Over 60 Years of Caring

Medical Center Hospital is proud of more than 60 YEARS OF CARING! We’ve changed quite a bit through the years. We have expanded from an 85-bed hospital to a 362 bed 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 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.

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 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 Cardiopulmonary 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

TTUHSC Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program begins

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)

Opening of the MCH Oncology Center

1994

Creation of Permian Basin Healthcare Network (PBHN)

Creation of SANE Program (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner)

TTUHSC Family Practice Residency Program begins

1995

Opening of MCH Family Health Clinic

Opening of expanded Emergency Services Department

Opening of MCH Lab for Sleep Disorders

1996-1997

Completion of $20.3 million Phase I Expansion Project including construction of the East Wing, expanded Coronary Care Unit (CCU), Telemetry Unit and two additional floors were added to the Central Tower

Opening of the MCH Breast Care Services Center

Creation of the MCH Wound Care Center

TTUHSC Internal Medicine Residency Program begins

1998-1999

Expansion of Cardiac Cath Labs

Expansion of the ICU Waiting Area, Recovery Room & Operating Support Services

Expansion of the MCH Family Health Clinic

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

MCH Diabetes Center opens

Opening of Ann Roden Deaderick Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center

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

2004

Opening of the Dr. Wheatley Stewart Medical Pavilion

Opening of the Stroke Unit on the 9th floor

Opening of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit on 3 West

2005

Opening of Subway & Lori's Hospital Gift Shop

Purchase of the Broncho Chevrolet Property

Major 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

5-West Pediatric Unit Renovated

Professional Tower demolished / Washington Street Closed

2007

Wound Care Program expanded to include Hyperbaric Therapy

Ronald McDonald Care Mobile begins services

Hospitalist Program implemented

TTHSC Geriatric Medicine Fellowship begins

Land near corner of Highway 191 and Faudree Road purchased for the development of an Outpatient Center

2008

Main Operating Room renovations begins / Endovascular Operating Room opens

CareStar expands to second craft and CareStar program receives CAMTS Accreditation

West Texas Cancer Center receives approval by the American College of Surgeons for three years with commendation

Family Health Clinic receives Federally Qualified Health Center Status (FQHC)

Center for Women's Imaging expands services, including Digital Mammography

2009

Medical Center Hospital celebrates it's 60th anniversary

Purchased land near Corner of Highway 191 & Faudree Road for The Center for Health and Wellness

ECHD approved $5.1 million to move ahead with implementation of Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) by October 2010

Implemented medication bar-code system to provide improved patient safety to our patients

Recipient of HealthGrades 2009 Orthopedic Excellence Award

Recipient of HealthGrades 2009 5-Star Rated - Spine Surgery

Recipient of HealthGrades 2009/2010 5-Star Rated - Materinity Care

While the facility has grown, so has the number of staff. With more than 1,600 employees, Medical Center Hospital is the second largest employer in Ector County, next to the Ector County Independent School District. MCH has more than 280 practicing physicians in over 30 specialties. Due to the tremendous community support, Medical Center Hospital will continue to grow for many decades to come! Medical Center...Your Hospital, Your Choice!