Nelson County Health System P O Box 367 McVille, ND 58254 701.322.4328
| Our History |
Construction on the McVille Community Hospital began in 1916 and was dedicated on Tuesday, February 6, 1917. It
was given the name "Community Hospital" because, according to Mr. E. C. Olsgaard, then president of the board,
emphasized that the institution was not built by McVille alone nor for McVille alone but was given its name because it
was built by the entire community and for a community as large as its service can reach.
Dr. A. O. Arneson began practicing as a physician in McVille in 1906. He continued until his death in 1942. Following
Dr. Arneson's death, Dr. Muus began his practice.
In 1957 a 6 bed addition was constructed onto the hospital. It was modernized in 1974, the original unit razed, and a
replacement built.
Nelson County Health Center Care Center was dedicated on July 3, 1963 and was originally designed to serve the
area as a Rehabilitation Center. In April of 1966, the Center was purchased by Friendship Homes Inc., and began to
serve as a skilled nursing home. The City of McVille purchased the Center on January 1, 1998. It is a 39 bed facility
offering skilled nursing care, rehabilitation, hospice, and respite care.
The clinic facility in McVille was completed in 1968 and Dr. Dale Iverson was welcomed to the community as
physician in 1970. Currently it is staffed by two physicians and a nurse practitioner. There is a satellite clinic in
Lakota that is staffed three days a week.
In 1972, the name was changed from Community Hospital at McVille to Community Hospital in Nelson County and an
effort was made to better serve the health needs of the entire area.
In 1974, the assets of the hospital were deeded to the city of McVille in order to better-enable the financing of the
building project. Since that time, the debt has been retired and the hospital has been deeded back to the
organization.
The name was later changed to Nelson County Health System.
In 2000, the hospital was designated as a 20-bed Critical Access Hospital with a Swing Bed program. This allowed
cost-based reimbursement and improved efficiencies. The McVille Medical Clinic and Lakota Health Center both
became Rural Health Clinics.
The NCHS Assisted Living was built in 2010/2011. The new assisted living center, located at 514 N. Olsgard St., is
an addition to the NCHS Care Center, a 39-bed skilled nursing facility. It wraps around the north side of the building,
creating an outdoor courtyard for residents. It is decorated in an arts and crafts décor, with featuring warm colors of
tans, browns and adobe with rich walnut-color. Oak doors line the halls, dining, and lounge and entrance areas.
Skylights provide natural light in the main hallway. The building is equipped with a geothermal heating/cooling
system. It includes four two-bedroom and eight one-bedroom private rental apartments.
In a time of changing health care and financing in rural areas, changes continue to be made in services provided by
NCHS.
Nelson County Health System is currently the largest rural health care delivery system serving the
smallest and oldest population in the United States; employing over 100 people from Nelson County and
the surrounding areas.
was given the name "Community Hospital" because, according to Mr. E. C. Olsgaard, then president of the board,
emphasized that the institution was not built by McVille alone nor for McVille alone but was given its name because it
was built by the entire community and for a community as large as its service can reach.
Dr. A. O. Arneson began practicing as a physician in McVille in 1906. He continued until his death in 1942. Following
Dr. Arneson's death, Dr. Muus began his practice.
In 1957 a 6 bed addition was constructed onto the hospital. It was modernized in 1974, the original unit razed, and a
replacement built.
Nelson County Health Center Care Center was dedicated on July 3, 1963 and was originally designed to serve the
area as a Rehabilitation Center. In April of 1966, the Center was purchased by Friendship Homes Inc., and began to
serve as a skilled nursing home. The City of McVille purchased the Center on January 1, 1998. It is a 39 bed facility
offering skilled nursing care, rehabilitation, hospice, and respite care.
The clinic facility in McVille was completed in 1968 and Dr. Dale Iverson was welcomed to the community as
physician in 1970. Currently it is staffed by two physicians and a nurse practitioner. There is a satellite clinic in
Lakota that is staffed three days a week.
In 1972, the name was changed from Community Hospital at McVille to Community Hospital in Nelson County and an
effort was made to better serve the health needs of the entire area.
In 1974, the assets of the hospital were deeded to the city of McVille in order to better-enable the financing of the
building project. Since that time, the debt has been retired and the hospital has been deeded back to the
organization.
The name was later changed to Nelson County Health System.
In 2000, the hospital was designated as a 20-bed Critical Access Hospital with a Swing Bed program. This allowed
cost-based reimbursement and improved efficiencies. The McVille Medical Clinic and Lakota Health Center both
became Rural Health Clinics.
The NCHS Assisted Living was built in 2010/2011. The new assisted living center, located at 514 N. Olsgard St., is
an addition to the NCHS Care Center, a 39-bed skilled nursing facility. It wraps around the north side of the building,
creating an outdoor courtyard for residents. It is decorated in an arts and crafts décor, with featuring warm colors of
tans, browns and adobe with rich walnut-color. Oak doors line the halls, dining, and lounge and entrance areas.
Skylights provide natural light in the main hallway. The building is equipped with a geothermal heating/cooling
system. It includes four two-bedroom and eight one-bedroom private rental apartments.
In a time of changing health care and financing in rural areas, changes continue to be made in services provided by
NCHS.
Nelson County Health System is currently the largest rural health care delivery system serving the
smallest and oldest population in the United States; employing over 100 people from Nelson County and
the surrounding areas.
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
