History of Midland Memorial Hospital
1944
In December, the Midland Chamber of Commerce appointed a hospital committee to investigate and make recommendations about the possibility of building a community-owned hospital.
1945
The Chamber of Commerce’s committee recommended that a charitable non-profit corporation, to be called Midland Memorial Foundation, be formed to solicit contributions for the purpose of building and operating a hospital. Twenty-five Midland citizens were selected to serve on what is now the Board of Governors. By 1946, they had raised only $260,000 for building a hospital. In 1947 they launched an allout drive and raised more than $750,000. Matched by $400,000 in a government grant and 7 acres of land donated by Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Cowden and Mr. and Mrs. Clinton M. Dunagan, the Governors believed they had raised more than enough.
1948
Ground was broken for the hospital building.
1950
Midland Memorial Hospital, a four-story 75-bed facility, opened on July 11. Total cost: $1,125,000.
1955
$150,000 was raised to pay off outstanding obligations. The Midland County Commissioners Court and Midland City Council entered into long-term leases that made the financing of a new wing possible, coupled with another grant from the federal government.
1958
An $800,000 east wing expansion brought the total beds to 150.
1963
The 4th floor of the east wing was added to house surgery, a recovery room and a 9-bed Intensive Care Unit. Bed capacity increased to 178. The original part of the Hospital was air conditioned.
1966
The parking lot was paved.
1973
Phase I of a two-phase expansion (70,000 square feet) on the west end of the Hospital was completed, housing Surgery, Recovery, Anesthesia, Labor and Delivery, Radiology, Emergency Room, Purchasing, Central Services, Pharmacy, Cafeteria, Kitchen and Medical Records. Cost: $3.7 million.
1977
The Hospital District was formed and a $10 million expansion program was begun, financed by the only general obligation bond issue in the Hospital’s history. This bond was paid off in 1997.
1979
Phase II of the expansion was completed, adding a new Maternity Wing and Critical Care and Post-Critical Care Units, and relocating the Cardiopulmonary Department. Private bathrooms were added to the 1950s’ building by placing the plumbing on the outside of the building and covering it with a stucco facade. Total beds: 195.
1986
A 3rd and 4th floor were added to the west expansion providing additional medicalsurgical beds and a new obstetrics floor. New business offices, admitting, lobby and staff offices were completed. $15.1 million project. 272 beds.
1994
The north expansion changed the face of the Hospital and added almost 100,000 square feet for surgical facilities and support services, including the Emergency Department, Laboratory and the Testing and Diagnostic Center.
2001
Westwood Hospital was acquired. Labor and Delivery, Postpartum, Nursery and Pediatrics were consolidated at the renamed West Campus. The West Campus also included Outpatient Surgery, Imaging, Lab and its own Emergency Department.
2007
The new Medical Office Building opened on the north side of the Main Campus. This 88,000 square foot facility was financed in part by $6.5 million in private donations, and is the first high-quality medical office space built on the Main Campus in over 30 years. It houses a variety of physicians’ offices, including Texas Oncology and Permian Cardiology Associates, along with the Hospital’s outpatient imaging center (Diagnostic Imaging Associates, or DIA).
