JOHNSON COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Luke Seden became Chief Executive Officer at Johnson County Healthcare Center (JCHC) in July 2021, which enabled him to return to an area he enjoyed visiting while growing up. Raised in Spearfish, South Dakota, Luke and his family frequently spent time in the Big Horn Mountains and Buffalo, Wyoming. His fond memories of those adventures increased the appeal of the new position, as did the opportunity to transition from his previous role as Chief Financial Officer at two hospitals.
JCHC got its start as Johnson County Memorial Hospital in 1953 and was originally managed out of North Dakota. In the 1980s, it made the shift to being a hospital district, and became self
managed with a board of directors appointed by voters of Johnson County. It’s been managed that way since, with the main objective of providing a full spectrum of medical services.
With Buffalo’s in-town population of just under 5,000 and the whole county’s around 9,000, JCHC focuses on having staff physicians to serve the entire community and provide health care for all stages of life—ranging from obstetrics to hospice. There’s even a long-term care facility within walking distance of the hospital’s front door. Traveling specialists in orthopedics, cardiology, radiology, and urology provide a local option for aging patients and anyone with limited means to travel.
Luke said, “We’re hard at work creating a facility that’s as easy as possible for all patients to have access to the care they need. Construction projects include finishing up a parking lot and continuing to make other additions and improvements. We added 10 patient beds and two OB suites, and we’re remodeling our hospice rooms. If you walk into the lobby, you’ll see displays about our current and future projects.”
JCHC’s concern for the people in the community is apparent from these facility improvements. It’s also reflected in the many long-serving employees, some of whom have worked there 40 years.
In his spare time, Luke loves to take his family hiking in the Big Horn Mountains that he visited as a kid. Golfing is another activity he enjoys, and Buffalo’s golf course is conveniently located next to the hospital’s parking lot. “I could hit a ball to the course from right outside my office,” he said. JCHC is pleased with its Range internet service and recently upgraded to a 3CX phone system from Range. This new system makes communications more accessible and offers call features to streamline work processes. To provide onsite training for a seamless transition, Range’s Business Solutions Specialist, Gabe Rees, was assisted by Customer Experience Coordinators, Denise Brown and Amanda Bankert.
The future of JCHC looks bright with an impressive spectrum of services. Visit www.jchealthcare.com for more information on the services offered.
Originally published in November 2023 Customer Connections Newsletter
