The plan for a hospital actually began in 1957 when a group of community leaders and citizens gathered to address the need for a hospital in Carroll County. From that meeting, a committee was formed to raise needed funds to build the facility. This committee consisted of local businessmen and members of the Carroll County Medical Society, which was formed the same year.

In 1958, the first Board of Directors at Carroll County General Hospital was established with Atlee W. Wampler as president. The following year, Richard Y. Dalrymple was selected as the first surgeon and chief of the medical staff.

In 1960, construction began and, one short year later, Carroll County General Hospital welcomed its first patients. The hospital opened as a 50-bed acute care facility with 125 employees. Most of the physicians on its medical staff were family practitioners. Admissions after the first month of operation totaled 134.