Adams County Hospital (ACH) originated in November 1948 through the support of 85% of the voters for a $250,000 Bond Issue. Thereafter, the Governor appointed a Board of County Hospital Trustees to oversee the planning of a new and innovative hospital: R. L. Lawwill, M.D., Seaman; Robert B. Ellison, M.D., Peebles; Harold Seaman, West Union; and P. Bennie Colletti, Manchester.

At the first Board of Trustees meeting in December 1948, Dr. Lawwill was elected Chairman of the Board. By March 1949, Adams County Hospital’s name was created and the decision to begin construction of the 26-bed general hospital, ACH, on the site adjacent to the county Children’s Home was determined. 30 more beds were added in 1955 to continue expansion of the hospital followed by 32 more in 1966. The total was then 90 beds.

There was an outpouring of support from the beloved community. Visitors brought canned goods and other commodities to help stock the hospital kitchen. The first patient was admitted to Adams County Hospital on Wednesday, September 3, 1952. The first Active Medical Staff consisted of Drs. Sam Clark, S. J. Ellison, Robert B. Ellison, Sam Gendlemen, S. B. Sonkin, Hazel L. Sproull, Robert Lawwill, Richard C. Wenrick, and W. T. LaNeave. Earle Wilks served as the first Administrator.

In 1970, a storage wing was added and followed by Specialty Clinics, Pathology, Pharmacy and Dietary. This and other additions, including upgraded parking facilities, piped oxygen, a portable heart monitor and defibrillator, a second X-ray machine, an electronic computer for general accounting, and a two-bed coronary care unit, were all paid for from operating surpluses and donations. The ACH Board and Medical Staff worked to add additional equipment and services to eliminate lengthy trips to distant cities for many diagnostic procedures. 

The 1980s found increasing advances in technology and new government regulations being imposed on health care facilities. Some of the major new additions included in this renovation project were a state-of-the-art Emergency Department, operating suite, special care unit, a larger Out-Patient Specialty Clinic area, Albert R. Hanna Care Center, office space, and a modernized Imaging Department, including X-Ray, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine, C.T., and Mammography equipment. In keeping with the trend toward out-patient services, the bed complement was reduced to 67 beds.

The late 1980s and early 1990s found ACH continuing to serve the residents in and around the county with efficient, high-quality health care. During these years, ACH HomeCare, Lyric Health Care Center, Sports Medicine, Occupational Health Care Center, Rehabilitation Center (including expanded physical therapy, occupational therapy, cardiac, pulmonary, stroke and speech therapy services and fitness programs), ACH Medical Arts Center, and the Northern Adams Medical Center joined the family of health care services. 

Groundbreaking for an additional/upgraded medical facility took place on July 29, 2005. Ground was donated on Moores Road, near Seaman, Ohio, after extensive research and a feasibility study determined the growth in the next 10 years to be along the Appalachian Highway corridor, which connects Adams County to the Cincinnati area.

The upgraded facility, Adams County Regional Medical Center, opened its doors for the first patient on August 6, 2007. A Critical Access facility, ACRMC has 25 private inpatient units, 25 private outpatient units, 5 of which are designated as an inpatient Hospice Unit, with the collaboration of Hospice of Hope – Ohio Valley. The Emergency Department has 14 private examination rooms, with 3 being equipped specifically for trauma. The Surgical Suite is comprised of two operating rooms and an endoscopy procedure room. The Imaging, Rehabilitation, Outpatient Specialty Clinic, Laboratory and Cardiopulmonary Departments were enlarged to meet the demands of new technology and to provide access to needed medical services to our area. ACRMC continues to be the regional leader in quality healthcare services in Southern Ohio.