Adventist Health Receives $500,000 Grant for Nursing Education

Adventist Health recently received a $500,000 grant from Aetna to provide educational assistance focused on ethnically diverse nursing students. The educational assistance plan will cover tuition, books and supplies over a two-year period, and recipients will commit to working at an Adventist Health hospital for a minimum of three years after graduation.

Four Adventist Health hospitals in California were selected to be a part of the program based on their nurse vacancy rates and their locations in communities with large minority populations. The facilities include Hanford Community Medical Center in Hanford; Paradise Valley Hospital in National City; San Joaquin Community Hospital in Bakersfield; and White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Three Hospitals Recognized for Workplace Excellence

Three Adventist Health hospitals recently received the prestigious 2005 California Awards for Performance Excellence (CAPE) from the California Council for Excellence. White Memorial Medical Center in East Los Angeles was given a 2005 CAPE silver award, and both Feather River Hospital in Paradise and Ukiah Valley Medical Center in Ukiah were recognized with bronze level awards.

The awards are given to companies and organizations that demonstrate continuous improvement and superior performance in several key business areas including leadership, customer focus, strategic planning, human resources and business results.

Glendale Adventist Medical Center Opens Bariatric Surgery Program

Glendale Adventist Medical Center has launched a Bariatric Surgery Program to assist patients in achieving their weight loss goals. The new service will be a comprehensive program, involving not only a surgeon, but nurses, nutritionists, a physical therapist, behavior modification therapist, internist, cardiologist, pulmonologist, radiologist and other specialists who understand the specific challenges of caring for bariatric patients.

Redbud Community Hospital Opens Family Health Center

Redbud Community Hospital celebrated its new Family Health Center in Clearlake, Calif., with a grand opening event in late 2005. The 33,400 square-foot facility features a rural health clinic (adult, pediatric, behavioral health and dental services), cardiology testing services, cardiology and pulmonary rehab services and Lake Silver Cardiology. There also is a privately-owned, on-site pharmacy.

White Memorial Medical Center Debuts Latest Heart Technology

White Memorial Medical Center is home to new cutting-edge heart technology, making it the first hospital in the Los Angeles area to use VH™ IVUS (virtual histology, intravascular ultrasound). VH™ IVUS is used for patients with coronary heart disease and allows doctors to detect vulnerable plaque in the coronary arteries in a cath lab while the patient remains on the table. In addition, it provides simplified interpretations of ultrasound images and detailed information about a patient’s atherosclerotic plaques.

Central Valley General Hospital Opens New Rural Health Clinic

Central Valley General Hospital recently opened a new rural health clinic, extending its services to more rural residents in California’s Central Valley. The 3,200 square-foot clinic features nine exam rooms and offers family practice, obstetrics/gynecology, maternal, pediatrics, geriatrics and laboratory services to residents of Dinuba and the surrounding Tulare County area.

Castle Medical Center Snuffs Out Cigarettes

Castle Medical Center recently implemented a tobacco-free campus for associates, patients, families and visitors. The hospital held a special ceremony marking the implementation of its tobacco-free policy that coincided with the American Cancer Society’s annual Great American Smokeout. The event included remarks by Hawaii Lt. Governor James Aiona; hospital Chief of Staff David Randell, M.D.; and representatives from two tobacco free coalitions.