Our history
In 1956, Rockcastle County leaders gathered to discuss the challenges facing their community. They recognized the need for quality, affordable healthcare, close to home. Out of this need, grew a hospital. Out of that hospital, grew better healthcare for Rockcastle and surrounding counties.
That same commitment to improving our community’s quality of life led us to expand our services in 1982 to include care for patients requiring long-term respiratory care. Since then, we have continued to expand and enhance services to provide a full continuum of healthcare options for area residents.
Today, in addition to inpatient, outpatient, and home and primary care services, we are the only facility in the state that specializes in caring for both adults and children who are dependent upon mechanical ventilation to breathe. In fact, with our most recent expansion to our Respiratory Care Center in 2019, we are now the largest freestanding ventilator-depended skilled unit in the nation. Since 1956, Rockcastle Regional has worked tirelessly to set and achieve high standards for healthcare.
Following are examples of some major milestones in our history:
- 2024 - For the fourteenth time, the Kentucky Hospital Association recognized Rockcastle Regional with its Quality Award for the organization's efforts in reducing barriers to behavioral health services for children in Rockcastle County.
- 2023 - U.S. News and World Report named Rockcastle Regional among the best hospitals for both Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care for 2024.
- 2023 - The Women's Choice Award recognized Rockcastle Regional with its most prestigious and exclusive designation as one of America's Best Hospital for Patient Experience for 2024.
- 2023 - Rockcastle Regional was named one of America's Best Hospitals for Outpatient Experience by the Women's Choice Award for 2024, this is the fifth year-in-a-row for this designation.
- 2023 - Newsweek recognized Rockcastle Regional's Respiratory Care Center as one of America's Best Nursing Homes for 2024.
- 2023 - Rockcastle Regional was recognized by The Kentucky Hospital Association with its prestigious Quality Award. This is the thirteenth time the organization has received this award.
- 2023 - On February 21, 2023, Rockcastle Regional Hospital met a milestone that few rural hospitals likely have reached - it surpassed 3 million patient encounters.
- 2022 - Rockcastle Regional received the 2023 Women's Choice Award for Outpatient Experience for the fifth year.
- 2022 - Rockcastle Regional was recognized as a Best Nursing Home for Long-Term Care for 2022-2023 by U.S. News & World Report. The organization earned its place on the list by achieving the highest possible rating, "High Performing."
- 2022 - The Kentucky Hospital Association recognized Rockcastle Regional with its Quality Award. This is the twelfth time Rockcastle Regional has been honored with this award.
- 2022 - Rockcastle Regional was named one of America's Best Hospitals for Outpatient Experience by the Women's Choice Award for the fourth year-in-a-row.
- 2021 - Rockcastle Regional received the prestigous Kentucky Hospital Association Quality Award for the eleventh time in the last seventeen years the award was presented. The organization earned the award because of its efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide telehealth, or video visits, for patients needing behavioral health services.
- 2021 - Rockcastle Regional was named a "Best Places to Work in Kentucky" for 2021 by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management (KYSHRM). This is Rockcastle's fifth year to be named to the list. Additionally, the organization was named to the Best Places to Work Hall of Fame in recognition of the number of years it has achieved the ranking.
- 2020 - For the eighth year-in-a-row, the Women's Choice Award recognized Rockcastle Regional as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience.
- 2020 - Rockcastle Regional was named one of America's Best Hospitals for Outpatient Experience by the Women's Choice Award for the second year-in-a-row.
- 2019 – U.S. News & World Report recognized Rockcastle Regional Respiratory Care Center as a 2019-20 Best Nursing Home.
- 2019 – Rockcastle Regional was named to Security Magazine's Top 500 Security Programs in the nation.
- 2019 – For the second year in a row, Rockcastle Regional was recognized by Women's Choice Award as one of America's Best Hospitals for Outpatient Services.
- 2019 – Rockcastle Regional was recognized by Studer Group with the Excellence in Patient Care Award for its work in Employee Engagement Achievement.
- 2019 – For the tenth year, Rockcastle Regional was awarded the Quality Award by the Kentucky Hospital Association for its efforts in suicide screening, prevention, and community awareness.
- 2019 – Rockcastle Regional was recognized during the 2019 eHealth Summit with the Making a Difference Award for its collaboration with its Information Technology efforts.
- 2019 – The Respiratory Care Center added 16 ventilator beds to bring the total number to 143.
- 2019 – For the fourth year in a row, Rockcastle Regional was named a “2019 Best Places to Work” in Kentucky by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management.
- 2018 – Rockcastle Regional was recognized by Women's Choice Award as one of America's Best Hospitals for Outpatient Services.
- 2018 – The Kentucky Hospital Association recognized Rockcastle Regional with its prestigious Quality Award for the organization’s efforts in leading the state for antibiotic management.
2018 – Rockcastle Regional was recognized by the Worksite Wellness Council of Louisville with the Worksite Wellness Platinum Award for the third year.
2018 – Rockcastle Regional was named a “2018 Best Places to Work” in Kentucky by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management for the third year in a row.
2018 – A massive 74,000 square-foot expansion opened, adding 28 ventilator beds, bringing the total bed capacity of the Respiratory Care Center to 127, which makes it the largest freestanding ventilator-dependent skilled unit in the nation. The addition also enhanced the organization’s ability to serve the community and its patients in many other ways, including a new space for the long-term care rehabilitation and therapy department, a chapel, a new cafeteria and dining area, the hospital’s child development center, as well as new space for clinical dietetics, environment of care, and social services. The expansion also allows for space for the hospital’s kidney dialysis center, expecting to open in 2019.
2018 – Rockcastle Regional was recognized for the sixth year in a row by Women’s Choice Award as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals in 2018, for hospitals up to 100 beds). The organization was also recognized as a 2017 Women’s Choice Award as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care.
2017 – Rockcastle Regional was named a “2017 Best Places to Work in Kentucky” by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management for the second year in a row.
2017 – Rockcastle Regional was recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as the fourth Cleanest Hospital in the Nation.
2017 – The Women’s Choice Award recognized Rockcastle Regional with its highest honor for healthcare facilities--named it a 2017 Women's Choice Award as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for the fifth year in a row, for hospitals up to 100 beds.
- 2016 – Rockcastle Regional was recognized by the Worksite Wellness Council of Louisville with the Worksite Wellness Platinum Award for the second year in a row.
2016 – Rockcastle Regional received the 2016 Women’s Choice Award as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for the fourth year in a row and was ranked sixth in the nation for hospitals up to 100 beds.
- 2016 – Rockcastle Regional began the process to become the first Breast Imaging Center of Excellence (BICOE) in South Central and Eastern Kentucky.
- 2016 – Rockcastle Regional received its eighth Kentucky Hospital Association Quality Award for its efforts to enhance the overall patient experience while creating a culture on what is best for the patient.
- 2016 – Rockcastle Regional was named a “2016 Best Places to Work in Kentucky” by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management.
- 2015 – Studer Group® has recognized Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center as its December 2015 Organization of the Month for achieving and sustaining exceptional results in clinical, operational, and financial areas.
- 2015 – Rockcastle Regional received the 2015 Women’s Choice Award as America’s 100 Best Hospitals for the third year in a row, and was ranked 14th in the nation for hospitals up to 100 beds.
- 2015 – Rockcastle Regional broke ground on the construction of a 64,000 square-foot addition to include 28 beds for patients on mechanical ventilators and a kidney dialysis clinic.
- 2015 – Rockcastle Regional was recognized by the Worksite Wellness Council of Louisville with the Worksite Wellness Platinum Award.
- 2015 – A new Cancer Care & Infusion Center was opened on the third floor of the Outpatient Services Center. The new center is more than five times the size of the old office, growing from 1,120 square-feet to 5,400 square-feet.
- 2015 – Rockcastle Regional received its seventh Kentucky Hospital Association Quality Award for its performance improvement program, a multi-faceted approach to improve patient safety and quality care throughout all levels of the organization.
- 2015 – Rockcastle Regional was recognized as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care by the Women’s Choice Award®.
- 2015 – Rockcastle Regional treated its two-millionth patient. Opening in 1956, it took the organization 48 years to reach the one million patient mark, the next million occurred in just 10 years. The next million is expected to come within the next eight years.
- 2014 – Rockcastle Regional opens the two-story, $4.2 million, 32,000 square-foot building to house the primary care rural-health clinic Rockcastle Family Wellness.
- 2013 – U.S. News & World Report named the Respiratory Care Center as one of the “Best Nursing Homes 2013.”
- 2013 – Held a groundbreaking ceremony for Rockcastle Family Wellness, a new 32,000 square foot building to be completed in Spring 2014.
- 2012 – Rockcastle Regional received its sixth Kentucky Hospital Association Quality Award for community outreach projects focusing on wellness, prevention, and education relating to the region’s health issues.
- 2011 – Rockcastle Regional received its fifth Kentucky Hospital Association Quality Award for an insulin management program for hospitalized diabetic patients.
- 2010 – Rockcastle Regional received its fourth Kentucky Hospital Association Quality Award for the SWAN (Safety on Weekends and Nights) Tool.
- 2010 – Rockcastle Regional entered joint venture with LHC Group to provide home health services in Rockcastle County. Rockcastle Hospital Home Health became Rockcastle-Lifeline Home Health.
- 2009 – Rockcastle Regional dedicated the “Healing Garden” designed by Jon Carloftis, a nationally-known landscape designer and Rockcastle native.
- 2009 – Rockcastle Regional announced new partnership with UK Kentucky Neuroscience Institute to develop a community-based stroke program.
- 2009 – Rockcastle Regional received its third Kentucky Hospital Association Quality Award for its patient safety procedure of bar-coding of medications at bedside.
- 2009 – A 14-bed addition to the Respiratory Care Center was completed.
- 2009 – Rockcastle Regional launched a redesigned Website, featuring a health education library, physician videos, and on-line bill payment.
- 2009 – Rockcastle Hospital and Respiratory Care Center, Inc. announced a name change to Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center.
- 2009 – Rockcastle Hospital opened a renovated Surgery suite, nearly four times the size of the old with a new pre-op and recovery area and operating room double the size of the old.
- 2008 – Rockcastle Hospital opened the doors to a Child Development Center known as “The York House” for children of employees.
- 2008 – Rockcastle Hospital received its second Kentucky Hospital Association Quality Award for its computerized physician order entry system.
- 2008 – Rockcastle Hospital sold Rockcastle Health and Rehabilitation Center to Signature HealthCARE, LLC.
- 2007 – Rockcastle Hospital converted to electronic medical records and computerized physician entry.
- 2007 – Rockcastle Hospital affiliated with the Kentucky Children’s Hospital.
- 2007 – Rockcastle Professional Pharmacy opened in the Outpatient Services Center. It was the first time a retail pharmacy had been on the hospital campus.
- 2007 – The three-story, 18,565 square-foot Outpatient Services Center (OSC), connected by a skywalk to Medical Arts, was completed. A skywalk connecting Medical Arts to the hospital was also put in place. The OSC, as well as the 19-bed addition to the Respiratory Care Center, was dedicated in April at a ceremony attended by Governor Ernie Fletcher.
- 2006 – A 19-bed addition to the Respiratory Care Center was completed.
- 2006 – Rockcastle Hospital affiliated with the Gill Heart Institute.
- 2006 – Rockcastle Hospital received its first Kentucky Hospital Association Quality Award for the Heart Failure/Pneumonia Core Team.
- 2004 – Rockcastle Hospital became a host site for the Southern Kentucky Area Health Education Center (AHEC).
- 2004 – Rockcastle Hospital affiliated with UK Markey Cancer Center.
- 2003 – Rockcastle Hospital dedicated the “Lambert Walk at Stewart Gardens” a woodland walk for patients, visitors, and staff.
- 2002 – Rockcastle Hospital acquired Sowder Nursing Home in Brodhead, Kentucky. The name was changed to Rockcastle Health and Rehabilitation Center, Inc.
- 2000 – A $2 million expansion and renovation of the Hospital was initiated that included the Lab, Emergency Department, and X-ray Department for a total of nearly 28,000 square feet.
- 2000 – Rockcastle Hospital Home Health was established and approved by State and Federal Licensure and awarded JCAHO accreditation.
- 1999 – Local and consulting medical staff increased significantly to include family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, general surgery, radiology, gynecology, pulmonology, ear nose & throat, plastic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, cardiovascular surgery, and other practices.
- 1999 – All of the hospital’s programs and services received three-year accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JACHO), upon its first review.
- 1999 – Rehabilitation services and facilities were expanded, including Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy.
- 1998 – The Rockcastle Medical Arts Building opened as a state-of-the-art office complex for local and consulting physicians.
- 1992 – Twenty-eight beds were added to Rockcastle Hospital and Respiratory Care Center, Inc.
- 1986 – The skilled nursing facility began specializing in respiratory care to meet a statewide need for care for ventilator patients.
- 1981 – Rockcastle Hospital opened a skilled nursing facility.