Regional West Medical Center
{{Short description|Regional hospital located in Scottsbluff, Nebraska}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox hospital
| name = Regional West Medical Center
| logo = Regional-West-Medical-Center.jpg
| image = RegionalWestMedicalCenterTowerandEntrance.png
| caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|41|53|12.930|N|103|39|53.222|W|format=dms|display=inline,title|type:edu_region:US-NE}}
| location = 4021 Ave. B, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, U.S.
| funding = Non-profit hospital
| type = District
| emergency = Level II trauma center
| beds = 188
| helipad = Yes
| opened = 1924
| former-names = West Nebraska Methodist Hospital
West Nebraska General Hospital
| website = {{URL|https://rwhs.org/}}
}}Regional West Medical Center, commonly referred to as Regional West, is a regional hospital located in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The hospital was founded in 1924 as West Nebraska Methodist Hospital. The hospital changed its name to West Nebraska General Hospital in 1954. In 1967, a new hospital opened due to the growing size of western Nebraska. In 1985, a three-level addition, called Med Center 2000 opened. The hospital changed its name to Regional West Medical Center in 1988 claiming it to "better fit their role as a regional hospital."
In 1995, Regional West introduced its air ambulance service, AirLink. In the 2000s, Regional West founded Regional West Physicians Clinics. In the 2010s, Regional West created affiliations with Garden County Health Services and the University of Colorado. In 2020, the critical care unit was expanded. In 2024, Regional West celebrated its 100th anniversary.
History
= West Nebraska Methodist Hospital =
Regional West Medical Center was founded in 1924 under the name West Nebraska Methodist Hospital.{{Cite news |last=Loeks |first=Maunette |date=May 14, 2024 |title=Celebrating 100 years: Regional West highlights its past, looks to its future |url=https://starherald.com/news/local/business/health-care/celebrating-100-years-regional-west-highlights-its-past-looks-to-its-future/article_59264bde-fab6-11ee-881e-ef66749b26c9.html |work=Star-Herald |language=en}} Plans for a hospital were announced in 1922 after the large growth of Western Nebraska.{{Cite news |date=February 14, 1922 |title=Scottsbluff Star-Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-men-and-women-insist-health/148018233/ }} The hospital was dedicated on April 13, 1924.{{Cite news |date=April 11, 1924 |title=Scottsbluff Star-Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-dedicatory-program/148018101/ }} By 1928, the hospital was fully approved by the American College of Surgeons.{{Cite news |date=October 9, 1928 |title=Scottsbluff Star-Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-our-hospital-is-fully-approv/148018055/ }}
=West Nebraska General Hospital=
In 1954, West Nebraska Methodist Hospital changed its name to West Nebraska General Hospital.{{Cite news |date=January 1, 1954 |title=Review of Regional News From Star-Herald Files |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-name-change-to-west-nebraska/148017996/ |work=Scottsbluff Star-Herald}} In 1959, due to the growing population of Western Nebraska, the board voted to build a new facility. In 1967, the $4 million 112 bed facility was completed and had its open house on May 6 of that year.{{Cite news |last=Andersen |first=Don |date=May 2, 1967 |title=Venture of Faith Becomes Reality in New Facility For Scottsbluff's West Nebraska General Hospital |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-venture-of-faith-becomes-rea/148017887/ |work=Scottsbluff Star-Herald}}
In 1983, Med Center 2000 was announced by West Nebraska Regional Hospital. The addition was expected to be a three level addition and would start construction in a month after the announcement. The addition was expected to be finished by late 1985 to early 1986.{{Cite news |last=Myers |first=Rick |date=August 20, 1983 |title=Mock room evaluated |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-mock-room-evaluated/148017584/ |work=Scottsbluff Star-Herald}} The project broke ground on October 30, 1983 and Med Center 2000 officially opened on September 29, 1985.{{Cite news |date=September 22, 1985 |title=WNGH open house Sunday, Sept. 29 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-wngh-open-house-sunday-sept/148017528/ |work=Scottsbluff Star-Herald}}
=Regional West Medical Center=
In 1988, West Nebraska General Hospital changed its name to Regional West Medical Center. Regional West changed their name, claiming to "better fit their role as a regional hospital."{{Cite news |date=October 22, 1988 |title=Hospital changes name to fit image, spirit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-hospital-changes-name-to-fit/148017464/ |work=Star Herald}} The following year, Medical Plaza North opened, a plaza for independent medical operators to lease out space in.{{Cite news |last=Heussmann |first=Annette |date=December 3, 1989 |title=Medical plaza ready for patients |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-medical-plaza-ready-for-pati/148017410/ |work=Scottsbluff Star-Herald}}
File:MedicalPlazaSouthRegionalWest.jpg
In 1989, Regional West announced The Village at Regional West apartment complex. The complex broke ground on December 15, 1989 with construction expected to be finished on January 15, 1991. The Village at Regional West was intended to be used as a place independent and assisted living, specifically as a retirement community.{{Cite news |last=Heussmann |first=Annette |date=December 16, 1989 |title=Ground broken for apartment complex |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-ground-broken-for-apartment/148060684/ |work=Scottsbluff Star-Herald}} The complex partially opened in December 1990 with the completion of the west wing.{{Cite news |date=October 3, 1990 |title=Village heads towards December opening |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-village-heads-toward-decembe/148059911/ |work=Scottsbluff Star-Herald}} The Village at Regional West had its grand opening on June 30, 1991.{{Cite news |date=June 30, 1991 |title=Hats Off to The Village at Regional West |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-hats-off-to-the-village-at-r/148054814/ |work=Scottsbluff Star-Herald}}
In 1995, Regional West Medical Center introduced AirLink, an air ambulance that would allow for the easier transportation of patients between hospitals.{{Cite news |date=October 5, 1995 |title=Hospital introduces crew of helicopter ambulance |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-hospital-introduces-crew-of/148017285/ |work=Scottsbluff Star-Herald}} The following year, the AirLink helicopter was damaged by a Colorado hailstorm and was out of service for the time being.{{Cite news |last=Christiansen |first=Don |date=September 26, 1996 |title=Helicopter ambulance damaged by Colorado hailstorm |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-helicopter-ambulance-damaged/148017648/ |work=Scottsbluff Star-Herald}}
In the 2000s, Regional West expanded into clinics with Regional West Physicians Clinics. Regional West founded the company to help manage the affiliated clinics.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=May 25, 2008 |title=New corporation to encompass all signed-on clinics |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-new-corporation-to-encompass/148137375/ |work=Scottsbluff Star-Herald}} Dr. David Holdt joined Regional West Physicians Clinics as president and CEO in 2008.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=September 7, 2008 |title=Dr. David Holdt Named President of New Physicians Clinic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-hats-off-to-the-village-at-r/148054814/ |work=Scottsbluff Star-Herald}}
In 2014, Garden County Health Services, a hospital located in Oshkosh, Nebraska, affiliated with Regional West.{{Cite news |date=July 3, 2014 |title=RWMC affiliates with Garden County Health Services |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-rwmc-affiliates-with-garden/148137493/ |work=Scottsbluff Star-Herald}} In 2017, Regional West purchased a Philips Brilliance Big Bore CT Simulator.{{Cite news |date=January 12, 2017 |title=Regional West Foundation, Cancer Services hosting open house |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-regional-west-foundation-ca/148137562/ |work=Scottsbluff Star-Herald}} The following year, Regional West increased its relationship with the University of Colorado.{{Cite news |date=February 22, 2018 |title=Regional West strengthens partnership with UCHealth and University of Colorado |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-regional-west-strengthens-pa/148137611/ |work=Scottsbluff Star-Herald}}
In 2020, the hospital expanded its critical care unit.{{Cite journal |last=McCarthy |first=Mark |date=May 4, 2020 |title=Critical care unit expansion completed at Regional West |url=https://starherald.com/townnews/medicine/critical-care-unit-expansion-completed-at-regional-west/article_e19e7927-c3e4-5ba4-ad4b-af62d6973e45.html |journal=Star-Herald}} In 2024, Regional West celebrated its 100th anniversary.{{Cite web |last=Winder |first=Tristen |date=2024-01-03 |title=Regional West Medical Center celebrates 100 years in 2024 |url=https://www.kgwnscottsbluff.com/2024/01/03/regional-west-medical-center-celebrates-100-years-2024/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=KGWN Scottsbluff |language=en}}
Services
Regional West Medical Center is a Level II trauma center.{{Cite web |date=November 20, 2023 |title=Trauma Center Designated Hospitals |url=https://dhhs.ne.gov/OEHS%20Program%20Documents/Trauma%20Designated%20Hospitals.pdf |website=Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services}} Regional West has services in neurology, neurosurgery, cancer, radiology, family medicine, cardiology, pulmonology, critical care, acute rehabilitation, pain management, and other fields of rehabilitation.{{Cite web |title=Services |url=https://www.rwhs.org/services |website=Regional West Health Services}}