Our History

A Proud Tradition
William Newton Hospital has been a respected health care provider since its doors opened on February 24, 1927. WNH is classified as a not-for-profit community general hospital. It remains locally managed and completely self-sufficient, receiving no tax subsidies. The hospital is governed by a five member Board of Trustees appointed by the Winfield City Commission.

WNH was made possible through the generosity of William Newton who, upon his death in 1924, left considerable assets to the city of Winfield for the construction of a hospital. Newton was a local farmer and harness maker who slowly accumulated wealth from his business investments and oil on his properties.

Throughout its history, the hospital has been a proactive force in providing health care for the area. This is evidenced by the four rural health clinics, office facilities for medical staff, occupational health for local industry, home health services and all the other quality in-patient and out-patient services it provides.

Meeting the health care needs of the citizens in the surrounding area has always been, and always will be, our number one priority.

Important Events for William Newton Hospital
1924 - Entrepreneur William Newton dies at the age of 82 leaving to the City of Winfield property and other assets to be used for a public hospital.

1926 - Construction began on the new three story, 52-bed hospital. The original building remains solid and has been improved through several additions and upgrades.

1927 - William Newton Memorial Hospital (now referred to as William Newton Hospital) was dedicated on February 24 and the first patient admitted on March 4.

1928 - The WNMH School of Nursing was organized to assure that skilled nurses were locally available. The school closed in in the late 1960's and St. John's College began a nursing program. When St. John's closed in the late 1980's, Southwestern College organized a four year program that continues today.

1933 - The WNH Auxiliary was organized. The Auxiliary remains a source of pride for the hospital, as well as critical volunteer and financial resource. The organization has achieved the Kansas hospital Association's Gold Award annually as long as anyone can remember.

1945 - Due to overcrowding at WNH and St. Mary's Hospital and nursing shortages, the City of Winfield began to plan for expanding healthcare facilities.

1947 - Virginia Hall (named for William Newton's wife) was completed at Lynn and Massachusetts streets providing classroom and dormitory space for 60 students of the nursing school. The WNH Nursing School was closed in 1969. Local colleges have since provided nursing education.

1952 - The west wing was completed, including four floors and units for pediatrics and obstetrics.

1965 - The two-story east wing was completed, including a new emergency room, surgery suite, and 21 additional beds bringing the total to 165. The project also included a large addition to the rear of the original building for expanded support operations.

1974 - The city owned ambulance service came under the management of WNH and was moved to the hospital campus. Three years later the Winfield Area Emergency Medical Service became one of the first Type I services in the state.

1981 - A two-story addition to the north end of the east wing included a 6-bed intensive care unit, E.M.S. bunkroom and an expanded stock room. The project included renovation of the west wing.

1982 - The establishment of WNH Home Health Services and Healthways marked the beginning of local and national trends toward alternatives to inpatient care that continue today.

1991-2000 - WNH increased outreach focus in an effort to help the community maintain local control of healthcare. Efforts over the next decade included formal networks with regional health care providers, active participation in physician recruiting, establishment of rural health clinics in three counties, occupational health services with local industry and partnering in new services such as radiation oncology and renal dialysis.

1992 - The Winfield Healthcare Center opened across the street from the hospital. The building provides office space for consulting staff physicians and hospital outpatient services.

1998 - New and renovated spaces over the next five years included the main lobby, emergency and radiology departments, gift shop, patient waiting and conference areas, E.M.S. quarters, surgery department, obstetrics, and facilities for MRI and radiation oncology.

2004 - Following the closing of Snyder Clinic, the community's largest physician clinic, and facing the potential loss of needed physicians in the area, WNH began construction of the three story, 30,000 square foot Physicians Pavilion on the WNH campus.

2005 - To ensure that WNH will be able to serve citizens well into the future, a capital fundraising campaign was launched with a goal of 2 million dollars over five years and the formation of the William Newton Healthcare Foundation.

2006 - Hospital leaders actively sought and received certification as a Critical Access Hospital because of the additional Medicare reimbursement it affords. WNH continues to be a full-service healthcare provider adapting to the needs of those we serve.

2009 - Patient rooms on the medical-surgical floor were replaced. The extensive renovation to the 1965 wing features single patient rooms that are sound resistant and infection control appropriate. There are special bariatric and ADA accessible rooms as well. The project included new beds, fire code upgrades, a new individual patient temperature control system and a high capcity emergency power generator. Click here for patient room design and product information.

2012 - The Family Birthing Center on 3rd West received improvements similar to the 2009 renovation above. In addition, the hospital energy system was upgraded for patient comfort and reduced cost.
Historical Photo Album