Tillman County hospital construction begins with groundbreaking

FREDERICK — After a long eight years of healthcare deficiencies in Tillman County, more specifically in Frederick, federal and state officials are doing something about it.

Comanche County Memorial Hospital and Tillman County Memorial Hospital are rebuilding the late Memorial Hospital of Tillman County with a groundbreaking ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Monday at 316 E. Josephine Avenue in Frederick.

Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton, said he’s been trying to remedy the problem for six years.

“We tried a multifaceted approach and tried to leave no stones unturned,” Caldwell said. “We worked with federal delegations. Once we addressed the problem, we started worrying about the actual funding. That’s when the State of Oklahoma, with Senate Bill 20XX that I offered, passed the Oklahoma Rural Hospital Rebuild Program.”

The bill offered $5 million for a community that had lost a hospital, Caldwell said.

“We also coupled with a direct congressional appropriation with Congressman Tom Cole’s office to get another six,” Caldwell said. “Then we partnered with the Department of Commerce, BancFirst of Oklahoma and Pioneer Telephone Corporation. The hospital will (also) have a bonding capacity of an additional $1.8 million.”

Even though the process was long, Caldwell said they were striving for long-term sustainability.

“We’ve finally gotten to the point now where, not only do we have the money to build it, but we have the management expertise in place,” Caldwell said.

Hospital closed 8 years ago

The hospital down eight years ago for many different reasons, Caldwell said.

“The goals for the hospital are to make sure it remains sustainable, but at the same time, to make sure that it can carry out and complete its mission in servicing Southwest Oklahoma,” Caldwell said. “The end goal is to make sure that people in the patronage of the hospital have the ability to have access to quality healthcare.”

Caldwell said the area is in a healthcare desert.

“It’s absolutely paramount that we have healthcare options across all of Oklahoma,” Caldwell said. “I think it’s one of the core functionalities of government to making sure that when an emergency happens, that people have access to quality healthcare.”

Having the opportunity for healthcare can not only help the community, but also the workforce.

“I think what you’re doing is, you’re giving that community a shot in the arm to have opportunities to go out there and do business recruitment and stuff like that,” Caldwell said. “I’ve heard countless stories of people that have left the area solely because they don’t have access to health care. I’ve also talked to companies like Henninges Automotive and the reason they didn’t expand was because it’s so far away from a hospital if someone got hurt.”

Monday’s groundbreaking will signify the beginning of the building process, Caldwell said. Plans call for the old building to be torn down as well as have dirt work done within two or three months. Laying concrete will take about 12-28 months.

“My hope is that by this time in the year 2026, they will have a grand opening,” Caldwell said.

They plan on salvaging and reconstructing old and new facilities to build a medical park, Caldwell said.

“The intent is to not only have emergency rooms with seven swing beds (hospital beds), but also be a one stop shop for medical services.”

Caldwell said they hope to add dentist offices, doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacies, an EMS farm and even a helicopter pad.

“Not only is it going to have the direct effect of having the ability for people to have access to healthcare, but (it also helps) the community go out and recruit new businesses. It’s going to create close to 100 jobs down there by having the hospital and services.”