For many years, Fairbury and Jefferson County were served by two privately owned hospitals operated in conjunction with medical clinics in Fairbury and the surrounding communities. As outlying communities began losing their physicians and Fairbury became the primary health center for the county, the need for expanded hospital facilities became more apparent, and a countywide hospital was determined to be the best solution.
A public effort began in the 1950s. Jefferson County Memorial Hospital Inc. was incorporated in 1960. The facility became Jefferson Community Health Center in the 1990s, and in 2017 began doing business as Jefferson Community Health & Life.
The first meeting of the Board of Directors was held on Jan. 11, 1961. An option was placed for an acreage for a hospital site in the McLucas Subdivision of Fairbury. A hospital consultant was employed, an architectural firm (Helleberg & Helleberg of Kearney, Neb.) was hired and an application for Hill-Burton funds was made. In March 1962, bids were opened and contracts were let to start construction.
A special gift was designated for a nursing home, and a nursing home wing was incorporated into the building plans. The facility was the first in the state to be built as a combination hospital and nursing home.
Ground-breaking was April 24, 1962. Construction of the 28-bed hospital and 33-bed nursing home was completed Sept. 15, 1963. The facility was dedicated Sept. 22, 1963. The hospital and nursing home began operating in October 1963.
Facility Changes Through the Years
- 1963: Jefferson County Memorial Hospital dedicated and began operations
- 1968: Addition of south wing, increasing hospital capacity to 49 beds
- 1970: Addition of administrator’s office, conference room, and business office space
- 1978: Expansion of physical therapy area
- 1983: Addition of eight-bed wing to nursing home, bringing total to 41 nursing home beds
- 1988: Expansion of nursing home dining room, addition to laundry area
- 1995: Renovation of emergency and obstetrics departments and outpatient clinics
- 1996: Addition of Bob & Wauneta Burkley Wellness Center (now Jefferson Community Health & Life Burkley Fitness Center,) new physical and occupational therapy area, expanded physical therapy area, new front entrance and waiting area
- 2000: Became a Critical Access Hospital, a special designation which helps gives rural hospitals a different type of reimbursement (did not affect services offered and improved long-term financial strength)
- 2001: Began design of 42-unit Cedarwood Assisted Living, a private not-for-profit joint venture between Jefferson Community Health & Life and BryanLGH
- 2004: Opened Cedarwood Assisted Living on the JCH&L campus
- 2005: Remodeling of radiology department and cafeteria
- 2006: Remodeling at Gardenside (now Jefferson Community Health & Life Gardenside) long-term care
- 2009: Surgical addition completed
- 2013: Eight-unit addition to Cedarwood completed
- 2015: Hospital patient rooms renovated to private rooms with handicapped accessible restrooms and private showers; relocated radiology, pharmacy, laboratory, and respiratory services; renovated therapy area, business office and main lobby; relocated administrative offices, health information services, and human resources offices; and relocated conference rooms. Reduced licensure to 17 hospital beds.
- 2016: Purchased The Fairbury Clinic (now Jefferson Community Health & Life Fairbury Clinic)
- 2017: Became Jefferson Community Health & Life with a new Commitment to Health
- 2022: Opened new JCH&L Fairbury Clinic, attached to the health center
- 2026: Breaking ground for new therapy addition and planning fitness center, locker room and pool update.