Hendrick Medical Center is the largest hospital facility in Abilene, Texas, and the primary regional healthcare anchor for the Texas Midwest. Licensed for 564 beds and typically operating at 340-bed capacity, the hospital has served the region as a not-for-profit institution since opening in 1924. Today, Hendrick Medical Center operates as the flagship campus of Hendrick Health, a three-hospital system that expanded in 2020 to include Hendrick Medical Center South in Abilene and Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood in Brownwood, Texas. The main campus at 1900 Pine Street is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas and holds Level III Trauma Center designation.
History and Overview
Hendrick Medical Center traces its origins to September 15, 1924, when it opened as West Texas Baptist Sanitarium, fulfilling a decade-long vision by Millard A. Jenkins, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Abilene, to establish a Baptist healthcare institution in the region.
The original facility was built on a 6-acre site donated by Clifton M. Caldwell and his wife on the outskirts of north Abilene. In the early 1930s the Great Depression strained the hospital’s finances severely, with the institution accepting chickens, goats, and black-eyed peas as payment for services during the hardest years. The hospital was rescued from bankruptcy in 1936 by West Texas ranchers T. G. and Ida Hendrick, who paid off the mortgage and funded construction of a new wing. The hospital was renamed Hendrick Medical Center in their honor, and again renamed to reflect its multifaceted regional role in 1977.
Major expansions followed across subsequent decades, including the Mabee Building trauma center in 1980, a cancer treatment center with a linear accelerator in 1985, an ambulatory surgery center in 1986, and continuing additions through the 2010 Project — an $80 million expansion described at the time as the largest in the hospital’s history. The Gallup Great Workplace Award, first given in 2007, has been awarded to Hendrick Medical Center every single year since its inception, making it the only healthcare organization in the world to achieve that streak. According to the American Hospital Association, fewer than 3% of US hospitals maintain workforce engagement scores at the level required for the Gallup award.
Location and Campus
Hendrick Medical Center occupies a multi-building campus on Pine Street in Abilene, Texas, with three entrance points serving different functions and visiting hours from 6am to 10pm daily.
| Building / Entrance | Address | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Parker/Main Entrance | 1900 Pine St, Abilene, TX 79601 | 5:30am – 11pm |
| Shelton Building | 2000 Pine St, Abilene, TX 79601 | Mon–Fri 7am – 5pm |
| Jones Building | 1924 Pine St, Abilene, TX 79601 | Mon–Fri 5am – 5:30pm |
The main phone number is (325) 670-2000. The Emergency Department entrance is open for emergencies at all times. Free public wireless internet is available throughout the main hospital, League House, the Shelton Building, Hendrick Center for Rehabilitation, Hendrick Hospice Care, and Hendrick Health Club. An ATM is located in the Parker Wing main entrance. Chaplains are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, accessible by calling (325) 670-2256 or through the main hospital operator.
For other Texas and regional medical center profiles, see the Floyd Medical Center Rome Georgia article and the Froedtert Hospital Milwaukee overview.
Medical Services
Hendrick Medical Center provides a comprehensive range of inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and surgical services, with particular depth in cardiovascular care, oncology, orthopedics, women’s health, neurology, and trauma.
Core Clinical Services
- Emergency Services: 24/7 Level III Trauma Center emergency department
- Cardiovascular Care: Full cardiac surgery, intervention, and rehabilitation services; Hendrick Heartsaver Network for post-cardiac follow-up
- Cancer Care: Hendrick Cancer Center with radiation oncology including linear accelerator technology
- Orthopedics: Joint replacement including Mako Robotic-Arm-Assisted Surgery; Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission for hip and knee replacement
- Women’s Health: Vera West Women’s Center; The BirthPlace at Hendrick; obstetrics and gynecology; ACR Breast Imaging Center of Excellence (only facility within 150 miles)
- Neurology and Neurosurgery: Stroke care with Get With The Guidelines Gold Plus designation
- Pulmonology and Respiratory Services: Quality Respiratory Care Recognition for 10 consecutive years; certified pulmonary rehabilitation
- Pediatrics: Hendrick Children’s Hospital; neonatal and pediatric ICU
- Rehabilitation: Hendrick Center for Rehabilitation; physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Surgical Services: General surgery, robotic-assisted procedures, ambulatory and outpatient surgery
- ICU: Adult and pediatric intensive care units
- Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging: Hendrick Radiology Center; mammography; MRI
- Laboratory: Hendrick Regional Laboratory
- Hospice and Long-Term Care: Hendrick Hospice Care; Hendrick Long Term Acute Care; Skilled Nursing Facilities
- Sleep Medicine: Hendrick Sleep Disorders Center
- Pharmacy: Hendrick Professional Pharmacy; Hendrick Medical Supply
- Hearing Health: Hendrick Hearing HealthCare; Hendrick Balance Center
- Diabetes Education: ADA-recognized Diabetes Self-Management Education program since 2003, the only ADA-recognized program in the region
- Blood Services: Hendrick Regional Blood Center
- Home Health: Hendrick HouseCalls
- Fitness: Hendrick Health Club for community wellness
Mako Robotic-Arm-Assisted Surgery
Hendrick Medical Center offers Mako robotic-arm-assisted surgery for total knee replacement, total hip replacement, and partial knee replacement. This technology enables surgeons to pre-plan procedures based on each patient’s unique anatomy using a 3D model, then execute with robotic precision during the actual operation. According to research published in the Journal of Arthroplasty, robotic-arm-assisted joint replacement procedures are associated with reduced surgical variability and improved implant positioning compared to conventional technique.
Awards and Accreditations
Hendrick Medical Center holds an extensive portfolio of national awards and clinical accreditations, spanning workforce excellence, cardiovascular care, stroke treatment, oncology, respiratory care, orthopedics, and more.
| Award or Accreditation | Details |
|---|---|
| Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award | Every year since the award was created in 2007; only healthcare organization in the world with this distinction |
| ANCC Pathway to Excellence | Fourth designation (2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2020) |
| Modern Healthcare Best Places to Work | Three consecutive years including 2021 |
| Joint Commission Gold Seal — Hip and Knee Replacement | Disease-specific certification for orthopedic joint replacement |
| Joint Commission Gold Seal — Acute Myocardial Infarction | AMI certification with guideline-directed medical therapy |
| AHA Get With The Guidelines — Stroke Gold Plus | Plus Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll and Target: Stroke Honor Roll Advanced Therapy (2024) |
| AHA Mission: Lifeline — STEMI GOLD PLUS | With Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll (2024) |
| ACR Breast Imaging Center of Excellence | Only facility within 150 miles of Abilene with this designation |
| AACVPR Pulmonary Rehabilitation Certification | Recognition for commitment to quality pulmonary rehab programs |
| Quality Respiratory Care Recognition | 10 consecutive years from the American Association for Respiratory Care |
| Healthgrades Vascular Surgery Excellence Award | Recognition for superior outcomes in vascular procedures |
| U.S. News High Performing — Multiple Procedures | Rated high performing in 5 adult procedures and conditions including abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, pacemaker implantation, back surgery, hip fracture, and knee replacement |
Patient Amenities and Support Services
Hendrick Medical Center provides patients and families with an extensive range of support services including on-site lodging, multiple dining options, pastoral care, financial assistance, and a patient portal for ongoing care management.
The Hendrick League House offers comfortable overnight lodging for families of patients receiving inpatient care, priced at $45–$70 per night. Front desk hours run Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday through Sunday 8am to 4pm, with reservations made by calling (325) 670-4430. The Archway Café operates Monday through Friday from 6:30am to 7pm with themed food stations including a barbecue station, made-to-order world cuisine, grill classics, salads and fresh produce, home-cooked dishes, and packaged grab-and-go options. First Perk Coffee Café in the main lobby serves Starbucks-style beverages and freshly baked Mrs. Fields products weekdays from 7:30am to 4pm, with proceeds benefiting the Hendrick Medical Center Auxiliary. A Chick-fil-A operates in the Jones Building Monday through Thursday 8am to 5pm and Friday 8am to 3pm. Financial assistance programs are available for qualifying patients through the billing department at hendrickhealth.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hendrick Medical Center located in Abilene?
Hendrick Medical Center is located at 1900 Pine St, Abilene, TX 79601. The main phone number is (325) 670-2000. The hospital operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How many beds does Hendrick Medical Center have?
Hendrick Medical Center is licensed for 564 beds and typically operates at 340-bed capacity. It is the largest hospital facility in Abilene and the primary regional medical center for the Texas Midwest.
Is Hendrick Medical Center a trauma center?
Hendrick Medical Center holds Level III Trauma Center designation, serving as the regional trauma referral hub for the Texas Midwest and surrounding communities.
What health system is Hendrick Medical Center part of?
Hendrick Medical Center is part of Hendrick Health, a three-hospital system that includes the flagship Hendrick Medical Center and Hendrick Medical Center South in Abilene, and Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood in Brownwood, Texas.
What services does Hendrick Medical Center Abilene offer?
Hendrick Medical Center offers cardiovascular care, cancer treatment, orthopedics with Mako robotic surgery, women’s health, neurology and stroke care, pulmonary and respiratory services, pediatrics including a children’s hospital, emergency care, hospice, rehabilitation, sleep medicine, laboratory, pharmacy, and more.
Has Hendrick Medical Center won any national awards?
Yes. Hendrick Medical Center has received the Gallup Great Workplace Award every year since 2007, making it the only healthcare organization worldwide to earn the award every year since its creation.
Does Hendrick Medical Center offer lodging for patients’ families?
The Hendrick League House provides overnight lodging for families of patients at $45 to $70 per night. Reservations can be made by calling (325) 670-4430.
