Opening the door on 70 years

Seventy years ago in July 1941, a community dream was realized. The doors opened on a modest structure in Bigfork created by people with big dreams: an 8 bed hospital. The hospital would provide a remote area of northern Itasca County with a permanent medical facility that included a combined surgery and delivery room, nursery, medical and dental clinic, and X-ray.

It was a grass roots effort. Two years earlier a hospital association and a Women’s Hospital Auxiliary had been formed. Funds were raised through popular subscription and a cornerstone was laid. Remaining funds came through a depression-era Works Progress Administration, but much of the work was volunteer.

The dream grew, and the need was growing – often there were 13 patients in the little hospital. In 1953 a new clinic addition was constructed that also included four additional beds. Room rates at the time were $5 for a semi-private room or ward and $6 for a private room.

The hospital moved to its present site with the opening of a new building in 1965. Further additions in the early 1970s added a medical and dental clinic, and a nursing home. Senior residential apartments became part of the health care campus in 1992, and the importance of emergency airlift was recognized with the addition of a helipad in that year.

In the late 1990s the nursing home – now Bigfork Valley Communities - underwent a fundamental change. The traditional culture of a long term care facility was one of schedules, job descriptions and efficient but somewhat impersonal service. Bigfork Valley decided to adopt the philosophy of the Eden Alternative, one which gave priority to the resident and his or her preferences. The Communities acquired a home-like atmosphere – although with the skilled nursing and personal care services of a nursing home. This change brought Bigfork Valley Communities international recognition as a pioneer for the social model of long term care.

An ambitious new project to expand and upgrade the hospital itself was completed in 2006. A new, two story medical wing would house two surgical suites, eleven acute care patient rooms, an emergency department, procedure rooms and rooms for medical staff needs and ongoing operations. The older building was remodeled to include an expanded physical therapy department including a public membership fitness center, an expanded retail pharmacy and administrative offices.

The history of Bigfork Valley extends from the time patients were served by dogsled or boat to a time when patients can receive advanced care near home or be airlifted if necessary to a large urban hospital. Bigfork Valley has been the result of the big dreams of early settlers for quality local health care; a dream that has been generously supported by the people of the area.

---drawn from a general history written by Lillian (Krueger) Carr,
hospital administrator, 1958-1995