Virginia Physicians, Inc., one of the largest multi-specialty medical practices in the Richmond metropolitan area, has served the greater Richmond metropolitan area for 81 years and continues to be a leader in finding new and innovative ways to practice medicine in this ever-changing medical environment.

Virginia Physicians, Inc., formerly The McGuire Clinic, was founded by Dr. Stuart McGuire and opened on December 1, 1923 at 1000 West Grace Street in a renovated portion of St. Luke’s Hospital. Prior to that time, physicians were generalists and the concept of the specialist was new. The McGuire Clinic was comprised of Dr. McGuire and 14 other specialists representing seven departments. It was the first medical clinic in Virginia and was modeled after the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

The history of the hospital and the clinic were intertwined until 1972 when Humana bought the hospital and its clinic property with the agreement that the clinic and hospital be relocated. On April 7, 1975 The McGuire Clinic and its 26 physicians moved to 7702 Parham Road where many of the group continue to practice today. The hospital opened in September of the same year.

In the following three decades Virginia Physicians continued to grow. In 1978 a family practice satellite was opened on Patterson Avenue and in 1979 another opened at the Goochland Court House. In 1980 a dialysis center was opened in Chesterfield County and in 1983 and 1986 two family practice satellites were added on Meadow Dale Boulevard and in Mechanicsville, respectively.

As the face of medicine changed so did the makeup of the group of clinicians. In 1996 the group changed its name to Virginia Physicians under the management of Phycor, Inc. With the dissolution of Phycor and the changes in managed care, Virginia Physicians struggled to find its identity. With the addition of Midlothian Family Practice, a clinic with its own rich heritage dating into the 1800’s, the group grew to include more than 110 physicians.

Today Virginia Physicians is comprised of 49 providers. With practices in the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Powhatan, the 260 employees provide healthcare to close to 75,000 patients in the Richmond area. Although the practice still includes the specialties of Gastroenterology, Rheumatology and Hematology/Oncology, Virginia Physicians’ composition is 60% Primary Care and the group’s goal is to continue to grow that side of the practice. In early 2005 Midlothian Medical Care, comprised of two primary care providers, became a division of Virginia Physicians and in August new physicians will join Midlothian Family Practice and Cold Harbor Family Medicine.

The mission statement of the organization states “The mission of Virginia Physicians, Inc. is to deliver optimal value in comprehensive medical care to the Central Virginia area through the cooperative efforts of our physicians and staff.” As with the original founders of The McGuire Clinic, it is this mission that secures the groups place in the Richmond medical community for the next 80 years.