Located in Liberal, Kansas, Southwest Medical Center (SWMC) operates as a not-for-profit acute care hospital. The first patient received medical service on August 17th 1964. Prior to this date, citizens in the area relied on Epworth Hospital for medical care. Southwest Medical Center is a business entity governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Board of County Commissioners of Seward County, Kansas, and an administration selected by the Board of Trustees. No taxes are levied by the Board of County Commissioners of Seward County, Kansas, for operating, maintaining, equipping, and improving the hospital. Through the years SWMC has become a regional medical center serving patients from a five-state region of Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. As the hospital evolves in a changing industry one of the goals is "Keeping Quality Healthcare Close to Home". This means recruiting & retaining highly skilled Physicians, investing in state-of-the-art medical technology and providing compassionate patient service.