Imagine a time when the nearest hospital was at least 30 miles away. Now imagine being the mother of an injured child or the family of someone suffering a heart attack. Finding healthcare beyond a doctor's office was inconvenient at best-and unavailable at worst. Not a very comforting thought, is it? It was this very situation that gave rise to the birth of Memorial Hospital.

In 1945, influential members of the community recognized the need to bring quality healthcare closer to home for the residents of Union County.

They discussed the idea and managed to gain funding through the Hill-Burton Act, but it wasn't enough to cover the cost of building a new hospital. That's when the people of Union County showed the spirit of caring they're renowned for. Together, farmers, merchants, laborers and business owners gave whatever they could. Their support totaled more than $300,000 and on March 17, 1952, Memorial Hospital opened with 40 beds and a staff eager to care for the people who made it all possible.

Since then, Union County and the surrounding areas have grown to over 65,000 residents- and Memorial Hospital grew right alongside. Today, Memorial Hospital is a 97-bed primary and emergency care center with over 30 additional service lines including:

* The Heart Partnership, in collaboration with The Ohio State University Medical Center, to expand the cardiology services in our area;
* The Miracle Life Center, welcoming the newest members of our community into the world;
* Laboratory and imaging services;
* Long-term nursing care;
* Physical, occupational and speech therapy;
* Oncology  and more.

Compared to other facilities, some may consider MHUC a hometown hospital-but we have a big commitment to the community we grew up with in the role we play, the concern we express for our friends and neighbors and the services we provide to back up that concern.