Craig Hospital history

1910 - Craig Colony was incorporated by Mrs.

1916 - The first of three buildings is constructed.

In 1946, a group of concerned Craig citizens banded together in an effort to build a local hospital through fundraising and a Hill-Burton grant.

The original Memorial Hospital on Tucker Street, built in 1949.

In 1952, the hospital was deeded to the citizens of Moffat County, making it a county-owned hospital.

1955 - As tuberculosis declined with antibiotic treatments, Craig shifted its emphasis to multiple diagnoses, such as multiple sclerosis, polio, muscular dystrophy, and spinal cord injury.

1957 - Doctor John Young arrives at Craig as Medical Director and intensifies Craig's exclusive focus on spinal cord injury and brain injury rehabilitation.

1958 - Craig is renamed "Craig Rehabilitation Center" and constructs a major addition to the hospital for rehabilitation.

1959 - After serving Native Americans for years, Craig signs a contract with the United States Public Health Service Bureau of Indian Affairs, to serve Native Americans with spinal cord injury.

During the 1960’s the "broken man" design was created by Brad Hodgkins, husband of Nancy Hodgkins, former Speech and Language Pathologist at Craig.

1966 - Craig is renamed "Craig Rehabilitation Hospital."

1968 - Doctor John Young moves to Phoenix and Doctor Robert R. Jackson becomes medical director.

1970 - Craig begins an in-house neurosurgical program under the direction of Doctor Robert Edgar.

1975 - Designed by Doctor Harry R. Hahn, Craig opens the shared Neurotrauma Unit at Swedish Hospital, one of the first models of its kind.

1977 - The Traumatic Brain Injury Team is created distinct from the Spinal Cord Injury teams under the direction of Doctor Hahn, and soon after is intensely developed by Doctor Mark Cilo.

1985 - Craig establishes an in-house neuroscience laboratory, in addition to an EMG lab, a neuromuscular lab, and a neurosurgery lab; also begins ERGYS bicycle clinical trials for FDA approval.

1989 - United States News & World Report begins ranking hospitals and places Craig among its Top Ten Rehabilitation Hospitals in the United States.

1996 - Craig completes a new transitional building on the east side of Clarkson St with innovative patient/family rooms, an adjoining skybridge, multiple treatment areas, and research and business space, while increasing the number of total hospital beds to 93.

2002 - To replace its aging apartments, Craig constructs and opens a new 47-unit onsite Outpatient and Family Housing Facility for reevaluation patients and families of inpatients.

2004 - Denny O'Malley celebrates his 30th year as president of Craig.

2005 - Craig is a finalist for the El Pomar Foundation's Joel A.H. Webb Award for Excellence in Health Care (Large Facility).

The idea of building a new hospital was put up to vote with Moffat County residents in 2007.

2008 - Craig Hospital opens the new Mike Utley Terrain Park for mobility training.

They voted in support of the hospital, and a new hospital was built at 750 Hospital Loop and was dedicated November 9, 2009.

2010 - Equine, Child Care, and Graduate Liaison programs are launched at Craig.

2011 - Craig Hospital opens the PEAK (Performance, Exercise, Attitude and Knowledge) Center.

The Colorado legislature creates Craig Hospital license plates that will go on sale January 1, 2012, making Craig the first hospital in Colorado to have a special license plate.

2015 - Craig Hospital hosts its second Brain Injury Summit in Vail, CO where more than 450 people from 39 states and ten countries came together.

In October 2019, a new medical office building opened at 750 Hospital Loop, as the original hospital was showing its age and didn’t accommodate modern medical practices of the Clinic team.

2020 - Craig is ranked by United States News & World Report as a Top Ten Rehabilitation Hospital for the 31st consecutive year.