On Jul. 1, 1997, the operations, employees and obligations of the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals (MCV), formerly a division of Virginia Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), were transferred to the Authority. In April 1996, Governor George Allen signed legislation that established the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals Authority.

The clinical activities of MCV Hospitals, MCV Physicians and the VCU School of Medicine were coordinated and integrated by and through VCU Health.