Fountain Valley Hospital to Commemorate 40 Years of Serving the Community

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Fountain Valley Regional Hospital (FVRH) will reach a milestone on November 1 when it celebrates the 40th anniversary since opening its doors to the community.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110309/DC62487LOGO-b )

"The physicians who founded this hospital 40 years ago were ahead of their time," states Sheldon Barasch, M.D.  Dr. Barasch has been with FVRH since before it opened its doors, when he was given responsibility for setting up the hospital laboratory. "They had the foresight to see what the community needed. They were very concerned about acquiring the right technology and about delivering quality patient care, the way they felt it should be delivered.  FVRH has been a success since it started because it opened at the right place, at the right time, with the right interests at heart."

In thanks to the community which has supported it over the years, Fountain Valley Regional Hospital will provide free flu shots to community residents on November 2nd from 9 am to 12 pm on campus in the south-west parking area facing Euclid. Shots will be administered on a first-come, first –served basis and the public may register by calling 1-800-398-5734.

The hospital will also host city and state officials and key hospital leaders during an anniversary luncheon on November 2nd, featuring a slide show celebrating the hospital's growth and service to the community, and presentation of city proclamations.

"We are proud that Fountain Valley Regional Hospital is part of a tradition of quality patient care, skilled physicians, and culturally sensitive and caring staff," notes Debbie Walsh, the hospital's CEO.

The hospital opened in 1971 as Fountain Valley Community Hospital, owned by a group of physicians called Fountain Valley Medical Development Co. Over the years, it expanded in many ways. In the 1980s, the hospital opened a 4-bed NICU and 8-bed PICU. In the 1990s, the NICU expanded to 22 beds and the PICU expanded to 11 beds, and the hospital added sub-ICU beds and a Bariatric Program.  In 1994, the hospital was purchased by OrNda HealthCorp and then subsequently by Tenet Healthcare in 1996, its current owner. In this decade, the hospital has made further investments by adding a Telemetry Unit onto the 2nd floor of the Women & Children's wing, opening a unit on the 4th floor of the East Tower, adding a Pediatric Playroom and Teen Room, renovating and updating to digital equipment in the Breast Care and Imaging Centers and updating the Outpatient GI Lab. During this time, the hospital also redesigned its corporate logo to its now immediately identifiable palm logo in orange and blue. In 2009-2010, the hospital held a grand opening for its new entrance with expanded lobby and waiting areas, an expanded ER lobby, triage and waiting area, added a 5-bed observation area, renovated cardiology and nuclear medicine areas and updated the OB post-partum and Labor/Delivery/Recovery rooms.

There have clearly been many enhancements to the quality of patient care over the years. Evelyn Weickum, a switchboard operator, started with FVRH in December 1971, one month after it opened its doors. She has worked at the hospital continuously for the four decades it has served the community.  "This has been my second family for 40 years," she notes. "As a community hospital, Fountain Valley was a doctor-owned and operated facility, with many of the doctor's wives also working as volunteers. This was truly a family oriented business. Over the years, I have seen it grow, change and become a much greater regional medical center, rather than just the community hospital it originally was."

For more information about Fountain Valley Regional Hospital's services, visit www.fountainvalleyhospital.com

 About Fountain Valley Regional Hospital:

Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center (FVRH) is a 400-bed acute care hospital and one of the most comprehensive medical facilities in Orange County, California. Serving the community for more than 30 years, the hospital's core services include Heart & Vascular Care, Spine, Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, and Women's and Children's services including labor and delivery, a Level III Neonatal ICU, a Pediatric Unit for sick kids and a Pediatric ICU for critically ill children, a Gestational Diabetes Program, and a Center for Breast Care. FVRH also offers Surgical Weight Loss Services, a Diabetes Center, transfusion-free medicine and surgery, and 24-hour emergency care including an accredited Chest Pain Center and a certified Primary Stroke Center. To learn more, visit www.fountainvalleyhospital.com.

Contact: Dina Edwards
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Fountain Valley Regional Hospital
Tel: (714) 966-8175
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Fountain Valley Regional Hospital