Over 50 Years of Caring

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Over 50 Years of Caring

Medical Center Hospital is proud of more than 50 YEARS OF CARING! We’ve changed quite a bit through the years. We have expanded from an 85-bed hospital to 4-square block regional Medical Center. We started out serving only a few thousand patients a year. Today, we treat more than 100,000 patients annually through our Emergency Department, as a hospital admission or as an outpatient, Although many things have changed through the years, one thing remains the same: Our commitment to quality of care!

The Wood Hospital 1935

The first few years were critical to the evolution of healthcare for Ector County. In 1948, there were three Hospitals in Odessa. Dr. Elbert Thorton owned a six-bed Hospital. Dr. Emmett Headlee owned the Headlee Hospital, which is now the Ector County Library and Dr. J.K. Wood owned a 34- bed facility called Wood Hospital, which was located at the corner of 5th & Texas Streets.

Due to the need for more healthcare services, a group of citizens, spearheaded by Dr. Wood, met with the Ector County Commissioners to propose a new Hospital. The proposal became a reality. C.C. Gibson was hired as the Hospital Administrator. His job was to prepare for the Grand Opening.

Ector County Hospital 1949

On November 27, 1949, the Ector County Hospital was dedicated. On December 5, 1949, the doors were opened for patients. The construction cost of the 85-bed facility was $838,946 and the top Nursing wage was $150 per month.

In 1951, the name was changed to Medical Center Hospital. The bed capacity was increased to 100. There were 6,000 patients that year with an average bill of $86. There was an epidemic of Polio that year with 125 patients seen in one day!

In 1952, MCH was already growing beyond everyone’s expectations. That same year, a Bond Election for an expansion was passed and construction began. As the next four decades unfolded, MCH developed into the regional health facility for the Permian Basin.

MCH Chronicle of Growth

1949 Ector County Hospital opens with 85 beds 1953 First class of LVN students Opening of Radiation Therapy Department Women's Hospital Auxiliary formed by Sue Neas with 127 Charter Members 1954 Addition of 75 more beds to become 160 licensed beds Opening of X-ray and Physical Therapy Departments
1964 7-Story West Tower opened increasing bed capacity to 353 Opening of new Obstetrics, Intensive Care, Coronary Care and Dietary Departments 1965 Opening of Department of Inhalation (now referred to as Respiratory Care Department) 1968-1969 Opening of new Laboratory with a chemistry analyzer and a hematology analyzer Opening of the Electrodiagnostics Department 1970 First cardiac catheterization performed 1973 First open heart surgery performed
1975-1977 New 7-story Central Tower added increasing bed size to 376 Addition also included new Surgical Suites, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Coronary Care Unit (CCU), Emergency Department, Radiology Department, Electrodiagnostics Departments, and an expanded Coffee and Gift Shop First CT Scanner installed 1978-1979 Opening of Oncology Outpatient Clinic Selected as teaching hospital for the Texas Tech University Regional Academic Health Center (TTURAHC) at Odessa (Now referred to as Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center- TTUHSC) 1982 Addition of Linear Accelerator for Radiation Therapy Services 1985 20–Bed Special Care Nursery Opened 1988 The Perinatal Center for the Permian Basin opened Affiliation with Children’s Miracle Network Telethon 1989 Creation of Ector County Hospital District Opening of Ambulatory Pre-Operative & Recovery Unit and Endoscopy Lab
1990-1992 Opening of expanded 20-Bed Intensive Care Unit Purchase of MCH Diagnostic Center (formally ODIC) Purchased of MCH Professional Building (formally the Cone Building) Purchase of MCH Cardio Central Installation of first Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) System 1993 Purchase and renovation of MCH Annex Building (formerly the Odessa Chamber of Commerce building) Entered into an agreement with the TTURAHC (now referred to as TTUHSC) School of Allied Health Opening of the MCH Oncology Center 1994 Creation of Permian Basin Healthcare Network (PBHN) Creation of SANE Program (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) 1995 Opening of MCH Family Health Clinic Opening of expanded Emergency Services Department Opening of MCH Lab for Sleep Disorders Opening of the 3-level Parking Garage
1996-1997 Completion of $20.3 million Phase I Expansion Project including MCH Outpatient Center, expanded Coronary Care Unit (CCU), Telemetry Unit and two additional floors with Nursing Units Creation of the Good Feelings Good Looks Program Opening of the MCH Breast Care Services Center Creation of the MCH Wound Care Center Expansion of Parking Garage to 5 Levels 1998-1999 Expansion of Cardiac Cath Labs Expansion of the ICU Waiting Area, Recovery Room & Operating Support Services Expansion of MRI Services Opening of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Expansion of the MCH Family Health Clinic Expansion of the Preoperative Services (Operating Suites) Designated as Lead Level III Trauma Facility for Texas J Region "50 Years of Caring" Anniversary Celebrated 2000 Renovation of The Family Birthplace Joined VHA Southwest group purchasing-hospital services cooperative 2001 Special Care Nursery renovated MCH Diabetes Center opens Opening of Ann Roden Deaderick Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center 4 West Renovations Recognition of 50 Years of Membership in American Hospital Association and Texas Hospital Association 2002 Opening of the new MCH Business Office Opening of the new MCH Physical Therapy & Rehab Services Opening of the new MCH Chest Pain Center Implementation of THE CUSTOMER classes for all MCH employees and volunteers
2003 Opening of MCH Center for Heart Disease including Cath Labs and permanent relocation of Chest Pain Center MCH CareStar Air Ambulance service begins Introduction of Bariatric Surgery MCH SeniorCare services began (October 2003)
2004 Opening of the Dr. Wheatley Stewart Medical Pavilion Opening of the Stroke Unit on the 9th floor Opening of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit	Dr. Wheatley Stewart Medical Pavilion 2004
2005 Opening of the newly renovated Labor & Delivery Unit Opening of Subway & Lori's Hospital Gift Shop Purchase of the Broncho Chevrolet Property Complete renovation of the Laboratory Department Groundbreaking for the new Cancer Center, which is a partnership of Medical Center Hospital and West Texas Cancer Center
2006 Opening of the Ronald McDonald House Family Room Opening of the West Texas Cancer Center at MCH Opening of the Family Health Clinic Dental Clinic MCH Cafeteria Renovated 5-West Pediatric Unit Renovated Professional Tower demolished / Washington Street Closed 2nd Street Property Building Demolished Dr. Wheatley Stewart Pavilion 100% Occupied MCH awarded Best of the Basin Award 2006 "Best Hospital"	*West Texas Cancer Center at MCH*

While the facility has grown, so has the number of staff. With more than 1,400 employees, Medical Center Hospital is the second largest employer in Ector County, next to the Ector County Independent School District. MCH has more than 200 practicing physicians in over 30 specialties. Due to the tremendous community support of this medical facility, Medical Center Hospital will continue to grow for many decades to come! Medical Center...Your Hospital, Your Choice!

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