Health care in Oakes has a long and very interesting history. In 1923, the Benedictine Sisters of Manitoba, Canada bought the large residence of Mr. W. T. Noonan, the President of the North American Creameries, and established St. Anthony Hospital.
In 1937, the Sisters of Mercy of Valley City took over the Hospital and named it Mercy Hospital.
Early in 1950, Bishop Leo F. Dworschak of the Fargo Diocese, and Father Edward McDonald, pastor of St. Charles Church, persuaded the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Heart of Mary at Hankinson, North Dakota to consider purchasing the hospital. On September 22, 1950, the first Franciscan Sisters took over the operation of the hospital and named it St. Joseph's Hospital, with Sister Mary Agnes as the first Administrator.
After several years of operation it soon became apparent that the present building could not meet the needs of the community and the standards of the state division of hospitals. In 1954 a fund drive was started. The next year plans were made and construction began on the present Oakes Community Hospital. Dedication of the new 36-bed hospital took place on October 14, 1956, and the patients moved to the new building on October 22, 1956. The two Physicians at this time were Dr. R. W. Van Houten and Dr. W. A. Craychee.
In 1972, space was once again needed and the addition of the ambulance garage, purchasing department, storage, laboratory and oxygen storage were added.
The Sisters who had occupied the second floor of the hospital moved to other accommodations in 1977 and the area is now used for medical records, in-service and conference room, and offices.
In 1981, Oakes Community Hospital celebrated 25 years of dedicated service to the sick and injured. This institution is pledged to continue to serve in this same responsible manner in the years to come.
Dedication of a new wing housing the Clinical Laboratory, CT Scanner, Emergency Rooms, Out-patient services and Lobby took place May 1, 1994. The new addition covers 2,650 square feet.
In 1996, Oakes Community Hospital celebrated 40 years of dedicated service to the sick and injured. The mission remains to serve all persons, regardless of age, race, creed or religion.
Many specialized services have been added to Oakes Community Hospital over the past years for the benefit of the patients. Services currently offered include: 24 Hour Emergency Care, Medical, Obstetrical, Surgical (General, Laparoscopic, Orthopedic, Urology, Cataracts, Colonoscopy, and Endoscopy), Swing Bed, Home Health, Nuclear Medicine, MRI, CT Scan, Ultrasound, Mammography, EEG, Echo-Cardiogram, Chemo-Therapy, Radiology, ECG, Respiratory Therapy, Physical Therapy, Clinical Lab (Chemistry, Hematology, Blood Banking, Microbiology), Cardiac Rehab and Paramedic. Each week there are services of a Radiologist from a professional group based in Aberdeen, South Dakota and bi-monthly the expertise of a Pathologist from Breckenridge, Minnesota who visits the Hospital.
From 1960-2001, Oakes Community Hospital was Joint Commission Accredited. In 2001, OCH converted to a Critical Access Hospital with state certification.
Oakes Community Hospital leased the Oakes Clinic and the outlying clinic sites now known as Southeast Medical Center, from July 1994 to July 1999. In July 1999, Southeast Medical Center separated from the Hospital. Professional medical services for Emergency Department coverage are now contracted with the Southeast Medical Center.
In the continuing effort to provide the best possible care for the patients, another major step in the history was completed in 1998. Recognizing the importance of maintaining holistic care, as well as the changes of healthcare in today’s world, the Sisters of St. Francis transferred the sponsorship of Oakes Community Hospital to Catholic Health Initiatives, which is the largest healthcare corporation in the United States.
The Oakes Community Hospital is served by physicians and allied professional staff from the Southeast Medical Center.
