St. Helena Hospital Turns 125
St. Helena Hospital recently celebrated its 125th anniversary with a weekend of community events commemorating the historical beginnings of the hospital. The activities took place in mid-October 2003 and included an Adventist community celebration at the Elmshaven Church followed by a public community event the next day. On Sabbath, attendees consumed 600 box lunches, and Sunday’s participants enjoyed free cake and ice cream. In addition, tours of historical exhibits set up throughout the Napa Valley hospital were provided along with horse and buggy rides up to the facility’s heliport where a life flight helicopter was on display.
Castle Medical Center Home Care Services Celebrates 15 Years of Service
Castle Medical Center’s Home Care Services recently celebrated its 15th anniversary with a special birthday party. The Oahu, Hawaii-based hospital’s Home Care Services opened Aug. 2, 1988, with four associates and a director. Today, there are 45 employees in Home Health Care and 59 in Community Care, a department of Castle Home Care that was launched in 1999. When it first opened, Home Care Services averaged six patients per month. Today, they receive 75 to 85 referrals each month, and the department averages a daily census of 200 and makes a total of 19,000 annual home visits.
Ukiah Valley Medical Center to Open New Outpatient Services Center
Ukiah Valley Medical Center recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Outpatient Services Center, slated to open in the fall of 2004. The new $6.7 million facility will allow the hospital to perform all outpatient services in one location. The Mendocino County-based center will house two state-of-the-art surgical suites, an endoscopy room, four preoperative rooms, 11 post-operative bays, outpatient admitting, medical imaging, a new MRI unit and a digital X-ray unit. Lab work, bone densitometry, echocardiography and mammography also will be provided at the new center.
Hanford Community Medical Center Opens New Medical Plaza
Hanford Community Medical Center opened Lacey Medical Plaza with the launch of its newly formed clinic, Hanford Regional Healthcare Network, which services patients of the former Kings Health Foundation Clinic. The newly built medical plaza—which offers pediatrics, internal medicine and primary care—is a joint venture between a local developer and the Central California hospital, which holds the master lease. The plaza encompasses 46,000 square feet and has 81 exam and treatment rooms in addition to office and reception space.
New Angio Lab Debuts at Glendale Adventist Medical Center
Glendale Adventist Medical Center recently opened a new angio lab as part of an ongoing effort to provide the highest level of care to its Southern California community. The new lab is equipped with a Siemens AXIOM Artis FA imaging system, which will maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of a number of cardiac and peripheral procedures, such as angiography, balloon angioplasty and stent implantation. In addition, the machine will help physicians quickly diagnose peripheral artery disease.
Feather River Hospital Purchases New MRI
Feather River Hospital, located in Paradise, Calif., recently enhanced its imaging technology by adding a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) mobile. The new equipment will safely create detailed views of internal tissues without the use of X-rays. These images can then be reviewed by a radiologist and used to help physicians make more accurate diagnoses. In addition to its new MRI, the hospital’s radiology department offers X-ray, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, a cardiac cathetherization lab and interventional radiology services.
St. Helena Hospital Named Heart Surgery Center of Expertise
St. Helena Hospital has been named a Heart Surgery Center of Expertise by Blue Cross of California. The hospital is one of only 70 facilities statewide that has been designated as a Blue Cross of California Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Center of Expertise. Selection for the designation is based on demonstrated expertise in performing CABG surgery. The selection process is based on one or more of the following measures: outcome information from the California Coronary Artery Bybass Graft Mortality Reporting Program, procedure volumes according to the Amercian College of Cardiology recommendations, post-operative complication rates and data supplied to a Blue Cross Request for Information.
Simi Valley Hospital Hosts Hats Off to Women Event
Simi Valley Hospital, located in Southern California, recently hosted its Hats Off to Women Event focusing on health and lifestyle issues. Held at the Posado Royale Hotel and Suites, the event featured a series of one-hour seminars with candid discussions about serious health concerns facing area women. In addition, a luncheon was provided to participants, and the nearly 200 guests were front and center for a lively fashion show. Proceeds from the successful event will go toward the hospital’s Patient Care Tower construction fund.
Redbud Community Hospital Offers Health Screenings to Community
Redbud Community Hospital recently offered a host of free health screenings at the Lake County Fair. More than 1,000 people took advantage of screenings given by hospital employees, which included blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol testing. In addition, more than 8,000 fairgoers stopped by the hospital’s booth to inquire about hospital services and pick up health information and other free giveaways.
By Heather Preston Wheeler
