Lafayette Regional Health Center celebrates 75 years of serving community with open house

Lexington, Mo. — Lafayette Regional Health Center, founded in 1950 as Lexington Memorial Hospital, will celebrate 75 years of caring for Lexington families and serving surrounding communities with a public event on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 4:00pm–6:00p.m. The celebration is free and family-friendly, and will include grilling by Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, snow cones, giveaways, guided tours of the hospital and its outpatient specialty clinic, and a special “walk” through the hospital’s central hallway, depicting key milestones from the decades.

At 6 p.m., an invitation-only VIP program will follow, featuring remarks by Lexington Memorial Hospital Board President Jim Kenney, Mayor Tom Hughes, who will present a proclamation, and Lafayette Regional Health Center CEO Darrel Box, who will speak about the hospital’s journey and future direction.

Lafayette Regional Health Center is a Missouri Critical Access Hospital and part of HCA Midwest Health, Kansas City’s largest healthcare provider. The 25-bed hospital offers all-private rooms and a wide range of services, including state-of-the-art imaging, testing, and general and laparoscopic surgeries. More than 20 medical specialties are represented, including bone and joint care, pain management, primary care, wellness programs, and rehabilitation services. The hospital also operates three rural health clinics offering primary care, OB/GYN, and podiatry services, ensuring that high-quality, compassionate care is accessible to the region’s residents. Lafayette Regional Health Center is part of HCA Midwest Health, the Kansas City area’s largest healthcare provider.

“For 75 years, Lafayette Regional Health Center has stood as a trusted partner in health and healing for Lexington and the surrounding communities. This anniversary is more than a milestone — it’s a moment to reflect on the generations of families we’ve served, to thank our colleagues for their dedication, and to look ahead with optimism as we continue to provide high-quality, compassionate care close to home. As part of HCA Midwest Health, we are strengthened by the resources, expertise, and network of Kansas City’s largest healthcare provider — allowing us to deliver world-class care right here in our community,” said Box.

“As physicians and caregivers, we are privileged to walk alongside our patients during life’s most important moments. Lafayette Regional Health Center’s 75-year history represents a commitment to advancing care, embracing innovation, and building strong relationships with the people we serve. I am proud of our colleagues and their steadfast focus on putting patients first every single day,” said Lafayette Regional Health Center Chief of Staff Adam Henson, DO.

“Lafayette Regional Health Center has always been more than a hospital — it has been a cornerstone of our community. For 75 years, families have relied on this hospital not just for excellent care, but for comfort, compassion, and connection. It’s an honor to serve on the Lexington Hospital Memorial Board and to see the hospital’s legacy of service continue to grow and thrive,” said Kenney.

Historical timeline of Lafayette Regional Health Center

• 1950 – Opened as Lexington Memorial Hospital; more than 3,000 people attended the grand opening of the 30-bed facility
• 1956 – A $50,000 improvement program brings the comfort of air conditioning to the entire hospital
• 1958 – Lexington Memorial earns its first accreditation from The Joint Commission
• 1962 – Citizens pass a $500,000 bond issue for a nursing home wing; a $350,000 federal grant helps the hospital expand to 77 beds
• 1966 – Earned first accreditation from The Joint Commission
• 1968 – Physical Therapy services added
• 1975 – A four-bed intensive care unit opens
• 1979 – 24-hour emergency room coverage begins under the direction of Dr. Fred Nevious
• 1983 – Research Health Services of Kansas City assumes management of Lexington Memorial; the new County Board of Trustees adopts “Lafayette Regional Health Center” as the hospital’s operating name.
• 1985 – Ground is broken for a $3.2 million renovation, which included showers and toilets in each patient room
• 1988 – LRHC launches Best Years, a new seniors membership program; total joint replacement surgery begins
• 1989 – Dr. Lynthia Andrews is elected as the hospital’s first woman chief of medical staff
• 1991 – A 3,500 square-foot $1 million expansion is completed. It houses an outpatient clinic and a CT scanner1996 –Renovation of the 3rd-floor obstetrics unit completed.
• 1998 – MRI services begin
• 2000 – LRHC earns the best Joint Commission survey results in its history.
• The hospital celebrates 50 years of service to Lafayette County.
• 2000 – LRHC created the Community Health Foundation to provide Lafayette County students pursuing a degree in healthcare with scholarship assistance
• 2003 – HCA acquired Lafayette Regional Health Center
• 2004 – Med/Surg Remodel – Private Patient Rooms
• 2004 – Received Missouri Critical Access Status
• 2000s–2010s – Established rural health clinics in Higginsville, Odessa, and Lexington; added specialty outpatient clinic
• 2017 – Opened the new outpatient clinic - $7.2M
• 2018 – Expanded the ER to a 10-bed unit ($1 million)
• 2023 – Completed $1.3 million renovation of cafeteria and kitchen – this was a partnership with the City of Lexington Hospital Board
• 2023 and 2024 – Presented $10,000 grants to the Lexington Food Pantry as a result of its participation in HCA Healthcare’s annual Healthy Food for Healthier Tomorrows Food and Nutrition Drive