Hospital Announces Major Wage Increase to Improve Local Care
Daviess Community Hospital announced a more than $1.6 million annual wage investment aimed at strengthening recruitment, retention, and access to care across its service area. The move raises inpatient registered nurse pay significantly and accompanies plans to expand services and modernize records, a change that could affect staffing and patient access in Dubois County.
On December 3, Daviess Community Hospital announced an annual wage investment exceeding $1.6 million designed to boost staffing and improve care availability across its service area. The largest single adjustment raised the inpatient registered nurse pay scale by over 30 percent, increasing hourly wages from $33 to $45. Hospital leaders said additional raises were implemented across multiple departments as the hospital prepares for a planned growth phase over the next two years.
The hospital employs more than 400 staff across its 48 bed hospital and 14 clinic locations. Leaders framed the wage initiative as part of a broader strategy to expand services including women’s health, general surgery and gastroenterology, urology, musculoskeletal care, and both primary and specialty services. Beginning in 2026, Daviess Community Hospital will shift to performance based evaluations with compensation incentives. The hospital also plans to transition to the Epic electronic health record in 2026, a move leaders say will improve clinician efficiency and give patients easier access to their health information.
For Dubois County residents the immediate impact is likely to be felt through improved staffing levels and potentially shorter wait times for appointments and procedures. Higher pay for inpatient nurses may reduce turnover and vacancy rates, making it easier for the hospital to maintain inpatient coverage and avoid service interruptions that can affect emergency care and scheduled surgeries. Expansion of specialty offerings locally could reduce the need for patients to travel to larger cities for care.
The transition to an Epic electronic health record carries both benefits and adjustments. Patients can expect more consistent online access to test results and visit summaries, while clinicians will face a period of training and workflow change as the system goes live. The move to performance based evaluations will link some compensation to measurable outcomes and productivity, a change that could reshape hiring and scheduling practices.
This investment signals Daviess Community Hospital's commitment to sustaining and expanding local health care capacity. Community members will want to monitor hiring announcements, clinic schedules, and the rollout timeline for the new electronic record as these changes unfold over the next two years.
