During Hospital Week (May 11–15), the Compass Memorial Healthcare team celebrated a big milestone, 70 years of caring for our communities!
Compass Memorial Healthcare has been a provider for Iowa County since 1956. What started as a small, 11,720-square-foot hospital in Marengo has grown alongside the people we serve, always focused on meeting the needs of our rural communities.
Over the years, we’ve expanded step by step, adding new spaces, improving services, and making care more accessible. By the late 1970s, we had already nearly doubled in size, setting the stage for the future.
A major turning point came in 2004–2005 with a large expansion and renovation that upgraded nearly every part of the hospital. We added private patient rooms, enhanced imaging technology, built a surgical suite, and created space for specialty clinics, all to improve both comfort and care.
We didn’t stop there. We expanded beyond our main campus, opening family medical clinics in Marengo, Williamsburg, and surrounding communities to bring care closer to home.
In 2016, we took another big step forward with a $23 million expansion. This brought a new main entrance, upgraded imaging and therapy services, and improved surgical spaces, helping us continue to deliver high-quality care right here, close to home.
In 2017, we became Compass Memorial Healthcare, a name that better reflects how far our reach has grown and our commitment to serving communities in every direction.
More recently, from 2024 through 2026, we’ve continued investing in the future of healthcare in service area. We’ve added a state-of-the-art Emergency Department, expanded inpatient services with intensive care capabilities, and was awarded as a Center of Excellence – Cancer Care, one of just ten in Iowa, by Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). We’re also leading the way in orthopedic care, offering robotic-assisted total shoulder, hip, and knee replacements. We also added an additional retail pharmacy, which offers curbside pickup for added convenience.
Today, we have six Family Medical Clinics in Marengo, Williamsburg, Amana, Victor, North English, and Wellman. We’re also moving into Phase C of our hospital renovation, which includes additional space for the Marengo Family Medical Clinic, a drive-through pharmacy, and more. With the continued support of our communities, we look forward to growing for decades to come while keeping healthcare local.
From a small rural hospital to a growing healthcare system, our story is really about people. It’s about the team members who show up every day to care for others and make a difference. From the moment you walk through our doors and are greeted at the front, to every step of your care experience, you can feel that commitment.
We believe in neighbors helping neighbors and compassionate and sincere team members that strive to make a difference in the well-being of the communities and patients we serve. That’s what makes us who we are.
Barry Goettsch, Chief Executive Officer
As we celebrate 70 years, we’re grateful for our team, our patients, and our communities. Your trust and support have helped us grow into what we are today, and we’re honored to continue caring for you for generations to come.
