Providence Health Center 

DePaul Center

Providence Home Care

Providence Park 

   Providence Foundation

       Providence Health Alliance 

Providence Health Center is Waco's first and newest hospital--founded in 1905 at the request of local businessmen who saw the need for a hospital in Waco. They approached the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent DePaul in Dallas about sponsorship of a hospital, to which the Daughters agreed. The hospital officially opened its doors in January 1905. Providence Healthcare Network possesses a genuine desire to care for people and to serve communities with a special commitment to the poor--not to produce profits.

In 1989, Providence Health Center relocated to a new medical campus in West Waco. The campus includes a 170-bed, acute-care hospital; an Ambulatory Services Building for outpatient procedures and the MRI Center at Providence; Providence Medical Plaza, a professional office building; and Providence Clinic-Family Medicine Center, a primary care facility. Providence Health Center is located near the intersection of Highway 84 and Highway 6 in Waco at 6901Medical Parkway. For more information about Providence Health Center, call (254) 751-4000.

Interesting Facts about the Heart Hospital

1950

Providence designates hospital rooms for the Waco Heart Clinic.  Under the leadership of William Roddy, M.D., Waco’s first clinic begins providing care for indigent children diagnosed with heart disease.

1966

Dr. R. W. Crosthwait, Jr. joins the Providence Medical Staff as Cardiovascular Surgeon.

1969

Dr. R. R. Angel joins the Providence Medical Staff as Cardiovascular Surgeon.

1970

Waco’s first coronary care unit opens at Providence in order to provide specialized care for critically ill heart patients.

1971

Dr. Charles A. Shoultz, Jr. joins the Providence Medical Staff as Waco’s first cardiologist.

 1973

Dr. Charles A. Shoultz performs Waco’s first cardiac Catherization on March 3. Dr. M. Wayne Falcone joins the Providence Staff in August.

1973

History is made on March 6, when Drs. R. W. Crosthwait, Jr., and R. T. Angel perform Waco’s first open-heart surgery at Providence.

1974

Waco’s first cardiopulmonary department opens—later established as the Mid-Tex Cardiovascular Institute.

1981

The R. W. Crosthwait, Sr. Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center opens to enhance the recovery and improvement of life for Providence patients.  

1982

Waco’s first coronary angioplasty is performed at Providence.

1993

Waco’s first cardiac stent procedure is performed at Providence.

1996

Waco’s first Electrophysiology lab opens at Providence.

1997

Waco’s first Automatic Implanted Cardiac Defibrillator is implanted at Providence.

1998

The Cardiac Team at Providence joins forces with over 1,000 health centers nationwide to offer free Early Heart Attack Care training to Waco and surrounding communities.

1999

Waco’s first Chest Pain ER opens at Providence.  

2001

Congestive Heart Failure Clinic opens at Providence.  

2002

Waco’s first Excimer Laser System is installed—providing Cardiologists with the newest technology in catheterization procedures.