grew up in rural Nebraska,” said Community Programs Specialist Anthony Guenther, “I know small towns struggle to provide the essential services, like health care, that help make rural America a great place to live. West Holt Memorial Hospital is going to greatly improve the quality of care for residents in North Central Nebraska. I enjoyed working on this project with the incredible staff at West Holt Memorial Hospital.”

The USDA said the West Holt Memorial Hospital is a 15-bed critical access hospital and rural health clinic located in Atkinson, Nebraska. The hospital provides comprehensive, community-based health care in North Central Nebraska.

According to the press release from the USDA, Holt County is a federally designated primary care medically underserved area. This Rural Development investment is expected to save 83 current jobs and has the potential to create additional jobs.