Our Founding
What began in 1951 as Phelps County Memorial Hospital—a 63-bed Hospital built through local determination and generosity—has grown into a regional health system serving more than 200,000 residents across six counties. Since our founding, we have expanded services, advanced technology and strengthened partnerships so our neighbors can receive high-quality care close to home.
Rolla, Missouri, has long served as a regional medical hub. From a Civil War field hospital in the Old Phelps County Courthouse to a makeshift facility in the former Hotel Baltimore, area residents have repeatedly stepped in to care for one another when resources were limited. When the Nelle McFarland Hospital closed in 1946, it underscored the dire need for a modern public hospital. The response was swift and unified: Phelps County voters overwhelmingly passed a bond issue to fund construction, and Dr. E. A. Scott of St. James closed his 10-bed hospital so the new facility could qualify for a federal grant. Our community raised $40,000 to equip patient rooms, with additional donations from local organizations and citizens.
In 1949, construction began on the $1 million Hospital on land donated by the Rolla Lions Club. When Phelps County Memorial Hospital opened its doors on March 12, 1951, 25 patients were admitted and 11 surgeries were performed in just the first 3 days—a clear sign of how urgently the Hospital was needed.
Since those early days, we have evolved from Phelps County Memorial Hospital into Phelps Health, a fully integrated network of clinics, specialty care and advanced services. While we have grown to include over 2,000 team members and 100 providers, our core mission remains unchanged: to provide you with high-quality, accessible healthcare through leadership and trust. We remain deeply grateful for the generations of donors, volunteers and patients who continue to shape our journey.
Explore Our Legacy
To see how we have grown through the years, click on the decades below to explore the major milestones and stories that define our history.
1940s
1949: Construction begins on ground purchased and donated by the Rolla Lions Club.
1949: Construction continues.
1950s
1951: On June 18, 1951, Stanley Warren and Carmen Marie Rhea became the first twins born at the Hospital. The Houston twins were pictured here with nurse Charlotte Huffman in a new air-lock incubator, designed to assist newborn breathing.
1960s
1965: A new third-floor addition opened for patients in the spring, adding 49 beds to the original 63, with a cost of $285,000.
1970s
1974: The Phelps County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary opened the first gift shop, stocked with baby and novelty gifts, toys, and candies.
1976: As part of a new Hospital program, fathers were allowed to stay after visiting hours to help care for their new babies.
1977: The Hospital added 26 beds, an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), pediatric nursing and an ambulance garage.
1979: Ground was broken for a major construction project to add 90 beds, enlarge all ancillary departments and double the physical size of the Hospital.
1980s
1980: The Hospital’s Board of Trustees authorized a name change to Phelps County Regional Medical Center, kicking off a decade of unprecedented growth.
1980: The Hospital reached 100 births per month.
1981: The community was invited to tour the new portion of the Hospital, including a new Emergency Department, new surgery rooms, the addition of oncology and psychiatric centers and more.
1981: The Auxiliary opened a snack bar, offering hot and cold sandwiches, salads, desserts, and beverages.
1985: The Hospital began offering deluxe private rooms, available to patients at $200 per night.
1987: The Hospital added radiation oncology services.
1990s
1993: Over 3 years of renovation, construction and reconstruction came to its conclusion. The $18 million project added more than 80,000 square feet to the medical center complex and nearly doubled parking.
1996: The psychiatric unit was renovated to create the Center for Psychiatric Services.
1996: The Phelps Health Foundation was established.
1997: The Hospital opened its first cardiac catheterization lab.
1998: Home Health and Hospice was added, primary care clinics opened in Vienna and St. James, and a new pediatric department was unveiled.
2000s
2002: Cancer care at PCRMC was continually expanding, and this year saw the addition of advanced, more precise radiation therapy equipment.
2003: A north addition created a larger, dedicated space for radiation oncology as the demand for cancer care services grew. This addition also housed expanded spaces for physical and cardiac rehabilitation.
2005: The Board of Trustees approved a plan to build a new medical office building on the Hospital campus to increase clinical space and expand service offerings.
2006: The Hospital unveiled a new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and adjoining medical telemetry unit.
2007: The expansion of the Sleep Center and cardiac catheterization lab increased capacity and improved access to advanced services for patients throughout the region.
2007: Completed in 2007, the six-story Medical Office Building featured space for primary care suites, specialty clinics and more. A two-story elevated walkway connected the new building to the Hospital.
2008:
The addition of digital mammography services improved the speed and accuracy of breast cancer screenings, enhancing both the patient experience and clinical precision.
2010s
2010: The Board of Trustees voted to rename the Emergency Department in honor of Jay Crump, DO, who served as medical director of emergency services from 1984-2009.
2011: The Auxiliary opened an expanded gift shop, rebranded as The Lily Pad.
2012: In response to increasing call volume, transfers and mutual aid requests, a fourth ambulance and crew was added.
2013: Employees and community members launched a capital campaign to fund the construction of a new cancer treatment center, the first between St. Louis and Springfield.
2015: The Waynesville Medical Plaza opened, expanding access to primary and specialty care services, advanced medical imaging, and outpatient rehabilitation services in Pulaski County. In 2017, a walk-in clinic was added to care for patients seeking services after hours and on weekends.
2015: PCRMC and Missouri S&T signed a memorandum of understanding to promote research collaboration and the exchange of ideas.
2016: The health system began offering 3D mammography, providing a more detailed view of breast tissue and reinforcing our commitment to early detection.
2017: The four-story Delbert Day Cancer Institute (DDCI) opened—a landmark, state-of-the-art cancer treatment center.
2017: The Hospital implemented the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system, bringing advanced, minimally invasive surgery to the region.
2017: The health system established its Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC), giving community members a voice in improving the patient experience.
2017: The Hospital launched Phelps Air, a 24/7 critical care helicopter service on the main campus, which significantly boosted emergency response capabilities in the region.
2018: The DDCI officially became part of the Siteman Cancer Network, an affiliation with Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.
2019: Phelps Health opened a new 7,500-square-foot clinic in Salem, significantly expanding primary care capacity in Dent County.
2019: The health system revealed a new name: Phelps Health. The new name reflects the medical center’s transformation into a regional health system, serving six counties in south-central Missouri.
2020s
2020: Phelps Health rapidly adapted to the emerging COVID-19 crisis, opening a drive-through respiratory screening station, converting Hospital units to handle COVID patients and expanding capacity under difficult circumstances.
2020: The health system launched Epic, the most widely-used electronic health record system in the nation, giving patients 24/7 access to their health information through the MyChart app.
2020: Phelps Health began offering telehealth visits, connecting patients and their providers remotely using computers, tablets or phones.
2021: Phelps Health opened a new Walk-In Clinic in Rolla, offering same-day care for nonemergent needs with evening and weekend hours.
2022: The health system installed a Mamava breastfeeding pod near the registration desk and waiting area at the Hospital’s Main Entrance.
2024: Phelps Health announced 24/7 care for STEMI heart attacks, the most severe kind of heart attack. Prior to this, the nearest STEMI care was up to 2 hours away.
2024: A major renovation of the Phelps Health Bond Building refreshed waiting areas, exam rooms and medical suites.
2024: Phelps Health launched the new Weight Loss and Bariatric Center in Rolla. The new center brings life-changing care to patients in the region, helping more people live healthier lives.
2024: The health system opened its new EMS base on the Hospital campus, featuring eight ambulance bays, a second helicopter pad, 16 bunk rooms, dedicated training areas and a storm shelter to support crews. The new base strengthened emergency response capabilities and positioned EMS teams closer to the ED and I-44.
2025: Phelps Health broke ground on a $60 million Emergency Department expansion.
2026: Phelps Health celebrated 75 years, growing from a small community hospital into a regional health system serving more than 200,000 people.
