Founded By the Community We Serve
At the height of the Second World War, the local chapter of the American Legion saw the rising need for an area hospital in the Grand Lake Region.
Soon after, a large-scale effort was started by community leaders to build and establish a medical center for the people of St. Marys, Noble, German and Jackson Townships.
Giving area residents a choice in quality
medical care close to home, Joint Township
District Memorial Hospital opened its doors on May 5, 1953. At the time, the one-story facility housed 50 beds and employed 30 staff members.
Today, the hospital has grown to include over
800 medical professionals, 150 physicians,
12 affiliates and 10 Centers of Excellence, and
our commitment to providing exceptional
quality medical care continues.
Deeply Rooted History and Forward-Thinking Future
1944
The community effort to establish a hospital for the Grand Lake Region is started by Emil Marx, Elry Hudson, Charles Nott, and H.E. Krauss.
1946
A Board of Trustees is formed to establish a Joint Township Hospital District.
1951
The hospital breaks ground.
1953
The Joint Township District Memorial Hospital opens.
1959
First expansion; 25-bed wing added.
1962
X-Ray and Laboratory expansion.
1974
$2.5 million expansion – From a 75 to a 119-bed facility; 3-story tower constructed; coronary care, new surgery, and recovery areas added; emergency, X-ray, physical therapy and lab services expanded. X-Ray and Laboratory expansion.
1979
Dietary area added.
1983
Major expansion with 3 new floors added to patient tower.
1985
Jim Chick named President and CEO.
1988
Wapakoneta Medical Center opened.
1989
JTDMH begins operation of the Celina Medical Center.
1990
- Transitional Care Unit opens
- JTD Hospital Foundation established
1993
Joint Township Foundation holds first golf outing.
1998
Major expansion of Outpatient programs.
2002
New Birthing Center.
2003
50th anniversary.
2004
Grand Lake Regional Cancer Center opens.
2005
Major capital campaign for hospital expansion
- New Emergency Center
- Expanded Outpatient Center
- New Cardiac Center
- Kevin Harlan becomes President and CEO
2006
- Hospice care
- Woman’s Digital Imaging
2007
- Joint Township District Memorial Hospital named in the top 1% of all hospitals in U.S.
- Highly rated home health and ER services are among the best nationally.
- New Urgent Care Center opens
Woman’s Imaging Center
2008
- Expanded Celina Family Medical Center on Pro Drive
- New Wapakoneta facility on Redskin Trail
- 6th Floor Renovation
2009
2nd Floor Renovation.
2010
New Services include:
- Grand Lake Vein Care Center
- Grand Lake Wound Care Center
- Grand Lake Sleep Center
2011
Completed renovation of 3rd floor for new Laboratory.
2012
- Grand Lake Health System receives 16 Healthgrades quality recognitions
- 5th Floor Renovation
- Dedicated Inpatient Comfort Suite created for hospice and other patients
2013
Healthgrades® recognized Joint Township District Memorial Hospital for exceptional quality in 16 different areas of care.
2013
$4 million improvement of Ambulatory Surgery Unit
2013-2014
Expansion and renovation of Miami & Erie Family Practice & Pediatrics in Minster.
2014
- Opening of New Day Pain Management Center in St. Marys
- Opening of Grand Lake Neurological Center
in St. Marys - Opening of Vanan ENT & Sinus Center in Celina
- Robert A. Warriner III, M.D. Center of Excellence Award given to Grand Lake Wound Care Center
- (2014 – 2017) 5 Grand Lake Practices received Level 2 Patient Center Medical Home Certification
2015
- Emergency Department received DNV Acute Stroke Ready Certification
- Expanded ambulatory surgery center to serve an ever-increasing demand for Outpatient surgery patients
- Upgraded the OR rooms and surrounding adjacent areas. We have invested significantly in the building during the past ten years including completing a new Women’s Center, Laboratory, Wound Care Center with two hyperbaric chambers, a Neurology Center, Sleep Center and the Miami & Erie Medical Center in Minster.
2017
Opened Clear Passage, a Geriatric Psychiatric Center, to better serve community needs.
2018
New 3D Mammography purchased to enhance our Women’s Wellness Center.
2020
Grand Lake Rehab and Wellness Center opened, Joint Venture with Vancrest.
2021
2022
Newly built Medical Office building, designed to better serve our community.
2023
- Pediatric Rehab – the NEW Fun Factory Sensory Gym opened
- Robotic Assisted Surgery – an important addition to the surgeon’s toolkit to greatly improve the quality and efficiency of surgeries
2024
- Stereotactic Breast Biopsy and Breast MRI added to Medical Imaging
- Received Women’s Choice Award Best Hospital for Emergency Care and Patient Safety
2025
- Received Medicare rated 5-star hospital in quality care
- Received Women Choice Award Best Hospital for Emergency Care and Patient Safety
- Ohio First Steps for Healthy Babies, Four Stars
- First inpatient care center in Ohio to introduce Hercules Patient Repositioners in Birthing Center
- Hercules Beds added to all inpatient beds
Prevention Through Education
Our deep commitment to the community does not end at our hospital and physicians’ offices. Through a wide variety of sponsored outreach programs, it is the goal of Grand Lake Health System to promote good health and prevent illness. Available to all area residents – not just patients – these convenient classes and services help educate and inform. Below are some highlighted examples of these programs and services.
Make Believe Hospital
Running for nearly 20 years, this program familiarizes young children with hospital procedures in a fun, relaxed way. This partnership with area schools sees over 1,000 visits annually.
Call A Nurse
Free to everyone and available 24 hours a day, this program puts you directly in touch with a friendly registered nurse specially trained to answer your health questions and, if needed, find a doctor.
Free Health Fair
Providing a variety of free general health screenings and access to testing for specific health problems, the Health Fair program is your traveling connection to Grand Lake Health System’s services.
With Pride and Honor
As a person-first hospital, part of our responsibility is making sure you can feel confident about choosing the team at Grand Lake Health System to take care of you and your family. Recognition for quality and excellence from national ratings organizations like Healthgrades sets us apart from other hospitals and healthcare providers in the region and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to your health and well-being.
As we look back over our past milestones and look ahead to future ones, we invite you to explore the entire website and discover why Grand Lake Health System is the region’s preferred choice in healthcare.
