Since 1897, forward thinking leaders have kept quality healthcare at the forefront as they made decisions that would affect medical care for years to come.
Mrs. CJ Rosser initiated the first medical care for residents near Fosston. It was established as a cooperative treating the lumbermen who worked in the area. Each lumberman paid 75 cents per month for maintenance of the hospital, and when members needed health care, they were treated free of charge. It was similar to what we know of today as an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization).
For 108 years each decade of providers and administrators has been striving to continue to improve health care and provide modern equipment and services for northwest Minnesota.
1900 - a new hospital was built at a cost of $5,000. It was a two-story building with 1500 square feet on each floor.
1946 - A fund drive was begun to raise $40,000 to purchase a hospital and convert it to a not-for-profit hospital with a nine-man board.
1952 - A bond issue was passed for $32,500 to build an addition to the hospital. The total of the new addition was $57,800.
1959 - The Hill Burton Act was passed. The Federal Government agreed to pay 45% of the cost of a facility in exchange for providing indigent care. A new bond was issued for $280,000 and passed to build a 39-bed municipal hospital on Hilligoss Boulevard. The new hospital opened on September 11, 1961.
1964 - A skilled nursing care unit was built and added 14 beds to bring the total license to 53 beds.
1973 - A 50-bed nursing home was built in September 1973. The hospital reduced beds from 53 to 43 at that time.
1993 - The hospital and nursing home reorganized and became First Care Medical Services, a not-for-profit facility, and no longer a municipal facility
2000 - Teleradiology technology installed enabled the digital transmission of medical images instantaneously, and board certified radiologists read test results as if they were physically on the premises.
2002 - Construction of $800,000 surgery center made it possible to offer more and better surgical procedures.
First Care led the way in rural northern Minnesota by introducing TeleHomecare, a means of faster diagnosis and treatment of patients with in-home technology.
2003 - In addition to general surgery, orthopedic and ENT surgery became available, and midwifery also became available.
2004 - Construction of ambulance services and outpatient addition was completed at a cost of $3 million dollars.
2005 - The Prairie Pines Community Housing-with-services 20-unit complex was completed in cooperation with the City of Fosston.
2007 - The addition of Telemedicine at First Care provides the capability of being potentially connected with any other site in the world to find a rare consultation.
First Care Medical Services continually searches for technologies and services that will enhance the medical opportunities for residents of northwest Minnesota to save them from driving long distances, seeing unfamiliar people at unfamiliar institutions for medical care.
Today, with the aid of state-of-the-art technology, it is possible to share the experience of specialists in many fields who have expanded the horizon on procedures that can now be provided at First Care. With the help of over 200 employees, First Care Medical Services provides medical care to a large geographical block in northern Minnesota, from north of Thief River Falls to Mahnomen on the south, and from west of Fertile to east of Fosston.
Our entire staff is dedicated to customer safety, quality of services and standardizing our care to get the best results for you. First Care consistently ranks at the top in quality as measured and reported by the Centers for Medicare Medicaid and the state of Minnesota. We are proud of our results in hospital, nursing home and home health and encourage you to view our results on www.medicare.gov. It is our aim to be your chosen, long lasting and trusted provider of health services.
Contact Information
Patricia Wangler
Chief Executive Officer
Phone: (218) 435-7630