The Wabash Memorial Hospital Association

"A Brief History"

124 years of experience proves The Wabash Memorial Hospital Association is a timeless entity.

The Wabash Memorial Hospital Association exists as a not-for-profit Trust, operating under Public law 93-406, commonly known as the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or E.R.I.S.A. The Association commenced operations in 1884 as the Hospital Department of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway. The Association continues to operate a pre-paid health care plan and is one of the oldest, continuously operating Railroad HMOs in our nation (one of nine existing today, defined by HCFA, as a Healthcare Prepayment Plan).

The original Hospital System separated from the railroad company and became independent as the Wabash Employee's Association in 1885. Its sole purpose was to maintain hospital and outpatient clinics to render medical and surgical service to its associated railroad employees and their dependents. At one time, during the peak of the Wabash Line railroad activities, it operated hospitals in Kansas City, MO., Springfield, Danville, and Decatur, IL., and Peru, IN. In addition, contracts were negotiated with hospitals and dispensaries in Ontario, Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Iowa and Indiana to serve the wide distribution of Wabash employees. Any employee becoming ill or injured was given necessary treatment any place "on-line" until such time as the condition was stabilized and they could be transferred to an association hospital. In 1903, with funds contributed largely from Wabash Railroad employees, and land donated by citizens, one of the Wabash Hospitals was built in Decatur. It was the pride of the Wabash line and ultimately boasted eighty-five acute care beds and full surgical capabilities.

Over the years, as rail services became more integrated, a series of mergers affected most of our nation's major rail lines, and the Wabash was no exception. The Wabash Railroad exists today as a part of the Norfolk Southern Railway Company. It continues to live on, however, through our Wabash Memorial Hospital Association and those members loyal to the memories of the Wabash Line.

The Association continues to be overseen by railroad personnel, a ten person Board of Managers representing the different craft unions and retirees of the railroad (some were employees of the original Wabash Railroad). The Wabash Memorial Hospital Association serves over 1200 members through its primary care outpatient clinic in Decatur, Illinois. Dr. David Chan, a Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician, serves Wabash members through the Clinic. Collectively, he and his staff accommodate over eight thousand patient visits annually at the Decatur location.

A full range of medical services is provided either directly by Dr. Chan and his staff, or indirectly through separate contracts with area specialists. Over thirty Board Certified specialists are fully credentialed and privileged to be working with Wabash members, providing specialty care in Cardiology, Pulmonology, Radiology, Surgery, Gynecology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Ophthalmology, Gastroenterology, etc.

The Association still serves nearly five thousand active and retired railroaders and dependents, and is the seventh largest surviving Railroad Hospital Association in the country. The greatest number of members are still served under contracts with prominent health care providers in five other states. We look forward to providing health care services to railroad employees for many years to come.