History

Providing more than 70 years of community healthcare

Chambers Health’s history in this region runs deep with one consistent thread – it is fueled by the community’s desire for healthcare and emergency services close to home. 

This desire started in the 1940s by a group of Chambers County citizens who recognized the need for a hospital. With the closest emergency services many miles away, they knew minutes count to treat critical patients and save the lives of its residents.  

Making this vision become a reality was truly a community effort — the county made plans to operate the facility after the hospital’s land was donated by several generous residents. The new publicly owned, 36-bed facility known then as Chambers Memorial Hospital opened on October 15, 1950, and delivered its first baby just four days later. The hospital was operated by the county for 25 years.

In the early 1980s, financial difficulties threatened to close the hospital. Chambers County citizens banned together again and formed a ‘Save Our Hospital’ committee to create Chambers County Public Hospital District No. 1, through the Texas State Legislature Bill 44940.   An election was held June 8, 1985, where 1,519 residents voted on Chambers County Public Hospital District No. 1 taking over the hospital’s operations.  Two days after the voter’s approved the measure, Chambers County Commissioner’s Court approved a motion to certify the election results. The Hospital District became effective on October 1, 1985. 

A year later, Chambers Memorial Hospital was renamed to Bayside Community Hospital.

Embracing the expanding health needs of the community

It all began with Bayside Community Hospital: The hospital district has since grown its services and expanded to new areas to service the needs of the community. 

Bayside Clinic: In 1996, a primary care facility was opened in Anahuac to give residents non-emergency medical services, it then expanded to offering dental in 2013.

West Chambers Medical Center: In 2005, the system expanded to Mont Belvieu on the heels of Hurricane Rita and opened a primary care facility; the system’s busiest location and is a major contributor to the financial viability of the overall system.

In 2021, the health system entered an agreement with Barbers Hill ISD to provide its employees direct access, quality primary healthcare. This innovative agreement helped the district’s employees have overall increased wellness with the ability to receive patient centered services weeknight and weekends in a quick, convenient, and affordable. For the health system, it generated an additional revenue.  

The Wellness Center at Bayside: In 2010, a center was built to serve as a community center for mid-county residents and is home to a theater, fitness center, physical therapy, heated therapy pool and meeting space. 

Dayton Medical Center: An agreement was reached with the City of Dayton and Chambers Health to open a medical clinic in their city to bring primary care to its residents. The clinic opened on September 1, 2021. 

The system believes in growing to provide for the health care needs of the communities it serves and those in its surroundings.

As more residents use Chambers Health services, the health system can offer more specialties. The higher utilization combined with key partnerships and generating additional revenue in areas outside Mid-Chambers County, helps the health system continue to lower the tax rate in Mid-Chambers County.

Facilities of the Chambers Health system include: Bayside Community Hospital, Bayside Clinic, Bayside Dental, Dayton Medical Center, The Wellness Center at Bayside, and West Chambers Medical Center