About CCMC

Clay County Medical Center's story began in the early 1900s when Dr. Melanchthon Cameron Porter and Dr. Benjamin Franklin Morgan helped establish the community's first hospital. Clay Center Hospital officially opened on July 7, 1902, in the former Coleman House on Sixth Street with 20 patient beds. During these early years, healthcare looked much different than it does today, with limited technology and medical treatments. In 1925, Clay Center Municipal Hospital opened as the city's first publicly owned hospital, bringing expanded services, X-ray technology, and a nurses' home to the growing community.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, the hospital continued to grow with nurse training programs, improved wages, and advancements in medical care such as penicillin and expanded laboratory services. In 1954, Clay Center Municipal Hospital became a county hospital and was renamed Clay County Hospital. A major milestone came in 1962 with the opening of the current facility at 617 Liberty Street, featuring modern equipment and expanded patient care. By the end of the 1960s, additional physicians, new departments, and facility expansions positioned the hospital to meet the region's growing healthcare needs.

The 1970s and 1980s marked a period of rapid growth and resilience. Hospital staff safely cared for patients during the devastating 1973 Clay Center tornado, demonstrating their commitment to the community. Throughout the decade, the hospital added new specialty clinics, Nuclear Medicine, Sonography, Mammography, Mobile CT scanning, the Swing Bed Program, and expanded rehabilitation services. In 1987, the Clay County Hospital Foundation was established to support the hospital's mission, helping lay the foundation for continued growth and investment in healthcare for the region.

The 1990s brought significant growth and modernization to Clay County Hospital. New technology, including CT scanning, bronchoscopy, and laparoscopic surgery equipment, expanded the hospital's capabilities, while the launch of the LifeStar helicopter improved emergency care. Thanks to strong community support, the Clay County Hospital Foundation successfully raised funds for a new Physicians Clinic, which opened in 1993 alongside an expanded radiology department and education center. Additional improvements throughout the decade included a Wellness/Fitness Center, Outpatient Clinic, Nurses Center, expanded kitchen facilities, and the appointment of Ron Bender as CEO in 1999.

Clay Center Hospital officially opened on July 7, 1902, in the remodeled Coleman House at 1508 6th Street. With 20 patient beds, it served as the community's first permanent hospital and laid the foundation for organized healthcare in Clay County. Despite limited medical technology, the hospital provided compassionate care and helped establish a legacy of service that continues today.

As the community grew, so did the need for expanded healthcare. In 1925, Clay Center Municipal Hospital opened as the city's first publicly owned hospital at 2121 Seventh Street. The facility introduced advancements such as X-ray technology, expanded patient care, and a nurses' home, serving the community for nearly three decades before becoming a county hospital.

In 1954, the hospital became county-owned and was renamed Clay County Hospital before relocating to its current campus at 617 Liberty Street in 1962. Since then, Clay County Medical Center has continued to grow through facility expansions, advanced medical technology, specialty clinics, and community investment. Today, CCMC remains committed to providing high-quality, compassionate healthcare for Clay County and the surrounding region.