Access to healthcare in Elm Creek is set to continue without interruption thanks to a transition that will keep the community’s clinic open under new operation.
Lexington Regional Health Center has announced plans to begin operating the facility, with services expected to resume under the new model by mid-July 2026.
The transition follows the retirement of longtime physician Dr. JD Nelson in October 2024. Since then, the Village of Elm Creek has been actively working to find a solution that would maintain access to care for local residents. That effort brought together multiple partners, including the Development Council for Buffalo County (DCBC), which worked alongside the village to address the community’s healthcare needs.
DCBC helped identify a transition plan and financial model that would allow continued operation of the clinic—ensuring this essential service could remain available locally.
The solution included a public-private arrangement in which a developer purchased the existing clinic building and is leasing it to Lexington Regional Health Center. In partnership with the Village of Elm Creek, this approach keeps the facility active and serving the community.
The transition represents a critical investment in sustaining rural healthcare infrastructure. Maintaining local access to primary care reduces the need for residents to travel to larger communities and supports overall quality of life in western Buffalo County.
This collaborative approach highlights how local leadership, economic development organizations, private investment, and regional healthcare providers can work together to preserve essential services in smaller communities—an important factor in long-term economic stability and community vitality.
