McLaren Health Care history

The history of McLaren Health Care dates back to 1914, when Lucy M. Elliot, M.D., and Lillian Girard, R.N., established a 10-bed hospital at 808 Harrison Street in Flint, Michigan.

The facility, originally established as a private hospital, reorganized and incorporated in 1919 as the Women's Hospital Association, a community non-profit hospital.

It is recognized as an accessible and dependable source of quality medical care for residents of Tuscola County and is staffed by a dedicated team of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, technicians, trustees, and volunteers. It is a non-profit, locally-governed community hospital that has been serving the community since 1928.

In 1929, a wing was added to the structure to increase bed capacity to 40.

In 1943, a fund raising campaign brought in a million dollars from the community for a new facility.

Construction of the present facility on Ballenger Highway began in July of 1949.

The new structure opened in October 1951, expanding the hospital's capacity to 243 beds.

A $36 million renovation and expansion program began with a ground breaking in 1982.

In 1986, the McLaren Women's Center was opened in Flint Township.

The psychiatric programs at McLaren were expanded in 1988 to include inpatient units for adolescents and older adults.

Michigan Capital Healthcare was formed in 1992 by the merger of Lansing General Hospital and Ingham Medical Center.

A $50 million expansion to McLaren Flint, which included a 12-story patient care tower, opened in 1993.

Since 1994 MDwise has provided access to compassionate, high-quality, coordinated health care and education to Medicaid members in communities across Indiana.

In 1995, the corporation took a further step toward enlarging the regional scope of the health care system by developing Family Care Centers in West Branch, Houghton Lake, Fairview, Rose City, and Rifle River.

Beginning January 1, 1996, McLaren began providing open heart and angioplasty services for Hurley's heart patients, and Hurley began providing inpatient pediatric services for McLaren's pediatric patients.

In response to changing health care needs, a 19-bed Transitional Care Unit was opened at Lapeer Regional Hospital in March of 1997 and a 31-bed McLaren Extended Care-Lapeer was opened at McLaren Flint in April of 1997.

Corporate subsidiaries included McLaren General Hospital (renamed McLaren Flint in 2012), Women's Hospital Association, and McLaren Services Corporation (including Visiting Nurse Services of Michigan, McLaren Extended Care, and McGenco.)

MHP has earned the prestigious Pinnacle Award every year since 2013 from the Michigan Association of Health Plans and is also accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Learn More