National Rural Health Day
Article Date: November 1, 2012
National Rural Health Day is an opportunity to “Celebrate the Power of Rural” by honoring the selfless, community-minded, “can do” spirit that prevails in rural America. Hermann Area District Hospital has been serving the community and surrounding area for 45 years. Looking back to the beginning of the hospital Governor, Warren Hearnes, guest speaker at the dedication stated. “We see this hospital as an example too often lost in the relationships of individual citizens, their communities, and their state and federal governments; the element of initiative originating within a community itself.” Congressman William Hungate said “For many of you here today, this hospital is the culmination of many months and years of difficult work. You are entitled to great pride in your accomplishment. Yet the job has only begun. This hospital will soon become so much a part of this community that many will take its existence for granted. Don’t let this happen. Your hospital is a special place.” These statements made by these two men during the opening of the hospital in 1967 rings true to the life of Hermann Area District Hospital and the people who have worked here and served the hospital in the capacity of board members, auxiliary, volunteers, and many countless people. Besides the hospital operations there are now four rural health clinics operated by the hospital; Southwest Medical Associates and Hermann Medical Arts in Hermann, Associated Medical Arts in Montgomery, and Medical Clinic of Owensville in Owensville as well as the Hermann Fitness Source. “In recent years, this facility has made significant state of the art renovations to the facility, patient care equipment and electronic medical records. We are here to serve this community with “big town” amenities and home town compassion.”
On November 15th the hospital will celebrate this by serving a free lunch for the employees and volunteers. We are thankful to the many countless people who have made this hospital what it is today. There have been ups and downs throughout these 45 years but be assured that the statement by Congressman Hungate “Your hospital is a special place” is felt by many people.