Healthcare in Ames, Iowa: A Guide to the Region’s Top Medical Facilities

Courtesy of Mary Greeley Medical Center

Residents do not have to leave the local area to access premier, state-of-the-art medical treatment. The Greater Ames region is home to an exceptional network of high-quality facilities explicitly designed to meet every patient’s unique needs.

Whether you require routine primary care, a specialized consultation or emergency medical services, this comprehensive guide highlights the top providers ensuring a healthy future for central Iowa.

Story County Medical Center

Leading Hospitals and Medical Centers in Story County

McFarland Clinic

McFarland Clinic is Iowa’s largest physician-owned, multispecialty clinic, offering 50+ medical specialties and services. It has faithfully served its neighbors’ medical needs for 80 years. Over 350 McFarland Clinic health care providers and 1,100 staff members serve residents in 12 Iowa communities, with additional areas served by visiting specialists. The facility provides easy and convenient access to preventive, chronic and acute care. Patients also benefit from MyChart, which allows them to access medical records and communicate electronically with the doctor’s office.

Mary Greeley Medical Center

This highly respected regional hospital offers a range of services, including behavioral health, cancer care, cardiology, obstetrics, surgical services and emergency care, to residents in a 14-county area. The hospital has earned national honors for quality care, including the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s most important measurement of quality improvement and innovation, and Magnet Designation, the country’s top distinction of nursing excellence. The hospital is also one of Story County’s top employers, with nearly 1,500 clinical and non-clinical staff.

Story County Medical Center

A team of more than 40 providers delivers high-quality, community-oriented care at Story County Medical Center in Nevada. The center offers over two dozen services and specialties, including cardiology, dermatology, orthopedics and 24-hour emergency care. Plus, it is home to the only on-site helipad in Story County. Story Medical Senior Care, adjacent to the hospital, has been named to Newsweek and Statista’s 2026 list of America’s Best Nursing Homes. A network of outpatient clinics, with one focused on natural health, works together to keep the area healthy.

Courtesy of Mary Greeley Medical Center

Ames Surgery Center

The Ames Surgery Center (ASC), a partnership of Mary Greeley Medical Center and McFarland Clinic, brings the convenience and quality of same-day surgery services to central Iowa. The ASC, which opened in 2024, has 33 private pre- and post-operative rooms, six operating rooms and four endoscopy rooms. Certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, the facility offers an extensive range of surgical services.

Boone County Hospital

Essential Regional Healthcare Providers Outside Ames

Boone County Hospital

Boone County Hospital has provided compassionate, state-of-the-art health care for 125 years. With four primary care clinics, a walk-in clinic, and specialty services delivered by visiting experts, the hospital ensures convenient access to comprehensive care, including obstetrics and mental health services for seniors.

Greene County Medical Center

The Jefferson-based hospital has cared for its neighbors since 1938. It partners with UnityPoint Health-Des Moines through a formal management agreement and a Critical Access Hospital network agreement. This relationship enables the medical center to retain its governance structure while taking advantage of greater systemwide resources, best practices and more. It is home to Greene County’s only MRI unit. Patients can see a variety of visiting and on-site specialists in general surgery, orthopedics, cardiology and oncology. It also has a new wound care clinic and a walk-in clinic.

Van Diest Medical Center

This Hamilton County hospital has served its community for more than 100 years. With its MercyOne affiliation, the center can take advantage of the cost savings and educational offerings available to larger facilities. The Webster City hospital provides a number of specialties and services, including pediatric care, cardiology, orthopedic – spine and oncology.