History

Practicing medicine in his hometown of Darlington was always the dream of Dr. John M. Wilson. His studies at the prestigious Duke University Medical School and specialized residency training in surgery, pediatrics, and obstetrics had prepared him to bring new and more modern medical capabilities to his home town.

Dr. Wilson’s return to Darlington was delayed by World War II. Good doctors were needed on the battlefield, so he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a battalion surgeon. Upon his return home, Dr. Wilson soon discovered the need for senior care in his hometown, and took the first steps of a legacy that would continue into the next century.

Through his late 80’s, Dr. Wilson continued to play an active role in Wilson Senior Care and senior care in Darlington County. His achievements and commitment to the community for more than five decades made Dr. Wilson not simply notable, but clearly an outstanding older South Carolinian.

Below is a timeline of how we became to be known as Wilson Senior Care.

Over 55 Years of Providing Care

• In 1946, Dr. John M. Wilson set up a medical practice in Darlington, South Carolina.
• In 1948 he added licensed hospital beds located on the second floor of the building in which the doctor’s office was located. The building was expanded three times, ultimately becoming a 60 bed hospital facility, Wilson Hospital.
• In the early 1960’s, Dr. Wilson built a 50 (now 88) bed hospital in Darlington which later became Darlington Convalescent Center.
• 1969 saw the beginning of construction of Oakhaven, a convalescent facility in a residential area of Darlington. Oakhaven is Darlington’s first public skilled nursing facility. It was constructed in two stages, ultimately becoming an 88 bed Skilled Nursing Facility.
• During the 1970’s, Dr. Wilson obtained Certificates of Need that enabled him to convert all his facilities to Skilled Nursing Facilities.
• In 1974, the Wilson Clinic and Hospital, a 50 bed facility, was constructed.
• In 1975 Dr. Wilson founded the county’s first Intermediate Care Facility.
• In 1988, Dr. Wilson acquired Southland Medical Center and converted it to Medford Place, his second nursing home in Darlington, SC. Darlington Convalescent Center closed and the residents moved to either Oakhaven or Medford Place.
• In 1989 he opened a pharmacy and durable medical equipment store, Wilson Medical Supply, which assured medicines and home health supplies were available for seniors receiving care at their homes.
• In 1993, Dr. Wilson introduced the Medford Place Medical Adult Day Care, which offered activities, meals and therapies for senior day care clients from the community.
• In 1994, Dr. Wilson sold Wilson Clinic and Hospital to McLeod Regional Medical Center due to a desire to remain focused strictly on providing senior care services.
• In 1996, the skilled nursing facility founded by Henry McCuen Morrell (Morrell Memorial Nursing Center) in Hartsville, SC was acquired by the Wilson Group, the entity that had been formed by Dr. Wilson to oversee the operations of the skilled nursing facilities. Originally a 130 bed facility, it has been renovated to house 154 licensed beds.

Today, the Wilson Group, now known as Wilson Senior Care, operates three long-term care facilities, Med Center Pharmacy & Medical Supply, and Med Wear Uniforms & More. The corporate office located on 116 Cashua Street conducts management and support services for the other locations as well as conducting accounts payable, accounts receivable, and human resources. Click here for our contact information.