WCHS Gains Ownership of Main Campus Buildings

Winnebago, NE – Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System (WCHS) officially received the title to their main campus buildings on behalf of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.  

In July of 2018, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska assumed management of the hospital operations from Indian Health Service and established WCHS. Over the past 6 years, WCHS has reinstated its CMS Certification, built and was reimbursed for transitioning to their own independent IT network, and worked with Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and partners at Big Fire Law to seek ownership of their main campus buildings and surrounding land. Today, they are excited to announce and celebrate the transfer of the title for the primary WCHS building and several auxiliary buildings to the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. This transfer means another significant step on the road to self-governance is complete.  

“This milestone is a huge stride forward for both our health system and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. As we continue to grow and improve as a tribe and organization, time and time again we see more and more examples showing that we know best how to manage and provide services to meet the needs of our community,” says Sharon Frenchman, WCHS Chief Administration Officer. She went on to explain “Owning our building means having the ability to better maintain and renovate it to align with our strategic direction and goals as a health system. I am proud to be a part of this exciting work.” 

WCHS’s next steps will be to gain ownership of the land that the building is on before seeking ownership of the Drug Dependency Unit (DDU), north of the WCHS facility. While this is a complex process, WCHS is determined to clear the roadblocks and work towards a stronger future. 

“Achieving building ownership allows us to continue progress on master facilities planning and our vision of creating the healthiest Indigenous community through abundant wellness, advanced primary care, and excellent acute care,” states David Edwards, CEO of WCHS.