OUR HISTORY
Lincoln Community Hospital and Care Center sits in the small rural town of Hugo, Colorado, which is a little over 100 miles south east of Denver. Hugo was established in 1859 by ranchers and in 1870 the KS-Pacific Railway came through, in 1889 Hugo became the Lincoln County Seat and 20 years later in 1909 the town was incorporated. When the soldiers of Eastern Colorado returned from WWII they recognized the need for a hospital in Lincoln County. Their families were growing and the need for local healthcare became apparent. In 1946 those veterans and the citizens of Lincoln County banded together and donated money, materials, land, labor and time to build Lincoln Community Hospital. Construction first began in 1955; the outside of the building was completed and the materials for plumbing were purchased, but after 2 more years of fundraising the board was at an impasse. In 1958 a $25,000 bond issued passed and they were able to complete the hospital. On Tuesday June 9, 1959 the local paper proudly reported that the new $225,000 state-of-the- Art hospital opened! Since that opening day the hospital has changed and adapted as both advances in medicine and the needs of our community have progressed. What began as a small county hospital has today grown into a vibrant rural health-system, operating 4 family practice clinics in Limon, Hugo, Flagler, and Byers, an attached skilled-nursing facility, off-site assisted living center and offering a full spectrum and ancillary services; Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy, Behavioral Health Services, Home Health and Hospice, Radiology and Imaging, and Laboratory. Our Specialty Clinic hosts specialists from Denver and Colorado Springs, offering added convenience and continuum of care for patients in need of the care of a specialist.
- In 1965 our 22 bed care center opened so that the elderly citizens of Lincoln County could enjoy
their golden years in the community they love
- 1972 Helipad was built
- 1986 Home Health & Hospice was added
- 1995 Dining Room addition was built
- 2015 Airlife Denver partnered with LCH
- 2019/2020 Rebranded as “Lincoln Health”
“Neighbors Caring for Neighbors” – that phrase describes our philosophy in caring for the communities we serve. At Lincoln Community Hospital these are not just words. Our history is based in this philosophy. When the troops returned to Hugo and Lincoln County after World War II, there was recognition by the community that a hospital was needed in Lincoln County and in 1947 the Lincoln County Hospital Association was formed. The first hospital Board of Directors well represented all of Lincoln County with members serving from Arriba, Genoa, Hugo, Limon and Karval. The community volunteered its time and donated many of the materials and supplies necessary to construct our hospital. The doors opened on June 9, 1959 and the hospital has been in continuous service since. Our Care Center was added in 1965 and Home Health / Hospice services were initiated in 1986. Primary Care Clinics were opened and now operate in Hugo, Limon, Flagler, and as of 2023, Byers. To supplement our primary care clinics we offer a range of Specialty services. Heritage Living Center Assisted Living Facility was acquired in 2016. Each service we offer, whether it is the care provided in our Level IV trauma center, or emotional support provided to clients in our Behavioral Health Services are provided knowing that each patient we care for is Family. As a result we take our values of Quality, Stewardship, Comfort and Respect very seriously. This effort is illustrated by many of the stories you can read on the “MVV” page of this website. It is my sincere hope that you will never need our services, however if and when you do need healthcare, we take your trust seriously and will give you the highest level of care possible. If you have any suggestions on how we can improve our care, or you would like to share a specific concern, please contact me at 719.743.2421 or email me at kstansbury@lchnh.com. Thank you for your ongoing support of our hospital. Through the support of our neighbors, we are able to provide care to our neighbors and visitors throughout Eastern Colorado.
