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The Waco Baptist Association authorized a committee to build a Baptist hospital in Waco in 1910. With ecumenical support from local pastors, congregations, citizens and physicians, the Central Texas Baptist Sanitarium was slated to be built atop McArthur Hill, the highest point in the county, named for a World War I army installation base north of the building site. Construction was delayed by World War I, but on May 25, 1920, the hospital opened under the ownership of the Waco Baptist Association. Seven rail lines put it within easy reach of four neighboring counties. The institution began a tradition of community involvement during the Depression era, when residents held fundraisers and other activities to keep the hospital open. In 1938, the name was changed to Hillcrest Memorial Hospital because of the increasing number of memorial gifts from the community. The hospital took an active role in the polio epidemic of the 1930s, establishing a physical therapy program. More than 150 cadet nurses received training here during World War II, and victims of the Waco tornado of 1953 were brought here for treatment. In 1963, the hospital's name changed to Hillcrest Baptist Hospital to signify its affiliation with the Baptist General Convention of Texas; in 1982, the name became Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center to reflect the hospital's approach to health, preventive medicine and education. Modern facilities include one of the early magnetic resonance imaging services in Texas, a neonatal intensive care unit, and specialized cancer and wellness centers. The hospital continues a tradition of pioneering medicine in Waco and caring for the community. (2000) |
