SMDH Secures $1.7 Million to Strengthen Rural Healthcare for the Future

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 10, 2026

SALEM MEMORIAL DISTRICT HOSPITAL AWARDED $1.7 MILLION FOR CRITICAL FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS

SALEM, Mo. — Salem Memorial District Hospital (SMH) is pleased to announce the official award of $1,700,599.50 through Missouri’s ToRCH Care Strategic Minor Renovations (Horizon 1) initiative, funded through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). SMH received its fully executed contract on September 9, 2026, following final approval by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Missouri Department of Social Services.

The award represents a significant investment in the hospital’s aging infrastructure and will allow SMH to address critical facility needs that support the safety, reliability, and continued delivery of healthcare services to the communities throughout the hospital’s district.

The funded project, titled the Critical Infrastructure Stabilization and Safety Preservation Initiative, includes improvements to several essential areas of the hospital campus. Planned work includes replacement of the hospital’s aging roofing system, HVAC equipment, nurse call systems, and a portion of the hospital’s oldest exterior windows and doors. The project also includes repairs to existing parking areas and improvements to drainage and access at the Emergency Department and ambulance entrance.

Many of the systems and structural components included in the project have been in service for decades. These improvements will help preserve the hospital’s existing facility, improve safety and reliability, and support SMH’s ability to continue providing healthcare locally for years to come.

“This is an incredible investment in the future of Salem Memorial District Hospital and, more importantly, in the people and communities who depend on us,” said Brent Peirick, CEO. “These are not cosmetic improvements. They address infrastructure that is essential to maintaining a safe, functional, and sustainable rural hospital. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to make improvements of this magnitude to our facility.”

The award requires SMH to provide a 10% match toward the project. The SMH Foundation has committed funding equal to 5% of the required match, providing significant support toward the hospital’s obligation.

“We as a Foundation are beyond grateful that this grant was awarded to our hospital, and we are even more excited to be in the position to help SMH with the match funding,” said Andrew Wynn, President of the SMH Foundation. “This is why the Foundation exists, to aid in projects such as this for our local hospital. I appreciate our Foundation members, leadership, and their willingness to help.”

SMH extends its sincere appreciation to the SMH Foundation, its members, leadership, and supporters for their continued investment in the hospital. The Foundation’s contribution toward the required match will help SMH maximize this funding opportunity and move these critical improvements forward.

SMH also extends its appreciation to State Representative John Hewkin, Four Rivers Community Health Center, Compass Health, and the Dent County Health Center, each of whom provided letters of support for the hospital’s application. Their support helped demonstrate the importance of maintaining strong and sustainable healthcare infrastructure for the rural communities served by Salem Memorial District Hospital.

Securing the award required an extensive application and review process, including detailed project planning, vendor estimates, financial documentation, and multiple rounds of additional information and clarification during the state and federal review process. The hospital submitted its original application in June and continued working with state and federal partners throughout the summer to provide the information necessary for final approval.

“I also want to recognize Kendra Mobray, our Quality and Risk Management Director, for the tremendous amount of work she put into this project,” said Peirick. “From developing the application through responding to multiple rounds of follow-up, she remained committed to seeing it through. This award is a reflection of that persistence and the collaborative effort of everyone who supported the project.”

The executed contract establishes a project period of September 9, 2026, through October 30, 2027. With the award now finalized, SMH can begin moving forward with the approved projects and coordinating the work necessary to complete these critical improvements within the award period.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are extremely grateful for this investment in Salem Memorial District Hospital and the communities we serve,” said Mike Swyers, Chairman of the SMH Board of Directors. “Maintaining a strong rural hospital requires careful stewardship of our resources and a commitment to planning for the future. This award allows us to make significant improvements to our facility while protecting the long-term sustainability of local healthcare. We appreciate everyone whose work and support helped make this opportunity possible.”

SMH will provide additional updates to the community as the projects move forward.

ABOUT SALEM MEMORIAL DISTRICT HOSPITAL

Salem Memorial District Hospital is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital located in Salem, Missouri, serving Dent County and portions of Shannon, Iron, and Crawford counties. SMH provides emergency, inpatient, outpatient, rehabilitation, diagnostic, long-term care, ambulance, and rural health services with a commitment to keeping high-quality healthcare available close to home.