Standish Community Hospital

Standish Community Hospital was founded and incorporated in 1961, when a group of concerned citizens purchased the Arenac Hospital.  In 1970, a long-term care facility was built.  This facility is now licensed to provide skilled nursing care, a "step-up" from the traditional nursing home level of care.
 
In 1984, an Administration Building was constructed behind the skilled nursing facility.  
 
In 1990, a new state of the art Critical Care Unit (CCU) was built with monies from the community.  A five-bed unit relaced the cramped three-bed unit, and was dedicated in honor of the founding physician of Standish Community Hospital's first CCU, Malcom K. Dolbee, M.D.
 
In the early nineties, the hospital broadened its diagnostic services by offering a full-time Computerized Tomographic (CT) Scanner and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) Camera.  Our SPECT camera, dedicated to cardiac applications, brough multi-planar imaging to northeastern Michigan.  The SPECT camera and its computer network merged with the diagnostic capabilities of nuclear medicine with computer graphics for enganced interpretations.
 
In 1997, the Emergency Department underwent major construction to redesign and expand the ER to four beds with all electronic monitors and a central station that improved the ability of ER staff to respond to patients with critical needs.  The following year, the Courtyard Annex was built to house the CT Scanner, Mammography, Radiologist Reading Room, and two new services - the Microbiology Laboratory and Bone Densitometer.
 
In 1998, Standish Community Hospital affiliated with Saint Mary's of Saginaw and St. Joseph Health System of Tawas.  Under the Health Alliance Network of Northeast Michigan, $3 million was granted to SCH to expand health care services.
 
In February 2000, SCH became a critical access facility.  This designation allows SCH to receive cost-based reimbursement from Medicaid.  A critical access hospital is designed to provide care to under-served areas.
 
In 2002, SCH advanced the Laboratory and Medical Imaging Department.  The Laboratory received a new Hematology Analyzer, Immunoassay System, and a Cerner/Citation Information System.  THe Medical Imaging Department received a Nuclear Imaging Camera, Cardiac Ultrasound and Moible X-ray System.  In 2003, a new CT Scanner was operational.
 
In March 2003, Standish Community Hospital announced a closer affiliation with Saint Mary's Medical Center of Saginaw.  With the formal affiliation came a name change ... Saint Mary's Standish Community Hospital (SMSCH).
 
In January 2004, the SMSCH Medical Arts Building was open to the community.  It is the site of the Rural Health Clinic and visiting physicians.
 
In September 2004, a three million dollar hospital-wide renovation project was completed.  This included a new emergency department with seven private examination rooms, a 16,412 square foot expansion to the front of the hospital, a gift shop and the centralization of several diagnostic services to provide easier access for the community.
 
In June, 2005 we merged with Saint Mary's and it's affliates  to become St. Mary's of Michigan Standish Hospital.  It is much more telling of who we are and who we serve.  Because of the expertise in specialty areas, we treat patients from all parts of the state and beyond.
 
Our new logo is stylish and modern, it clearly reflects our faith-based history, mission and values.  Even the colors are significant.  Blue has long been a signature color of the hospital, and remains in our new look.  Blue is linked with heritage and stability.  Green is often associated with healing and growth, and therefore is fitting with our work and vision.