The long history of healthcare in Cheyenne has been carefully shaped by the compassion and caring attitudes of healthcare providers and community leaders. Today we can reflect on over a century of healthcare in Cheyenne and look forward to the new millennium.

We hope you enjoy this history as much as we have enjoyed preparing it.

Most hospitals have their history in stone and brick—the buildings constructed to house their patients. Cheyenne Regional Medical Center traces its history in canvas, dating back to its beginnings as a frontier “tent hospital.” Union Pacific Railroad constructed a tent in 1867 to treat workers injured while building the transcontinental railroad. One year later, the founding fathers of Cheyenne purchased the tent for $125, and thus began the history of healthcare that is known today as Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.

St. John’s Hospital

At the turn of the century, patients who could be were treated at home, but in 1900 a typhoid epidemic made the city realize that a hospital was needed for everyone. After many years of hard use and benign neglect, the hospital had fallen into disrepair. A few passionate and committed women, called the Hospital Aid Society, took it upon themselves to spruce up the buildings. Following this renovation, the facility was christened St. John’s Hospital. The Hospital Aid Society women made a huge contribution of funds and elbow grease, just as the hundreds of volunteers in Cheyenne Regional Medical Center’s Hospital Auxiliary do today.

Frances E. Warren Memorial Hospital of Laramie County

Possibly the most pivotal period in the history of healthcare in Laramie County occurred during the years from 1915 through 1922. This period is closely associated with the lives and histories of the Warren family, the Pershing family, the Coe family, and many other prominent families in the Cheyenne community. The first event was a fire, which occurred in the early morning hours of August 27, 1915, the Presidio in San Francisco, California. The fire took the lives of Frances Warren Pershing and her three daughters. General and Mrs. Pershing’s only son, Francis Warren Pershing, age 6 survived the fire. General Pershing had preceded Mrs. Pershing and the children to an assignment at Fort Bliss Texas, and learned of the tragedy by telegram. Mrs. Pershing and the girls were returned to Cheyenne to be buried at Lakeview Cemetery.

In May of 1919, Senator Francis E. Warren and his son, Fred, promised $25,000 to the Foundation Fund for the new hospital to honor Senator Warren’s beloved daughter and granddaughters.

The County Commissioners and the forward-thinking people of Cheyenne and Laramie County knew that the 1882 hospital had not kept pace with healthcare demands. The structure was antiquated and it was necessary to turn away patients daily. With the passage of a $75,000 bond issue, $75,000 was accrued from a general 2.5 mil levy for the county.

It was at this point that Mr. William R. Coe and family from Cody, Wyoming, came into the picture. He learned that the new hospital would cost at least $300,000 and maybe a good deal more. Mr. Coe held business interests in New York, owned a ranch in Park County near Cody, and was very enthusiastic about the development of Wyoming in general. Mr. and Mrs. Coe became very interested in Memorial Hospital being built in honor of Frances Warren Pershing. The Coe family contributed $50,000and Union Pacific Railroad made a pledge of $10,000 toward the building fund bringing the total with the $75,000 bond issue to approximately $240,000.

The generosity and support of the community in this effort began a tradition of giving that made it possible for the Frances Warren Pershing Hospital to develop into one of the most modern hospitals in the West. Because of the cooperation of all of the noted families and citizens of Laramie County, this healthcare facility continues to exist today.

DePaul Hospital

In the late 1940’s, Bishop Patrick McGovern of the Catholic Diocese of Wyoming made an urgent plea to the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth to build a hospital in Cheyenne. When the Sisters accepted the request, the Catholic Diocese of Wyoming donated the land for the building; the citizens raised $300,000; and the Sisters advanced $2 million from their own general fund to build the 121-bed structure known as DePaul Hospital. To complete the project, the City of Cheyenne donated stately spruce trees. The Sisters brought trees down from the mountains and apples trees were gifts from friends.

DePaul, always a leader in healthcare services, launched a certified Home Health Care service in 1975. These services provided an alternative to hospitalization or nursing home care with a comprehensive program of services including nursing, physical and occupational therapy, social work and speech therapy, as well as IV and respiratory therapy.

The joint planning between the two hospitals identified the need for a C-T scanner and a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory in Cheyenne. Through the discussions and planning processes, it was agreed that Memorial Hospital would purchase the C-T scanner at a cost of approximately $1,000,000. It was partially paid for through a bequest from Marshal and Ceva B. Reynolds.

DePaul rapidly became the “heart hospital” with a strong cardiology program. On February 14, 1991, DePaul celebrated the completion of a $3.5 million construction project. This project added approximately 18,000 square feet to the building and included a 22-bed Surgical Nursing Unit, 2 new Operating Rooms, and provided substantial renovation of the hospital’s boiler plant.

United Medical Center Formed

In late 1992, Memorial Hospital, with the help of a revenue bond issue, paid the Sisters of Charity $12.65 million for the 40-year-old Roman Catholic Hospital. Before the consolidation, both hospitals were operating in the black, but each was looking at increased revenue losses from Medicare reimbursements and mounting costs for indigent care. Sister Mary Andrew, President of DePaul Hospital summed up the situation by stating, “One hospital with a high level of utilization is going to be much more successful and efficient than two hospitals that are running at less than capacity.” This new solid partnership assured the viability of locally owned and operated healthcare for Cheyenne. Jon Gates, Administrator of the Memorial Hospital, explained, “For several years now, Memorial and DePaul have been recognized as being two of the lowest cost hospitals in the region. The efficiencies we will be able to achieve by consolidating services will only come once duplicated programs are combined. Once the entire consolidation process is complete, we will be an even more efficient and cost effective hospital; and that benefits everyone.”

The merger brought two good hospitals together under the same administrative umbrella for reasons of stability and to better cope with future costs and developments in the healthcare field. Another benefit of the merger was the increased ability to recruit new physicians. Construction on the West Building continued with the addition of 9,000 square feet to the intensive care unit and the cardiac cath lab. In late spring of 1993, the name United Medical Center was adopted and the new logo unveiled.