The Beginning of Local Hospital Care
On Mother’s Day—May 13, 1951—modern hospital care began in Hiawatha with the opening of the Hiawatha Community Hospital. That moment marked the beginning of 75 years of service built on community support, local leadership, and a commitment to caring for neighbors across the region.
Over the decades, generations of families from Hiawatha, Brown County, and surrounding communities have relied on their local hospital for life’s most important moments—welcoming newborns, responding to emergencies, recovering from surgery, and managing ongoing health needs. Many caregivers have cared for parents and later their children and grandchildren, such as the current longest-tenured employee, Lynn Motsinger, who has worked with the hospital for 43 years.
Meeting the Challenges of Rural Healthcare
Healthcare has changed significantly since 1951. Rural hospitals across the country have faced increasing financial pressure, workforce shortages, and rising operational costs. Those challenges were felt locally as well. A few years ago, the organization was in a critical financial state—limiting its ability to replace needed equipment, invest in facility improvements, and keep wages competitive. The board and leadership of the hospital knew that something needed to happen to ensure the future of Hiawatha healthcare.
In March 2021, the hospital affiliated with Atchison Hospital, another local community hospital serving northeast Kansas. Leaders from both organizations recognized the advantages of sharing resources such as purchasing, technology systems, and staffing. Together they created a jointly governed healthcare system now known as Amberwell Health and renamed the hospitals to Amberwell Hiawatha and Amberwell Atchison. This decision helped strengthen the hospital and protect long-term access to care in Hiawatha and the surrounding region. Governance remains local, with a board made up of area residents. Care decisions continue to focus on the needs of the Hiawatha community.
Strengthening Care Close to Home
Now five years after this turning point, the results are measurable. Improved stability now supports equipment replacement, service expansion, and long-term planning. Equipment, facility, and technology upgrades include an upgraded electronic health records system, new HVAC system for surgery, a modern phone system, patient monitor upgrades, and more. Equally important, staff wages have been adjusted to meet the benchmarks of the Kansas Hospital Association, supporting recruitment and retention of skilled caregivers.
Most importantly, this improved stability has allowed new services to be added in Hiawatha. Patients now have local access to:
- Onsite retail pharmacy
- Senior behavioral care
- Onsite nuclear medicine
- Occupational health services
- Expanded orthopedic surgery services
These additions mean more patients across the region can receive care locally rather than traveling farther from home.
A Regional Healthcare Anchor
Amberwell Hiawatha continues to serve as a healthcare anchor for the region, operating as a 25-bed critical access hospital with a medical staff of more than 20 physicians and advanced practice providers. The hospital includes two intensive care beds, six emergency department beds, two surgical suites, and dedicated delivery and postpartum rooms for families welcoming new babies. Patients have access to a wide range of services including emergency care, primary care, obstetrics, inpatient care, orthopedic and general surgery, rehabilitation therapies, occupational health, and senior behavioral health. Diagnostic and treatment services include laboratory testing, radiology and advanced onsite imaging such as MRI, CT, 3D mammography, and nuclear medicine, as well as infusion services and cardiac rehabilitation. An onsite retail pharmacy with free delivery also helps patients conveniently access medications.
In addition to services in Hiawatha, Amberwell Hiawatha operates a clinic in Highland that provides primary care for residents and students at Highland Community College. Together, these services allow patients across the region to receive essential care without traveling far from home.
Amberwell Hiawatha employs 246 people to support the Hiawatha and Highland locations. In addition, 202 Amberwell Health employees live in Brown County, working within Amberwell Health. According to Kansas Hospital Association, Amberwell Hiawatha employees account for 10.5% of Brown County jobs and 12% of the income. The hospital remains one of the area’s largest employers and an economic anchor institution guided by local leadership focused on serving this community and the broader region.
Community Support Across Generations
Since the beginning, hospital care in Hiawatha has been supported by the community that came together to raise the $222,000 it took to build the facility in 1951. Over the years, multiple groups have formed to continue this support through fundraising, advocacy, and volunteering.
Since 1958, the Gray Ladies have brought comfort, gladness, and good fellowship to staff and patients, although they now wear blue pinstriped smocks instead of their historical gray dresses. Many of the Gray Ladies also serve as Amberwell Hiawatha Auxiliary volunteers. The Auxiliary volunteers ran the gift shop until 2025, and they organize several fundraising activities throughout the year that support the needs of the hospital.
The Amberwell Hiawatha Foundation, founded in 2000, connects community donors with the mission of Amberwell Hiawatha. Through community fundraising efforts, the Foundation helps fund important improvements for the hospital.
Planning for the Future
The hospital campus has changed over the years, with 8 significant expansions and renovations creating opportunities for additional services for the community. In 2025, the organization completed a master facilities plan, which identified the current state of the facility and suggested options for the future. Whether the future includes a major expansion, a remodel of existing spaces, or even a new build—determining the plan for the immediate future is a major focus for 2026.
75 years ago, this community came together to bring hospital care to Hiawatha. Today, that same dedication to neighbors and families guides the work being done each day. With stronger stability and expanded services, local caregivers and leaders are committed to ensuring that the next generation can count on the same access to care for the next 75 years.
Community Care Stories and Community Social
The community is invited to share stories about care they have received or given over the hospital’s history at amberwellhealth.org/75-years-stories.
In addition, the community is invited to attend an anniversary week social on May 11, 2026, from 3-6pm at Amberwell Hiawatha. All who attend get a free fresh squeezed lemonade and kettle corn!