History of Firelands Health
Firelands Regional Medical Center
Firelands Regional Medical Center has a history rich with the tradition of providing the finest healthcare services available to the five-county area.
Today's Firelands Regional Medical Center is the combination of three former Sandusky hospitals into one regional medical center providing state-of-the-art medical care.
It began with laying the cornerstone for the Good Samaritan Hospital on June 27, 1876, followed by the founding of Providence Hospital in 1902 by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, based in Cleveland.
In 1923, the diocesan boundaries were redrawn, and the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio, assumed sponsorship. In 1985, Good Samaritan Hospital and Sandusky Memorial Hospital merged, becoming Firelands Community Hospital.
In 2001 Firelands Community Hospital and Providence Hospital merged to become Firelands Regional Medical Center—the largest health system in the five-county area.
This blend of allopathic and osteopathic professions and religious-cultural awareness, along with a full-service base is the hallmark of a unique and comprehensive 400-bed healthcare system in North Central Ohio. Its combined medical staff represents over 250 physicians and a hospital staff of over 2,100 employees. Its board of directors represent a cross-section of leaders within the community, local business and industry.
The Bellevue Hospital
The Bellevue Hospital opened its doors in 1917 with 24 beds, and nine bassinets.
Expansions throughout the decades
1950s-60s: Expanded with more patient beds, a surgical suite, and a new laboratory.
1970s: Added a six-bed intensive care unit (ICU) and launched Ohio's first rural inpatient alcohol detox and rehab program (1978).
1980s: Established a rural cancer program with an outpatient oncology clinic and cardiac rehabilitation.
1990s: Completed a $3.7 million renovation project.
Early 2000s: The hospital added a sleep disorders lab, breast care program, and new imaging services.
2005: A 129,000-square-foot facility with a meditation walking trail was completed.
2022: Two DaVinci robotic surgical devices were added for less invasive surgeries.
2025: The Bellevue Hospital became Firelands Health The Bellevue Hospital.
Today
Today, Firelands Health provides the area with many advanced medical procedures, affording residents the highest-quality medical care close to home. Regional partnerships with University Hospitals continue Firelands' commitment to being big enough to care for you, small enough to care about you.
