ABOUT BLOSS MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE DISTRICT

Bloss Memorial Healthcare District (BMHD) was initially established in 1936 with trust funds donated by cattle ranchers, Mr. and Mrs. George and Christine Bloss Jr. Throughout its history, BMHD has responded to the health needs of the community by continually expanding services as both need and demand dictated and over the years has experienced many changes. Originally established for the purpose of providing care for handicapped and underprivileged children, over the years the hospital served as an institution for children with rheumatic fever and then in 1948, cared for children with polio. By 1960, the hospital evolved into a twenty-three (23) bed acute care district hospital.

BMHD's mission statement (that it "will continuously improve its performance and properly fulfill the needs and expectations of those we serve either directly or through outside sources"), led BMHD to open two provider-based Rural Health CLinics in the early 1990's. Although the clinics were very successful, the hospital was experiencing the fate of so many rural hospitals in the United States. Aggressive competition from neighboring hospitals, low occupancy rates, cost-cutting reforms in federal programs and managed care insurance plans all contributed to the closure in March, 1998. After the hospital closed BMHD continued to expand primary care and dental services. A third RHC clinic was established in 1998 at the site of an Air Force Base Hospital/Clinic which was "gifted" to BMHD.

Bloss Memorial Healthcare District is a 501(c)(3) non-private, public entity.

Mrs. Mary E. Stanfield, Chairman of the Atwater History Club back in 1958 wrote an article of what Bloss Memorial Healthcare District was like back in that time. Click here to view an excerpt of the book titled "Brief History of Atwater" (1958).

BLOSS MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE DISTRICT - HISTORICAL TIMELINE