News

Cuero Regional Hospital (CRH) will celebrate 50 years in 2020 since Cuero Regional Hospital opened its doors on Sept. 8, 1970. Providing this quality care close to home is the realization of a dream by civic leaders and physicians, who led the effort to consolidate the Cuero Hospital Foundation and Burns Hospital that culminated the opening of a new facility on September 8, 1970. Since 1970, Cuero Regional Hospital has provided compassionate care to the citizens of Cuero, Goliad, Kenedy, Nixon, Westhoff, Yoakum, Yorktown and all rural communities that lie between with pride.

To commemorate 50 years, Cuero Regional Hospital has developed a 50 year logo that will be used throughout the course of 2020 to recognize and mark this significant milestone.

The dreams and labors of love of many of our past founders have created the community-minded healthcare system over the last 120 years that is continuing to grow today. With a continued emphasis on progressive healthcare, CRH has expanded over the years to accommodate the changing needs of patients, rapid advancement of medical technology, and government healthcare reform.

In January 2016, CRH entered a collaboration agreement with Methodist Healthcare System-San Antonio to enhance resources and increase their services. This type of partnership allows small, rural hospitals to continue to build a strong foundation and remain financially successful. Governed by the board of directors, CRH offers many healthcare services larger city hospitals have, including Emergency Medical Services, 24/7 recently renovated ER, Inpatient Care, Hospitalist Program, Inpatient Care, Telehealth including Telecardiology & Telepsychiatry, General Surgery, Day Surgery, recently renovated ICU, Outpatient Specialty Center, Radiology, Women’s Center (that houses digital mammography and bone densitometry), 3T MRI System, Nuclear Medicine, Childbirth Center, Sleep Study Center, Physical Therapy, Home Health services and Bfit Cuero Wellness Center.

“With our growth, one thing has not changed: our dedication to providing compassionate care to our patients. We are proud of our progress, and with our community’s continued support and our dedicated staff and providers, we look forward to continuing to deliver quality care close to home for years to come,” said Lynn Falcone, CEO of Cuero Health.

In addition, CRH also owns and operates five family medicine clinics in Cuero and the surrounding area. Cuero Medical Clinic and Parkside Family Clinic are located in Cuero, with the three other clinics residing in Goliad (Goliad Family Practice), Kenedy (Kenedy Family Practice), and Yorktown (Yorktown Medical Clinic).

The following is a condensed timeline to show the Hospital’s growth over the past 50 years.

September 1970
Cuero Community Hospital opened Sept. 8, 1970, licensed for 92 beds. The hospital was originally staffed by employees from Burns Hospital and Cuero Hospital Foundation, which included several Catholic nuns who lived in what became the LVN school building on the back of the hospital property.

• 1981
  Emergency Medical Service established and housed at LVN School.
• 1984 October
  Home Health opens.
• 1992
  New construction of the ER, ICU, EMS and Education Classroom.
• 1993
  Medical Plaza completed.
• 1995
  Hospital's 25th anniversary time capsule buried on the front property. DeWitt Medical Foundation, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, was organized in 1995 and is a charitable affiliate whose mission is to encourage, accept, and steward all public and private gifts in support of CRH. Since its inception in 1995, DMF has raised over $6 million dollars for CRH through the generosity of its donors.
• 1998
  Childbirth Center added, complete with an outside Angel Courtyard along with a hydrotherapy pool for P.T.
• 1998 April
  Heritage Program established.
• 2011 June
  Belle Terry Elder Women's Center opens. The 2,300-sq. ft. facility features advanced technology in digital mammography and bone densitometry
• 2012 August
  New construction of VC School of Nursing building, Cuero campus.
• 2013 October
  In October 2013, CRH expanded the front/main entrance to the hospital to include the Hamilton-Wallis Chapel, and also renovated Wishing Well Gift Shop and the Volunteer services area. The Hamilton-Wallis Chapel features beautiful stained glass mosaic windows and handmade wood features to provide a serene and peaceful atmosphere for reflection and prayer.
• 2014
  A 19,000-sq. ft. facility was built to house the Bfit Cuero Wellness Center. The Bfit Cuero Wellness Center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for their members’ convenience.
• 2016 January
  In January 2016, CRH entered a collaboration agreement with Methodist Healthcare System-San Antonio to enhance resources and increase their services.
• 2017
  CCH was rebranded Cuero Regional Hospital and a new logo was developed.
• July 2018
  In July 2018, Cuero Regional Hospital unveiled the 1.5 million dollar ER renovation project which features about 1,000 square feet of additional space, six fully private treatment rooms, additional private patient registration areas, as well as an upgraded nurses' station and new triage area to improve patient flow through the ED as well.
• September 2018
  The ICU renovation project at Cuero Regional Hospital is fully complete, featuring new floors, new nursing station, as well as new paint to complete the look.
• January 2019
  Telecardiology began January 2019 to support inpatient consultations. Through November, over 100 patients have been seen allowing us to keep most of those patients in Cuero.
  Featured in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals 2019 guidebook
• June 2019
  Cuero Regional Hospital received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award and Cuero Regional Hospital EMS received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Plus Award.
• August 2019
  Given the success of the Telecardiology program, Telepsychiatry began in August 2019 to support outpatient care.
  New 3T MR providing the most detailed imaging in the area launched in August 2019. This high-tech scanner features increased magnetic strength that yields shorter scan times, as well as improves image quality, maximizes patient comfort and excels innovatively, allowing staff to visualize the body like never before.
• October 2019
  Cuero Regional Hospital’s EMS received two new ambulances thanks to a $150,000 grant from the M.G. and Lillie A. Johnson Foundation. Both ambulances are 2019 models, with one being a Ford F450 extended cab and the other a Ford Transit Van.
• November 2019
  Featured in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals 2020 guidebook

Major initiatives for Fiscal Year 2020 (other than a continuing emphasis on quality care and patient experiences in every service)

• Celebrating 50 years in September 2020.
• Starting early Spring 2020, we will offer inpatient dialysis, helping our patients to receive the care they need closer to home.
• Nick Lemley, Family Practice OB, signed his employment agreement to begin August 2020.
• Improved efficiencies to speed-up wait time and continued improvements in same-day appointment scheduling.
• Continuing our focus on bringing high quality care to Cuero so our patients do not have to travel, including the addition of a Cardiac Rehabilitation program at Cuero Regional Hospital.
• Patient-centered care focused on patient safety.
• Continued operational efficiencies and ongoing financial sustainability.
• Adding new health community events like New Year. Fresh Start. Community walk on Jan. 2, 2020.
• Continued community educational offerings - follow our Facebook page for updates!