Big Sandy Medical Center grew from one dream to another.  Enticement was the name of the plan in 1962, when a group of Big Sandy residents realized they needed to keep a doctor in the community.  A medical center seemed the perfect solution.  Big Sandy Medical Center (BSMC) was built in 1965 as a nine bed hospital with a medical clinic attached.  The community raised all the money necessary to build the facility through a community fund drive.
     There had always been a physician either in town or available for the Big Sandy residents.  The first doctor’s office was located above the “big store”.  As the population increased, the need for more advanced technology became evident as did the desire for a “hometown” doctor who knew the people and their problems.  Dr. Ross Vilardo was the first Big Sandy Medical Center doctor.  Numerous physicians have served the community since 1965.
     One of the best service organizations any hospital can have was also born with the medical center when the Medical Guild was established.  Promoting the building and further fund raising events, the group has had a very large part in maintaining the facility for the community.
     The Hospital District was formed in April 1966 to aid in delegating funds and authority by the Board of Directors.  Bud Gullickson was the first administrator of BSMC.  The first Board of Directors were  Edward Beaudette,  Ken Heen,  Alfred Ophus, Howard Hammond, and Dale Skaalure.
     A dedicated, qualified nursing staff has always been maintained with special departments (such as lab & x-ray) added to meet the needs of the community.
     By the 1980’s, Federal and State regulations loomed over BSMC, forcing the board to reexamine the facility and the extent of repairs and remodeling it would need to do in order to continue.  Taking into account inflation and ever decreasing patient days, the board realized the hospital would have to expand its care.  Keeping the elderly in the community was the foremost reason for checking into an extended care facility.  In 1985 the community passed a bond issue to build the twenty-two bed nursing home.  This provided the needed care for the community elderly.
     There was a remodeling project finished in April of 1997.  The project was necessary in order to update BSMC to meet current codes for public building.  Some of the required changes included handicap accessibility as set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act, and new requirements for electrical and ventilation codes.  Another advantage of the project was that it presented an opportunity to provide some expansion in the clinic, office space, and the laboratory.
     As time goes on other revisions will be made to BSMC, so that it can provide the best possible care for our community.