[2] The hospital is one of two in the state of Michigan to be recognized as a Level III trauma center by the American College of Surgeons.
[3] Portage Health was founded in 1896 as St. Joseph's Hospital in Hancock, Michigan.
It was set up in Bishop John Vertin's home, and stayed there until 1904 when St. Joseph's Hospital opened in a new building on Water Street.
In 1976 the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet transferred ownership to the community, and the name was changed to Portage View Hospital.
In 1995 the name was changed, this time to Portage Health System, and in 2000 the hospital moved to its current building on Campus Drive in Hancock.