Vickie Ernst, PA-C

The history of Faulk County Hospital/Clinic cannot be told without mentioning Dr. Abbie Ann Jarvis. Dr. Jarvis came to Faulkton in the winter of 1888-89 where her father was the local physician. Though not Faulkton's first practicing physician, Dr. Jarvis had the distinction, in 1898, of being the first woman licensed to practice medicine in the state of South Dakota. She was also the state's first registered pharmacist in 1895 and had a pharmacy in Faulkton. In 1917 Providence Hospital opened in Faulkton, fulfilling her lifelong dream of providing health care to the people of Faulkton in a hospital setting. Dr. Jarvis raised her family and practiced pharmacy and medicine in Faulkton and the surrounding area, almost to the time of her death in May 1931. Her life was spent caring for the health needs of the Faulkton Area. Enhanced through the efforts of Dr. Jarvis, quality health care in Faulkton has a strong history. From 1917 to 1951 patients were cared for in a frame building that was on the same lot as the past, Faulkton Medical Clinic. Due to untiring efforts of Faulk County Commissioners a new brick structure was contracted in 1949 and opened to patients in 1951. Funds to build this hospital were secured through a bond issue and Hill-Burton funds. In 1966 a large addition and remodeling project was accomplished through another bond issue and the use of Hill-Burton funds. With the completion of the addition-remodel project in 1968 the Faulk County Memorial Hospital was a modern, 34-bed facility. In 1983 the hospital was leased by Presentation Health System. In 1984 the hospital entered a management agreement with Presentation Health System, later know as Avera, and it continued until the fall of 1993 when the facility again became independent. In May 1992 a new clinic opened for business. This clinic was separately incorporated and separately funded. For ease of patient care and delivery of health services, the clinic was physically attached to the existing hospital. In September 1993, FCMH was certified as the first Rural Primary Care Hospital in the nation. The hospital was licensed for six acute care and six swing beds. Starting in late 1994 the hospital/clinic was managed by private systems, including Lutheran Health Systems of Fargo, ND and Tealwood Care Center of Minneapolis, MN. In 1998 the hospital/clinic's classification was changed from a Rural Primary Care Hospital to a Critical Access Hospital and Rural Health Clinic. In August 2000 the Faulk County Memorial Hospital and Clinic again became an independent facility. The hospital continues to operate six acute care and six swing beds. In 2006 Faulk County Memorial Hospital and Medical Clinic became one of 32 facilities in the nation to receive funding through the USDA Rural Development Program to build a completely new facility. FCMH/C was the only institution in South Dakota to receive funding through a combination of loans and grants. The Foundation Board, founded in late 2004, also launched a major fundraising campaign in April 2006 to purchase additional equipment, upgrade technology, and establish an endowment for the benefit of the hospital and clinic.

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