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Mercer Health Celebrates 75 Years of Community Care and Expansion

Mercer Health is celebrating its 75th anniversary, marking more than seven decades of growth, innovation, and community driven care across Mercer County.
Mindy Kremer joined Spectrum — the daily public affairs program on WCSM hosted by Kevin Sandler — to reflect on the organization’s beginnings and its evolution into the county wide health system it is today.

Community Roots in the 1940s

The idea for a local hospital emerged during the 1940s, as families expanded after World War II and local industries grew. In 1942, community leaders in Coldwater began discussing what it would take to bring hospital services to the region. Those conversations gained momentum in 1945, leading to the creation of the Coldwater Mercy Hospital Association.

As local history recalls, many of the earliest planning meetings took place in the back of what is now Hibner’s Jewelers.

The founders faced three primary challenges:

• They needed land for a hospital,

• They needed funding,

• And they needed trained medical professionals to provide care.

A partnership with Catholic hospitals in Cincinnati solved one major hurdle. The Sisters of Mercy agreed to come north to operate and staff the hospital, while local residents stepped up to raise the funds needed to build it.

The Selhorst family in Coldwater then made land available — a donation that established the long-term home of the hospital.

Opening in 1950

The hospital opened in December 1950 on the same plot of land where Mercer Health’s main campus remains today. The original building, though expanded many times, is still in use.

For its first several decades, the hospital operated as a Catholic facility with the Sisters of Mercy playing a central role in day-to-day operations.

Transition to Township Ownership

By the late 1960s, the Sisters signaled they could no longer sustain operations alone, prompting broad community discussions about the hospital’s future.

In 1972, ownership officially transferred to a Joint Township structure through provisions in the Ohio Revised Code.
On April 1, 1972, the name changed to Mercer County Joint Township Community Hospital, with seven townships initially part of the ownership group.

Kremer noted that Mercer Health remains one of only three township owned hospital systems in Ohio today.

From Hospital to Health System

As services expanded beyond inpatient care, the organization rebranded in 2004 as Mercer Health. The new name better reflected its growing network of outpatient services, physician offices, urgent care, and home care.

Today, Mercer Health maintains a presence in every Mercer County school district and operates facilities in Coldwater, Celina, New Bremen, Marion, and Mendon.
Recent expansions include new cardiology services and expanded offerings in mental wellness.

West Wing Expansion and Modern Growth

One of the most significant additions in recent history was the Sanderell Family West Wing, opened in 2018 after years of planning. The expansion greatly increased surgical capacity, introduced robotic surgery capabilities, and allowed more patients to receive advanced procedures without leaving the community.

Many service lines — including surgery and outpatient care — have since doubled in volume.

Looking Toward 2026 and Beyond

As Mercer Health marks its 75th year, the organization is preparing for major upcoming initiatives:

• A full renovation and expansion of the Childbirth Center, driven by rising birth volumes and closures of neighboring maternity units.

• An expansion of urgent care services, including extensive renovations inside the Community Medical Center to improve flow, increase space, and extend hours.

Patients will still enter through the same doors, but the layout and efficiency of care will significantly improve.

Commitment to Careers and Community

Kremer also emphasized the wide range of career opportunities available through Mercer Health and encouraged those interested in the medical field — clinical or otherwise — to consider building a career locally.

From grassroots meetings in the back of a jewelry store to a modern health system serving all of Mercer County, Mercer Health’s 75-year story reflects a deep, ongoing commitment to community care — a commitment leaders say will continue shaping its future.