Many years ago, the Honorable James I. McKay, a native of Bladen County, represented this District in the Congress of the United States. Mr. McKay left a large tract of land to Bladen County to be used for the poor, the widows and the orphans of the County. For many years, the County operated the land as a County farm; however, it was finally sold at public auction, and the money derived from the sale was put into a special fund.

About 1947, a hospital movement was launched in Bladen County and on November 15, 1949, a special election was held and the building of a non-profit Hospital was approved. Matching federal funds were received and construction plans were underway. As the matter of site selection came up, the County Commissioners decided to use the McKay funds for the land purchase so that almost 100 years after the death of General James I. McKay, the money he left the County was put to its original use. The dedication service for the new Bladen County Hospital, made possible in part through Mr. McKay's generosity, was held Sunday - May 18, 1952.

Through the years, the Hospital was able to expand and grow without any additional County funds. By 1987, the needs of the Hospital were great and the Citizens approved a four million dollar Bond Issue.

Today, Bladen County Hospital is a modern, up-to-date 58 bed facility with an active Medical Staff consisting of Family Practitioners who practice Family Medicine, Pediatrics and Obstetrics, Internal Medicine specialists, Emergency Medicine, Pathology and Surgeons. In addition, we have, in town, an Ophthalmologist specializing in diseases of the eye and a Radiologist to read x-rays. Referral specialists hold regular sessions in town and through the Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance highly specialized services such as Oncology (cancer care) and Open Heart Surgery are easily accessible.

Our 24-hour emergency department is staffed on a full-time basis with specially trained physicians and nurses. Bladen County Hospital also has a 40 bed Medical-Surgical Unit, an Intensive Care Unit and an up-to-date Birthing Center. Our surgical suite and ambulatory surgical section offers the latest in Laser and Laporascopic surgery. The Imaging Department is equipped with the latest technology such as C.T. Scan, Nuclear Medicine, Ultrasound, Mammography and a mobile MRI. Various tests can be performed in Cardiopulmonary, including EKG'S, Stress Testing and Holter Monitoring. We have a Cardiac Rehab program and a Physical Therapy Department providing up-to-date treatments for patients requiring therapy. Vitalink, a mobile Intensive Care Unit, is stationed in Elizabethtown for immediate transfer to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. The Hospital is served by three medical helicopter teams for transfer of patients in need of more extensive medical attention. Our Laboratory is open 24 hours a day to provide accurate, timely test results. The Business Office and Health Information Management Departments provide billing services and timely turnaround on claims processing through a new computer system.

Bladen Medical Associates, a seven-doctor practice with five physician extenders, is located two blocks from Bladen County Hospital and is a division of the Hospital. Bladen Medical Associates has satellite offices in Bladenboro, Clarkton and Dublin. Bladen County Hospital also provides Bladen County with an Urgent Care center to serve its citizens.  Bladen Urgent Care is open Monday - Friday from 9 am - 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9 am - 6 pm.