This month, Memorial Regional Health’s Hospital marks 15 years at 750 Hospital Loop, a milestone that highlights its commitment to quality healthcare for the community.

Since opening its doors on Nov. 12, 2009, the new hospital has elevated rural healthcare for the community, handling thousands of emergency visits, inpatient stays, surgeries and specialized procedures. The hospital’s 77,258 square-foot facility replaced the former 32,000 square-foot building at 785 Russell Street, providing all-private rooms, advanced infrastructure and state-of-the-art spaces designed to improve patient care.

“Reaching this 15-year milestone is a testament to our community’s trust and support and our team’s dedication,” said Jennifer Riley, CEO of MRH. “While the building has evolved to accommodate more patients and staff, new technologies and specialized services, the hospital’s core mission has remained the same — improving the quality of life for the communities we serve through patient-centered healthcare and service excellence.”

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The previous facility at 785 Russell St. served well as a 25-bed hospital, but it eventually showed its limitations. All patient rooms were shared, unlike the private rooms now offered at 750 Hospital Loop. Over the years, six additions were made to the Russell Street building to increase square footage and services, but the facility had outgrown its effectiveness as a modern hospital.

In 2007, Moffat County residents voted in favor of constructing a new hospital to better serve the community’s needs. The new hospital at 750 Hospital Loop was completed and dedicated on Nov. 9, 2009.

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Kristine Cooper, MT, MHA, chief clinical officer, has been with MRH for 26 years. She recalls the community gathering at what was then Holiday Inn when the announcement was made that Ballot Measure 1A, a 3-mill tax levy, for a new $42.6 million facility had passed.

“There was so much excitement that we were moving forward,” she said. “It meant sustainable healthcare and a state-of-the-art facility. I think it’s important to recognize the incredible support from our community. It’s a big deal for us to commit financially to the support of an organization and to our infrastructure for our community.”

The community support didn’t end at the ballot box. A community capital campaign was launched in efforts to raise money for the new hospital and in June 2008, the MRH Foundation presented $750,000 to the hospital board to aid in the construction of the new facility.

Construction efforts and operational planning continued year-round to ensure the new facility would be completed on schedule.

“Probably the most enjoyable part of the move was really working with the management team understanding operations, how the functionality of the hospital was going to change from 785 Russell to 750 Hospital Loop,” said COO Kyle Miller, who has been with MRH for 25 years. “It was challenging but also extremely busy and fun. It’s not something that a lot of people get to do in their healthcare careers.”

On Nov. 12, 2009, then-CEO George Rohrich proudly announced the grand opening of the new facility at 750 Hospital Loop and officially closed hospital care at 785 Russell St. The new hospital was complete and ready to serve the community.

As Memorial Regional Health celebrates 15 years at 750 Hospital Loop, it’s a time to reflect on the countless lives touched and the dedication to providing high-quality healthcare to the rural community. Here’s to many more years of growth, innovation and compassionate care at Memorial Regional Health.

This November, join us on Memorial Regional Health’s social channels to celebrate 15 years at 750 Hospital Loop. Follow along for stories, milestones, and special memories from the team.