News

Foothill Regional Medical Center’s pediatric subacute unit celebrated Halloween with their annual Halloween Parade. Several hospital departments participated in the extravaganza by setting up trick-or-treat stations for kids dressed in costumes.

Stakeholders have long advocated for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and System (HCAHPS) survey by changing its response format and fine-tuning the measures included. With the changes in HCAPS, a whole body of evidence-based best practices has emerged, allowing Los Angeles Community Hospitals to be able to identify issues needing improvement. 

In hospital environments, engineers are behind the scenes and don’t often get recognized for their contribution to patient care the way doctors and nurses might. Which is why Norwalk Community Hospital celebrates National Health Care Facilities and Engineering Week (October 22-28). 

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Regular breast exams and mammograms are the best tools for early detection, which increases survival.

Southern California Hospital at Culver City, in collaboration with the city’s police department, this week held a comprehensive, pre-planned active shooter drill designed to protect patients, staff and the public in the event of such an incident occurring at the facility.

Foothill Regional Medical Center and the Tustin Unified School District (TUSD) held a special graduation recently for its five graduating class seniors in Foothill Regional’s Pediatric subacute unit.

Prospect Medical is offering highly competitive hiring incentives to recruit registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, certified nursing assistants, clinical laboratory scientists, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists and physical therapists to its comprehensive network of five acute care hospitals and two behavioral health hospitals in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

The Partners in Care Foundation (Partners) has launched an innovative partnership with Coordinated Regional Care designed to eliminate challenges associated with fragmented care sometimes experienced by Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports  participants. The effort is possible due to a $761,090 award from the California Department of Health Care Services.

Prospect Medical’s California hospitals came out shining in the latest release of Healthgrades’ quality awards. Foothill Regional Medical Center, Los Angeles Community Hospitals at Los Angeles and Norwalk, and Southern California Hospitals at Hollywood and Culver City, have been recognized by Healthgrades as 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipients.

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) has tapped Los Angeles Community Hospital at Bel]lflower as a preferred contract provider for mental health services.  

Los Angeles Community Hospital at Los Angeles and Norwalk Community Hospital held Puppy Love Fest events for both staff and patients on Valentine’s Day.

The stress of the pandemic and economic challenges has taken a toll on the emotional and physical health of many. Caring for your cardiovascular health is an important way to counter stress. This includes paying attention to your cardiovascular health.

Foothill Regional Medical Center is five star rated for treatment of hip fracture and treatment of pneumonia, according to new research released by Healthgrades, the leading marketplace connecting doctors and patients.

Southern California Hospitals at Hollywood and Culver City rank among the top three in California for gastrointestinal care according to a new analysis released by Healthgrades, the leading marketplace connecting doctors and patients. Additionally, SCH at Hollywood and Culver City rank in the top five in California for pulmonary care and rank among America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Pulmonary Care Award recipient.

Signify Health, Inc, a leading healthcare platform that leverages advanced analytics, technology, and nationwide healthcare networks to create and power value-based payment programs, announced a new collaboration with Prospect Medical Holdings.

Prospect Medical hospitals received “5 stars” for excellent clinical outcomes, according to Healthgrades’ 2023 Quality Ratings & Awards, which evaluate performance at almost 4,500 hospitals nationwide to determine clinical excellence in 17 specialty care areas.

Each year, Cintas Corporation announced its C.A.P.E. Award (Cleaning to Advance the Patient Experience) winners to honor of environmental services employees. The awards were established to recognize exceptional EVS professionals in acute or long-term care facilities. At a recent celebration at Southern California Hospital at Culver City, Elsa Linares was honored as one of ten national C.A.P.E. Award recipients.

For the tenth consecutive award year, Prospect Medical Systems is among physician groups awarded "Elite" status by the America's Physician Groups' Standards of Excellence program.

Foothill Regional Medical Center announced today it has reached the milestone of 300 robotic-assisted surgeries using da Vinic Xi and Mako SmartRobotics. The milestone was reached sooner than expected because surgeons trained to use the equipment readily took advantage of the state-of-the-art technology for their patients as soon as it became available to them.

The Centurion Foundation (Centurion) and Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. (Prospect) announced today they have signed an Asset Purchase Agreement for Centurion to acquire the CharterCARE Health Partners system from Prospect. Centurion also announced that QHR Health will assist in the transition process and will provide ongoing consulting support to CharterCARE senior management and board of directors.

We are taking significant steps to ensure Waterbury HEALTH in Connecticut has a stable operational and financial foundation to continue serving our community with safe, quality patient care for many years to come. One of these steps is returning the health system to nonprofit status. We are excited about joining Yale New Haven Health System and we are confident that, working together, we will be able to achieve our common goal of improving patient outcomes and access to care for our greater Waterbury.

Because most parents of young children heeded COVID-19 protocols, including having their children physically distance, mask, and wash hands often, this limited the spread of other viruses, including RSV. Now that people, including children, are returning to places where people congregate, such as work, school, shopping and entertainment destinations while doffing their masks, viruses are surging.

Along with your heart, your lungs are among your most vital organs. That’s why it’s wise to take proactive steps to keep them healthy. An investment in lung health will pay dividends just like an investment in heart health. Here are a few tips for optimal lung health.

Eastern Connecticut Health Network’s website has joined the Prospect Medical Holdings platform, which means all PMH hospitals are now on the same platform with uniform design and branding. Not only does having all hospital entities ensure consistent layouts and visual appearance, but also allows technical and content updates to be made across all websites at the same time.

Drug addiction is a chronic disease that affects both the brain and behavior. Most patients need long-term or repeated care to stop using completely and recover their lives. Often, the first stage of treatment involves medically assisted detoxification, which allows patients to safely discontinue the use of drugs and alcohol. During detoxification at Culver City-based Miracles Detox, for example, the body rids itself of the addictive substance and can experience withdrawal symptoms that range from unpleasant to life-threatening.

We are taking significant steps to ensure Crozer Health has the stable operational and financial foundation it needs to continue serving Delaware County with safe, quality patient care for many years to come. One of these steps is returning the health system to nonprofit status. We will continue to reach out to our communities to make sure they know that we are here for them and a trusted partner in helping maintain their health and well-being.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. In 2022, an estimated 287,500 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. as well as 51,400 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. Women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop breast cancer.

Two registered nurses at Southern California Hospital at Culver City celebrate more than 40 years working for the hospital. Both will retire soon. Learn more about their stories.

Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS) and Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. (Prospect) announced the execution of definitive agreements for YNHHS to acquire two Connecticut health systems from Prospect. The agreement also includes the health systems’ related businesses, real estate assets, physician clinic operations and outpatient services, and it is subject to customary regulatory approvals. YNHHS has agreed to purchase the assets and operations associated with the following hospitals that make up the health systems:

Southern California Hospitals at Culver City, Hollywood and Van Nuys welcomed new Chief Nursing Officer Marie Aragon on Sept. 1. Aragon obtained her master’s degree in nursing leadership and administration at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude.  “Marie has held vital nursing and operational leadership roles within our organization,” said Southern California Hospital at Culver City Interim CEO Omar Ramirez. “Her dedication to our patients, our staff and the community is essential to fulfill our mission of providing patient-centered care.” Aragon was the interim CNO for three months before the September appointment, and her clinical specialties include cardiac catheter lab, clinical informatics, and biotechnology.

Did you know 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness each year? This means millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. However, mental illness affects everyone directly or indirectly through family, friends or coworkers. That is why each year, during the first week of October, the National Alliance of Mental Health and participants across the country raise awareness of mental illness, fight discrimination and provide support through Mental Illness Awareness Week Trying to tell the difference between what expected behaviors are and what might be the signs of a mental illness isn't always easy.

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season with rare exceptions. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of serious complications from influenza.

During his training at Stanford University six years ago, Dr. Osita Onugha pioneered a new kind of minimally invasive surgery for fractured ribs called extra-thoracic video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), which he now performs at Southern California Hospital at Culver City. Previous procedures used long incisions and open exposure of the chest to stabilize the broken ribs with plates and screws. Extra-thoracic VATS, on the other hand, needs only very small cuts to access the ribs. A tiny camera and surgical instruments are inserted into the chest through these cuts, which guides the surgeon performing the procedure. In addition, a balloon catheter is inflated in the chest cavity to enable greater access to the ribs.

The Eastern Connecticut Health Network Diabetes Prevention Program, offered through the Diabetes Wellness Center, has been awarded the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) full recognition for another five years.

It’s never too late to strive for a healthier lifestyle, and September is Healthy Aging Month, which makes it the perfect time to make a plan. Recapture that “back to school” feeling with a personal commitment to renew yourself. To improve yourself physically, socially, and mentally, here are 4 reasonable tips from the Healthy Aging website to inspire you: 1) Exercise, 2) Diet, 3) Social, and 4) Mental Health.

Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Pennsylvania is now offering Body Vision’s intraoperative 3D imaging system for earlier, more accurate lung cancer diagnosis. Body Vision’s imaging system uses artificial intelligence to transform X-ray images from conventional C-arm equipment―used in most bronchoscopy procedural rooms―into real-time, intraoperative 3D images that allow bronchoscopists to visualize the actual lung lesion and its location during a diagnostic procedure.

Neurosurgery is now available at Manchester Memorial Hospital as Eastern Connecticut Health Network welcomes Dr. Eric Hintz. Dr. Hintz is an accomplished neurosurgeon with six years of post-training experience. He received his medical degree from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine, completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Rochester, and obtained his fellowship in surgical neuro-oncology at Northshore University Hospital.

Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. In other words, it’s your body’s overactive and toxic response to an infection. Like strokes or heart attacks, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment. Sepsis can lead to severe sepsis and septic shock. Learn more about the signs and symptoms during Sepsis Awareness Month from the Sepsis Alliance.

Roger Williams Cancer Center’s patients have a new way to celebrate the end of their cancer treatment, “ringing the bell,” a tradition followed at countless cancer centers around the world. The cancer center team is excited to establish this option for patients to mark an important milestone in their cancer journey.

Norwalk Community Hospital in Los Angeles County recently welcomed a new emergency department medical director, Dr. Jim Seraj. “My goal is to focus on efficient and effective emergency care so that our hospital continues to be a fundamental pillar of Norwalk and Santa Fe Springs and other communities,” he said.

Waterbury Hospital in Connecticut was ranked a high-performing hospital by U.S. News & World Report for quality treatment of patients suffering from Stroke, Heart Failure and Kidney Failure in recently released 2022-2023 Best Hospital Edition.

Waterbury Hospital in Connecticut opened a new interventional radiology suite with the latest technology, adding to already sophisticated treatment options for patients.

Connecticut-based Waterbury Hospital staff partnered with Hoop to Help to provide book bags to local elementary students.

Waterbury Hospital’s Joan Doback, Chief Physician Assistant and Bone Health Coordinator, was honored with the Leadership Award by the local Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Council. Doback was instrumental in starting the Bone Health Center at the hospital, which provides specialized care to prevent secondary fractures with patients who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis.

The antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) at Prospect Medical Holdings’ Alta Hospitals will be highlighted at the 2022 Vizient Connections Summit this month. Vizient is a community hospital healthcare improvement company. “Vizient selected our ASP program to be recognized for clinical programs that have taken a unique approach and produced real life results,” said Chief Pharmacy Officer Sehjan Bhura, PharmD. “In a matter of a few short years, our program has truly optimized the care our patients receive and achieved a Silver Level designation from the California Department of Public Health.”

Prospect Medical Systems received a three-year accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance in population health programs for both kidney disease and heart failure. Prospect Medical Systems joins only 31 select organizations in achieving this NCQA designation. 

Crozer-Keystone Hospice in Pennsylvania has been recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) as a “Superior Performer” for achieving an overall caregiver and family satisfaction score that ranked in the top 20 percent of all eligible SHP clients for the 2021 calendar year. The annual award was created to acknowledge hospice providers that consistently provide high-quality service to families and caregivers of patients receiving hospice care.

Stem cell therapy is a type of regenerative medicine that promotes the human body’s ability to naturally repair and heal itself by introducing special human cells (known as stem cells) that can develop into just about any type of cell, including brain and muscle cells. Stem cell therapies have been used in thousands of clinical trials to treat a variety of conditions such as Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s, although the only FDA-approved stem cell treatments at the moment are those used in procedures such as bone marrow transplants for patients with disorders that affect blood production.

Heading back to school is an exciting time of year for students and families. It is important that students eat healthy, stay active, and are up to date on their immunizations. Here are 4 tips for heading back to school healthy.

Foothill Regional Medical Center in Orange County, CA, achieved national accreditation for its weight-loss surgery program by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program through July 2025. The hospital first achieved accreditation in 2018 and reaccredited in August by demonstrating our ability to meet the needs of our patients by providing multidisciplinary, high-quality patient care.

Christiana Care Health System and Prospect Medical Holdings announced that negotiations for the purchase of Crozer Health have concluded without an agreement. Both organizations worked very hard to reach a final agreement and have significant respect for each other and remain committed to caring for the health of those in Delaware County.

A July article in Cureus: Journal of Medical Science authored by two Southern California Hospital at Culver City physicians—Drs. Alexander Sinclair and John Kowalczyk, along with three other authors—focused on the sexual satisfaction of male-to-female (MtF) gender affirmation surgery (GAS) patients within the United States. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no prior research has assessed patient satisfaction to this level of detail; and the findings showed that the most important element responsible for sexual satisfaction in MtF GAS patients is neoclitoral sensitivity. The authors cited that the patients also reported a greater relief in gender dysphoria with more enjoyable sexual activity and intensified orgasms after GAS.

Having worked at Pennsylvania-based Crozer Health in human resources for over 20 years, Angela knows just how incredible and compassionate the employees are. Recently, she interacted with Crozer Health employees in a very different way―as a patient in the emergency department.

Los Angeles and Norwalk Community Hospitals reported receiving 4 stars in Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings given by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the 2022 reporting period. “We have invested a great deal of time, effort, and money into providing quality of care and patient safety at our hospitals and these results are not only an affirmation of that commitment, they are also a well-deserved recognition of the hard work, skill, and dedication of our physicians, nurses, and support staff,” said Los Angeles Community Hospitals CEO Hector Hernandez.

Studies show, too little or too much sleep is associated with heart disease. Getting a good night’s sleep every night is vital to cardiovascular health. Learn how to get adequate sleep.

We often think of summer as a time to relax and loosen our typical daily routines. While summer is a time for fun, we can sometimes be unaware of the foods we are eating and the effects the sun and warm weather can have on our bodies. Here are 5 tips for you to enjoy a relaxing but healthy summer.

Tony Desai, RN, has accepted the position of chief nursing officer for Los Angeles Community Hospitals at Los Angeles, Norwalk, and Bellflower.

To combat the critical nursing shortage, Southern California Hospital at Culver City has recently enlisted a nurse retentionist to help increase retention, using evidence-based strategies to operationalize a focused nurse retention program with measurable improvements. Dr. Laura Briceno, who previously spent over two decades at Cedars-Sinai Medical Network Services, joined the hospital as director of retention and career development in December 2021.

To continue its role as a valuable healthcare resource, Norwalk Community Hospital in Los Angeles has been focused on hospital improvements and patient safety, which has resulted in several upgrades and, most recently, being named among the top 5 percent in the nation in 2022 for Patient Safety Excellence by Healthgrades.

Waterbury Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s 2022 Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

Crozer-Chester Medical Center received the American Heart Association’s 2022 GoldPlus Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive high quality treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

Two Foothill Regional Medical Center nurses, ICU Charge Nurse Maria Navarra and Surgical Services Charge Nurse Dragana “Dee” Bukorovic, received the national Daisy Award for consistently going above and beyond to make an extraordinary difference in the patients’ experience. They are quarters 1 and 2 winners. The Daisy Foundation was created in 1999 by a family who lost their son due to a sudden illness. In their time of grief, they realized that there were some nurses who not only made a difference in their son Patrick’s hospitalization, but also in their own lives. Part of the award consists of daisies, Patrick’s mom’s favorite flower;  cinnamon rolls for the staff, Patrick’s favorite food; and a hand-carved statue representing the nurse-patient relationship.

Most of us are gearing up to enjoy the warmer days outside–outdoor sports, the pool, and the beach. Sounds fun, but what isn’t cool is skin and eye damage caused by excessive exposure to the sun’s UV rays.

The Norwalk Chamber of Commerce held its 99th annual installation of offices and awards luncheon in June.  At the event, Administrator Shana Crittenden, Norwalk Community Hospital, was inducted onto the board of directors through 2023. Norwalk Community Hospital also was recognized for its 17 years as a Chamber of Commerce member. "As the hospital’s new administrator, I'm honored to be a part of the leadership in the community our hospital serves and to have opportunities to reinforce our value to Norwalk residents and businesses,” said Crittenden.  

Crozer Health’s School of Clinical Neurophysiology Neurodiagnostic Technology Program celebrated its 42nd commencement at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. 

President and CEO Dr. Justin Lundbye of Waterbury HEALTH in Connecticut presented a check to founder and CEO of Save Girls on Fyre, Jacquee Porter. The organization was one of two organizations helping youth and children to receive a Prospect Medical donation this year.

Los Angeles Community Hospitals at LA, Norwalk and Bellflower were honored this week by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health for their outstanding accomplishment achieving above 90 percent of employees vaccinated for the flu. Of the Los Angeles County hospitals, Los Angeles Community Hospitals ranked 12th out of 91 hospitals for the 2020 census. Los Angeles Community Hospital achieved 94 percent and Norwalk Community Hospital 93 percent.

Waterbury HEALTH’s Emergency Medical Services awards banquet honored first responders, nurses, teachers, and administrators from Maple Hill Elementary School in Naugatuck, Conn.

Ten Southern California Hospital at Culver Citynurses were the recipients of the national 2022 Daisy Award, awarded to nurses who provide extraordinary compassionate care.

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, and it kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Learn more about this disease and how you can join the efforts to fight and end Alzheimer’s.

Bariatric surgeons at Foothill Regional Medical Center are now using advanced robotic technology for added precision, visibility, and strength during weight-loss procedures. This state-of-the-art technology is on the rise due to its distinct advantages over other methods, such as better vision and improved range of motion for surgeons, as well as shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery times for patients.

Shana Crittenden was recently named California-based Norwalk Community Hospital administrator. She has 16 years in various leading healthcare organizations, including most recently as chief operating officer of Southern California Hospitals at Culver City, Hollywood and Van Nuys where she was instrumental in leading the hospitals operations for the past four years.

Philadelphia Magazine published its Top Doctors issue that included nearly 100 Crozer Health doctors in various specialties. In addition, Main Line Today just issued its Top Nurses edition, featuring 101 Crozer Health nurses.

During Mental Health Awareness month, we reflect on the effect the pandemic has had on our mental health. Here are a few tips and resources to help you manage your mental health post-pandemic.

Prospect Medical Holdings has announced a partnership with Angeles-IPA, A Medical Corporation, to expand the integrated delivery system to integrate PMH’s Coordinated Regional Care system and Angeles-IPA physician network. This partnership will ensure quality healthcare is available to approximately 30,000 new beneficiaries of the Medi-Cal population in Los Angeles County.

Waterbury HEALTH in Connecticut now offers patients the Velocity Open MRI, which provides the latest technology and highest imaging quality in less time with the comfort of a wide-open design. Currently, this is the only MRI of its kind in New England and the second one in the entire country.

California-based Foothill Regional Medical Center staff participated in the Name the Robot contest to determine what the hospital’s recently acquired Mako SmartRobotics should be called. After weeks of having staff submit names, the top five names were voted on by all employees. The winner was JOHNNY#5.

Vaccines have been saving lives since 1796. During World Immunization Week, which is celebrated every year during the last week of April, we highlight the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease.

Physicians at Crozer Health’s Regional Kidney Transplant Center in Pennsylvania recently performed a live donor kidney transplant, offering a patient a second chance at life.

Employees from Pennsylvania-based Crozer Health and across the Prospect Medical Holdings system donated much-needed items to support the people of Ukraine.

Every April, we focus on and highlight Medicaid’s vital importance in our communities. Medicaid is critical for providing key funding for hospitals and helping patients get the care they need. In honor of Medicaid Awareness Month, learn five facts about Medicaid’s vital importance in our communities.

Prospect Medical Group announced today it has received the Advanced Provider Partner Award from Wellcare, a leading Medicare Advantage plan. The award recognizes Prospect Medical Group for providing excellent quality and service to Wellcare Medicare Advantage members based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Plan Year 2022 Star Ratings.

In an emergency, hospitals need to maintain operations and keep patients and staff safe. Ensuring that the six Prospect Medical hospitals in Los Angeles are prepared is Stephen Cuthbertson, regional director of Environmental Health and Safety and Regional Safety Officer for the Los Angeles Community Hospitals in LA, Norwalk and Bellflower, and Southern California Hospitals at Hollywood, Culver City and Van Nuys.

Many factors influence healthy aging, including genetics and lifestyle. While genetics are not within our control, lifestyle changes—such as diet, exercise, mental acuity and regular doctor appointments—can make the difference in how you spend your golden years. “I always tell my patients that the greatest preparation for tomorrow is being the best ‘you’ today,” said Dr. Brittany Brinley, an internal medicine physician at Southern California Hospital at Culver City who specializes in geriatric care.

The last two years have been the most challenging we have faced. As we emerge from the pandemic and most restrictions have been lifted, we all need support now more than ever as we adjust to a new way of living. Learning to cope with our stress and finding healthy ways to deal with these situations can go a long way in living a healthy and positive life.

As part of its commitment to community partnerships, Foothill Regional Medical Center is a supporter of the Tustin, Calif., Police Foundation. As part of the support, three employees participated in the biannual “Breakfast with Chief Greenberg,” which provided a six-month overview the police statistics and its strategic plan for 2021-2025.

Roger Williams Cancer Center Surgical Oncologist Abdul Saied Calvino earned national recognition from the American Cancer Society for his development of a comprehensive Hispanic advocacy program that encourages screenings for colorectal cancer. The Cancer Center is located in Providence, R.I.

Did you know that a single donor can save up to eight lives, restore sight to two people through cornea donation, and heal more than 75 lives through tissue donation? National Donate Life Month is celebrated every April. It features local and national activities to educate and encourage Americans to register as donors and consider living donation, as well as to celebrate those who have saved and healed lives through the gift of donation.

Connecticut-based Waterbury Hospital has been verified as a Level II Trauma Center by the Verification Review Committee, an ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons, through Jan. 9, 2025. This achievement recognizes the hospital’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients.

Five Prospect Medical Holdings hospitals were named among the top 5 percent in the nation for Patient Safety Excellence in 2022 by Healthgrades. The hospitals are Southern California Hospitals at Culver City and Hollywood, Los Angeles and Norwalk Community Hospitals, and Eastern Connecticut Health Network's Manchester Memorial Hospital in Connecticut. Southern California Hospitals at Hollywood and Culver City received the Patient Safety Excellence recognition for the fifth year in a row (2018-2022). “Prospect Medical is committed to patient safety, which is reflected in this national recognition,” said Cathy Stevens, Corporate Chief Nursing Officer & Quality, Patient Safety and Clinical Excellence Officer. “This is increasingly relevant to our patients during the pandemic.”

Crozer Health announced that Philadelphia CyberKnife is the first radiation oncology site to be awarded the Distinction in Stereotactic Radiotherapy accreditation from The Radiosurgery Society, a non-profit medical society dedicated to advancing the science and clinical practice of radiosurgery, and the American College of Radiation Oncology, the professional society for the practice of radiation oncology.

Prospect Medical Update spoke with Southern California Hospitals at Culver City and Hollywood’s Medical Director for Infection Control Dr. Salam Alkasspooles about the challenges that COVID-19 has brought to his area of expertise.

Southern California Hospital at Culver City’s subacute unit received four stars for quality of resident care. Four stars mean the quality of care is “above average,” according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In addition, the subacute unit ranked much above average (five stars) for quality measures. Our hospital ratings on appear on the government’s Nursing Home Compare website.

The osteoporosis research team at Pennsylvania-based Crozer Health, led by Dr. Barry Jacobson and physician assistant Jacqi Kernaghan, is working with renowned osteoporosis researcher Dr. Felicia Cosman to determine the efficacy of two osteoporosis treatment regimens in improving bone mineral density. The team is seeking 70 women with osteoporosis to enroll in a clinical trial.

The presidential proclamation for American Heart Month was signed by Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson in 1963 after Congress issued a joint resolution requesting the president issue an annual proclamation, which was first held in Feb. 1964. Pres. Johnson urged “the people of the United States to give heed to the nationwide problem of the heart and blood-vessel diseases, and to support the programs required to bring about its solution.” In conjunction with American Heart Month, Southern California Hospital Heart Institute Medical Director Dr. Ernst von Schwarz spoke about the importance of maintaining healthy levels of blood pressure.

Wound care is vital to quality patient care to prevent infection, improve healing and to reduce the incidence of readmission. Leading the charge to improve wound care and staff education at the three Los Angeles Community Hospitals is Francisco “Echo” Lozada, RN.

This summer, Crozer Health surgeon Thomas Butler, MD, will host an in-person event for Chester, Pa.-area students aged 8-18 to address the ongoing of lack of diversity and representation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Crozer Health in Pennsylvania announced that it has partnered with Third Eye, a leader in augmented and mixed reality enterprise solutions, to enhance patient care. The new partnership marks the first time that mixed reality will be used in a healthcare setting, providing physicians immediate access to a patient’s medical condition and assisting first responders with treatment instructions—all prior to the patient being transported to the hospital.

Los Angeles Community Hospital has made staff education a top priority in its ongoing commitment to quality patient care. Lexter Medoza helps to lead that charge with both employee and nursing orientation and add his own flare with his talent as a painter and illustrator. Mendoza wears many hats as director of subacute staff development, hospital educator, and minimum data set (MDS) coordinator, while also studying to become a registered nurse. He also partners with Southern California Hospital at Culver City mentoring the new directors, training, and survey readiness.

Valentine’s Day is a great day to think about your heart health and making this year a life-changing year for you and your heart. If you have children, keep in mind that diet and exercise habits started in childhood can start a lifetime of heart health.  For adults, the CDC’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention is shining a light on hypertension (high blood pressure), a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The division is committed to addressing barriers to health equity in communities disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease.

Prospect Medical Holdings and ChristianaCare have signed a Letter of Intent for ChristianaCare to acquire Crozer Health from Prospect. We welcome this opportunity to explore a closer relationship with an organization that shares our commitment to value and service to the community.

Prospect Medical Holdings and Yale New Haven Health announced the signing of a letter of intent this morning.  We believe the proposed transaction will offer unique advantages to the residents of the communities our organization serves, as well as to our employees and partners.

Did you know that people who have close relationships at home, work, or in their community tend to be healthier and live longer? One reason, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), is that we’re more successful at meeting our health goals when we work on them with others. NHLBI launched the #OurHearts movement to inspire us to protect and strengthen our hearts with the support of others. This article has facts, how-to tips, and resources to inspire you to join with others, even if you can’t be physically together, to improve your heart health. 

In honor of American Heart Month spotlights the importance of heart health and the lifestyle changes important to limiting risk. However, should you need heart care, several of Prospect Medical hospitals are nationally recognized for cardiac care, including Waterbury Hospital, Roger Williams Medical Center, Los Angeles and Norwalk Community Hospitals, and Southern California Hospitals at Culver City and Hollywood.

Five Prospect Medical Hospitals received clinical excellence awards and seven hospitals received Five Stars for clinical outcomes in five categories, according to the Healthgrades’ 2022 national study, which evaluates hospital performance at almost 4,500 hospitals nationwide to determine clinical excellence in 32 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions.

Southern California Hospitals at Culver City and Hollywood are 5-star rated for Hip Fracture Treatment and Pacemaker Procedure outcomes in 2022, according to new research released by Healthgrades, the leading resource that connects consumers, physicians and health systems. Every year, Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 31 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions. This analysis shows that patients treated at hospitals receiving a 5-star rating have a lower risk of mortality and a lower risk of experiencing one or more complications during a hospital stay than if they were treated at hospitals receiving a 1-star rating in that procedure or condition.

Southern California Hospitals at Culver City and Hollywood are among the Top 5% in the Nation for Overall Pulmonary Services for the third year in a row (2020-2022) and a recipient of the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award, according to new analysis by Healthgrades, the leading resource that connects consumers, physicians and health systems.  Every year, Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 31 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions. Healthgrades then recognizes hospitals with superior performance in specific specialty lines and specialty focus areas.

Healthgrades named Los Angeles and Norwalk Community Hospitals among the top 5 percent in the nation for Overall Pulmonary Services and a recipient of the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award for four years in a row (2019-2022) compared with nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 31 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions. Healthgrades Specialty Excellence Awards recognize hospitals with superior performance in specific specialty lines and specialty focus areas.

Foothill Regional Medical Center, located in Orange County, CA,  is nationally recognized with 5 stars for Hip Fracture Treatment for the fourth year, according to new research released by Healthgrades, a leading resource that connects consumers, physicians and health systems. Every year, Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 31 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions.*

Crozer Health and Prospect Medical Holdings are giving back to the Delaware County community with an end-of-year financial donation. The $10,000 contribution was divided among four local organizations: The DELCO Group, The Life Center of Eastern Delaware County, The Chester Panthers Youth Empowerment and Athletic Association, and Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.

To be successful in achieving New Year’s resolutions is to determine what motivates you, which differs from person to person. For example, did you complete a marathon because you had a spouse or training partner depending on you?  Or did you launch that business because you wanted to prove others wrong? It’s all about making your resolutions—be they health, financial, educational or relational—a priority, and then taking action that aligns with your daily habits and schedules.

Main Line Today magazine recently unveiled its annual celebration of top doctors around the Main Line and western Philadelphia suburbs. The medical staff at Pennsylvania-based Crozer Health boasts 89 doctors on Main Line Today’s 2021 list. This compilation of top docs is assembled based on physicians voting for their colleagues.

For 13 years, the Orange County (OC) Rescue Mission has been celebrating its Magic at the Mission.  Each year, Foothill Regional Medical Center’s staff supports the holiday event with toys and gifts for the children living at the facility. This year, not only will the children be receiving gifts, but also be able to shop a pop-up holiday store for gifts to give to their parents who are often forgotten at Christmas. The rescue mission serves Orange County with various programs that help to restore hope, self-sufficiency, and transitional and emergency housing for 260 homeless men, women and children. The residents get counseling, job training, medical and dental care, spiritual care, and parental education. 

Excitement was in the air as Pennsylvania-based Crozer Health celebrated the graduation of its first emergency medical technician training class Dec. 14.  For 10 weeks this fall, the students underwent intensive skills and classroom training on their path to become EMTs. The class was sponsored by Keystone Quality Transport. While they celebrated their achievements, the students were told their training and learning are far from over.

Norwalk Community Hospital reached out to help Angel Step Inn Domestic Shelter during the holidays with a $450 donation to support parents in crating happy Christmas memories for their children. Angel Step Inn is a safe, confidential home for victims of domestic violence. The shelter holds approximately 30 people at a time and is staffed 24 hours a day to offer security and comprehensive support services to residents. The shelter is a homelike atmosphere that encourages privacy and peace for healing from intimate partner abuse.

Every December, our hospital staffs look to provide a better holidays for those in need in the respective communities. This year is no exception. Read more about our individual hospital charitable giving efforts.

Southern California Hospital at Culver Center has been designated a CIGNA Certified Hospital for bariatric surgery and pulmonary medicine based on rigorous quality standards.  “These center of excellence designations mean our patients are receiving nationally recognized care close to home,” said hospital CEO Michael Klepin. “Our surgeons and staff work very hard to provide excellence in patient care, and this external recognition reflects what we already know—our physicians and staff deliver high quality care every day in West Los Angeles.” The Center of Excellence designation is based on Cigna's evaluation of a hospital’s quality and affordability for four individual inpatient conditions and procedures and seven categories of conditions and procedures. Hospitals can earn up to three stars for quality and three stars for affordability.

Jailisa Reyes will get to spend Christmas with her eight-year-old son. Her journey to a simple moment of waking up to see her child at Christmas has been filled with determination and plain miracles.

Her life changed dramatically following a wrong-way crash. She remembers the wrong way car coming at her and nothing more until she woke up at Waterbury Hospital in Connecticut days later.

The Tustin, CA, Police Department’s Santa Claus visited Foothill Regional Medical Center’s 42-bed pediatric subacute unit with bags of Christmas joy for the kids. “It's important to give back to the community and to support these special patients to help make their lives just a bit brighter,” said Deputy Chief Robert Wright, Tustin Police Department.  The police department is celebrating 20 years of giving gifts to the hospital unit. This year, the children and their families put together a Santa wish lists of things they’d love to receive. The gift bags included toys, clothing, blankets, hypo-allergenic lotion and more.  

Connecticut High School Senior Tiffany painted 15 works of art last year as part of her AP class, highlighting the pandemic’s impact on nurses. The publicized paintings will hang in the Art Corridor of Waterbury Hospital through January 2022.

From Thanksgiving through New Year’s, the holiday season is month-long food marathon. Sure, we visit with family and friends, but what do we do there? EAT! These subtle tricks and tips help avoid the temptation to overindulge this holiday season.

Beyond avoiding the significant pain of injured or inflamed joints, healthy joints enable you to live life fully. Healthy joints also let you stay active, and being active unleashes the potential for overall health and longevity. With that in mind, you should have a clear strategy to keep your joints as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Joint replacement surgery (whether knee or hip) as joints wear out has become more common. In many cases, these surgeries could have been delayed or avoided completely with a little more joint care.

At least 100 people gathered outside Manchester Memorial Hospital to celebrate Veterans Day, following a short parade from American Legion Post 102. "We gather annually at this 11th hour, in the 11th month, on the 11th day, to honor and say two words to our veterans that are here today and across our country—thank you," Mayor Jay Moran said.

This winter is approaching fast, and with the cold, wet weather comes cold and flu season as well.  Instead of just waiting around hoping you won’t catch anything, why not take a proactive approach? Here are six recommendations to build up your immune system so you can go into winter armed and ready to fight off the bugs!

During a recent ceremony for students graduating from the Delaware County Community College paramedic program in Pennsylvania, the inaugural Kevin W. Bundy Jr. Memorial Scholarship was awarded, which was named after a DCCC alumnus and Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital and Crozer Health EMS paramedic who died of COVID last year.

Bundy was the first reported first responder in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, to die from COVID-19.

Waterbury Hospital has been recognized by the American College of Cardiology in the "Best Hospitals" edition of U.S. News & World Report for its dedication to cardiovascular patients. Every year, the “Best Hospitals” issue helps patients and caregivers find the best medical centers for themselves and their families.

Life can be quite hectic. When 24 hours isn’t enough time to complete the day’s tasks it makes sense that fatigue sets it. But if you feel like you’re doing everything right and getting seven to nine hours of sleep each night and still feel tired, there might be something else to blame. The feeling of fatigue could be a symptom of anything from poor diet to a gut infection that you may not be aware of.

Since 1921, Rockville General Hospital, which is part of Eastern Connecticut Health Network, has been part of the fabric of the village of Vernon, CT, and integral to the health and well-being of the community. This November, Rockville General Hospital will celebrate its 100^th anniversary.

Five decades of unwavering hard work and loyalty to the same employer is no small accomplishment. To this end, Southern California Hospital at Culver City congratulates Dorla Brown for her incredible 50 years of service to our institution. The 72-year-old employee, currently a unit secretary in the telemetry department, looks back on her long career with a sense of pride and achievement.

This month marks five years of Prospect Medical Holdings’ investment in the Manchester Memorial and Rockville General hospital communities. Before Prospect Medical acquired Eastern Connecticut Health Network, its hospitals often struggled to keep pace with the financial demands. Today, they are far better positioned to continue investing in and improving the health of the community.

The past year has highlighted the invaluable work of infection preventionists (IPs). In addition to fighting a global pandemic, Prospect Medical’s IPs have continued to work tirelessly to prevent and control infections and outbreaks, in addition to their many other day-to-day infection battles.

Crozer Health trauma surgeon Dr. Asanthi Ratnasekera was selected for the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma Multicenter Trial Junior Investigator Award. The award is meant for junior primary investigators to answer an important and novel question in the practice of trauma, acute care surgery, or surgical critical care.

Eastern Connecticut Health Network conducted a Community Health Needs Assessment. The report revealed that East Hartford, Vernon and Manchester had significantly higher hospitalization rates and emergency room visits for behavioral health and substance abuse issues, compared to the statewide average. To address the needs of the community, ECHN is expanding access to behavioral health services across all age groups.

Dr. Cynelle Kunkle, urogynecologist with Crozer Health, was recently recognized by Main Line Today magazine as a 2021 Power Woman. She was one of 20 Philadelphia-area women recognized in their respective fields.

Senior Director Conlen Booth, Emergency Preparedness for Crozer Health, was recently honored by the Philadelphia Business Journal as a 2021 Leader in Health Care. Booth’s colleagues nominated him for the award, which recognizes those who exhibited incredible leadership for their organizations during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The honorees come from a range of sectors and medical facilities, including hospitals, pharma companies, health insurance providers, and urgent care clinics.

Culver City will soon have a new and improved emergency department with shorter wait times, more square footage, and modern technology. Southern California Hospital at Culver City has invested $20 million toward the design and construction of an upgraded emergency department that is expected to open next summer.  Emergency care will shift to an existing single-story building adjacent to the Tower Building that adds 80 percent more treatment and office space dedicated to the department.

Dr. Ponnandai S. Somasundar, chief of Rhode Island-based Roger Williams Medical Center’s division of surgical oncology, discussed his new position with Providence Business News and his hopes to advance the hospital’s geriatric surgery program.

There is exciting momentum as Eastern Connecticut Health Network (ECHN) takes major steps to improve the delivery of healthcare in our region. These purposeful changes improve our ability to care for you, your neighbors, loved ones and friends in a nimble and responsive way, to ensure high-quality care is accessible to all and to stay ahead of increasingly complex healthcare challenges. We’re also strengthening our team, rewarding and investing in our amazing caregivers—recognizing that our nurses, physicians and supporting staff members are the key to delivering on our promises to you.

Dr. Justin Lundbye has been appointed CEO of Waterbury HEALTH network following the retirement of CEO Lester Schindel. Dr. Lundbye is a seasoned healthcare leader having served in various leadership roles in his career including as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Waterbury Hospital since December 2016.

To better reflect our commitment and investment in healthcare in the communities we serve, Prospect Medical Holdings launched a refreshed website  Oct. 1. The site is provides up-to-date information and easier access to content thanks to a quicker browser on a secure server. “As a healthcare system, the refreshed site better focuses on our people, services and community investment,” said Charles K. Poole, Prospect Medical's Chief Communications Officer.  The site specifically highlights new and improved Careers, Nursing, Community Investment, News, Locations and Clinical Quality sections.

COVID-19 infections represent a life-threatening condition secondary to respiratory and multi-organ failure as a result of a systemic inflammatory response. Stem cell therapy might ameliorate the underlying effects likely secondary to anti- inflammatory properties. The study was designed as a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study. Neither the investigators nor the patients knew whether they received a placebo saline injection or a stem cell derived molecule product.

A patient who received treatment using Waterbury Hospital’s newest surgical robot has earned the honor to name the robot. The tradition of naming the surgical robots at Waterbury Hospital began several years back when the hospital added its first ever robot. A Name the Robot Campaign concluded with a story so well loved by all members of the Robotic Steering Committee, who had final say in the decision, that they voted overwhelmingly for the choice offered by a patient whose life was changed dramatically thanks to the robot.

All Prospect Medical hospitals are embracing the principles of High Reliability Organizations (HROs) in the promotion of patient safety and efficient healthcare delivery. Everyone from leadership to frontline staff is dedicated to the goal of zero harm to every patient, in every experience, every time. Read more about Southern California Hospital at Culver City's journey.

Two physicians proudly joined their fathers as doctors at Southern California Hospital at Culver City after observing their dads’ hard work as a child. According to both of the children, it’s a dream come true to work beside their parent and learn from him.

CharterCARE Health Partners announced the implementation of Resuscitation Quality Improvement® (RQI)®, a program co-developed by the American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical, to help clinicians at the network’s acute care hospitals achieve sustained mastery of high-quality CPR skills and competence, leading to improved patient outcomes.

Unique training program certifies new EMT providers, meeting the needs of the Delaware County community and beyond. Crozer Health recently received approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Health to launch the Crozer Health Emergency Medical Services Training Institute (EMSTI). Beginning in early October, the Crozer Health EMSTI will conduct Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training courses as well as an array of EMS certification and continuing education courses. 

Waterbury Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s GoldPlus Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Quality Achievement Award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines. This is the highest level of achievement for this award.

Ponnandai S. Somasundar, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery Boston University, has been named Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, at Roger Williams Medical Center. He is the author of over 100 published peer review articles, abstracts, and chapters, and is regarded as an authority on the topic of geriatric oncology.

Loreen Evans, RN, Clinical Educator for the Crozer-Chester Medical Center Emergency Department and Trauma Injury Prevention Coordinator, has been named a Regional Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN) Director from the Society of Trauma Nurses. ATCN is an advanced international course presented by the Society of Trauma Nurses designed for the registered nurse who is interested in increasing their knowledge in management of the multiple trauma patient. 

Waterbury Hospital’s bariatric surgery center has been accredited as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), a joint Quality Program of the American College of Surgeons, and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. This means regional patients have access to nationally accredited program close to home.

At first, the patient tried epidural steroids. The initial shots helped for a few months, but later ones did little. The pain became unbearable at times, like embedded railroad spikes from his back to lower leg. It even affected his walk, his foot dropping a bit with each step because signals to the elevator muscle had been impinged. He, at last, faced that it had to be addressed surgically. - by Mark Patinkin, The Providence Journal

Waterbury HEALTH held it most successful summer backpack and supply drive in recent years. More than 120 needy children will have a new backpack and supplies this year thanks to a hugely successful backpack drive. The hospital and staff purchase backpacks and supplies for area youth.

Crossroads Outreach Medical Missions International, COMM-I, is a Christian medical group that travels to Guatemala and Peru every year to provide medical care for towns people. Dr. Fausty Onyirimba, a pulmonologist/intensivist at Eastern Connecticut Health Network, is the president of COMM-I, and this will be his 10^th year to volunteer.

Waterbury HEALTH CEO Lester Schindel accepted the Award for Organizational Excellence by the Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce at a ceremony on Aug. 17, 2021. The award honors our work with the COVID-19 vaccine.

Prospect Medical Holdings has announced an alliance with Global Care Medical Group, Inc. to establish a virtual-integrated delivery system. The partnership focuses on integrating Prospect’s Coordinated Regional Care system and Global Care’s network to ensure quality healthcare is available to 40,000 beneficiaries of the Medi-Cal population in Los Angeles County.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. This annual observance highlights the importance of getting recommended vaccines throughout your life. COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all aspects of life, including the ability to attend important appointments and receive routine vaccinations.

According to the American Cancer Society, everyone’s skin and eyes can be affected by the sun and other forms of ultraviolet (UV) rays. People with light skin are much more likely to have their skin damaged by UV rays (and to get skin cancer), but darker-skinned people, including people of any ethnicity, can also be affected. For some people, the skin tans when it absorbs UV rays.

Emergency medical services personnel and paramedics from the Philadelphia region got an exclusive tour of Crozer-Chester Medical Center's new Comprehensive Stroke Center recently. The group learned about several aspects of the center’s service, from transportation to diagnosis and treatment. The first of its kind in Delaware County, Pa., the stroke center is part of the Crozer Neurosciences Center of Excellence, operated by Global Neurosciences Institute, through a partnership with Crozer Health.

Summer is a great time to get outdoors and enjoy being with friends and family. From swimming to boating to picnics in the park, it’s a time for fun in the sun. But with more time outside and around water, there are some important things to be mindful of to keep you and your family healthy and safe. Take the quiz!

Waterbury HEALTH has received the Award for Organizational Excellence by the Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce, honoring its work with the COVID-19 vaccine. Also receiving this award is Post University, Waterbury HEALTH’s COVID-19 vaccination partner.

Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, located in Rhode Island, ranked in the top 25 percent of hospitals investing to improve local community health, according to the Lown Institute, a healthcare think tank. The Institute’s report examined local community investment by 3,641 hospitals around the country, based on Medicaid revenue, charity care spending, and other community health investments.

TV Det. Harry Bosch has solved his final case on Amazon Prime Video, but he'll be back on a rival network for a new spin-off show, according to Newsweek. A scene from the as-yet-untitled spinoff was taped at Southern California Hospital at Hollywood in July.

Dr. David Podell, clinical professor of medicine and chair of medicine at Waterbury Hospital, has been inducted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP). The hospital is located in Connecticut.

Waterbury Hospital has offered a Pharmacy Residency program for almost 13 years. This is a one-year pharmacy practice residency focused on different aspect of hospital pharmacy. Residents, who are registered pharmacists, rotate through different areas including clinical sites, operations, information technology and demonstration. The program prepares them for a role within an acute care facility.

Netflix used Manchester Memorial Hospital in Connecticut l to film a scene for the upcoming holiday drama The Noel Diary starring Justin Hartley, Bonnie Bedelia, and James Remar. The movie, set for release during the 2022 Christmas season, is based on the Richard Paul Evans bestselling novel.

A recent survey found that patients were concerned about surgery and recovery, they expressed near unanimous interest in discussing robotics-assisted knee surgery with their physician. “I tell my patients to forget everything they thought they knew about knee replacement surgery…”

Foothill Regional Medical Center in Tustin, CA, recently acquired two incubators to process microbiology culture.

Crozer-Chester Medical Center’s recent comprehensive stroke certification by The Joint Commission means Crozer Health and the Global Neurosciences Institute have the infrastructure, team, training, and expertise required to treat the most complex stroke cases in Pennsylvania with the highest quality care.

On June 30, 2021, Crozer Health said so long―but not goodbye―to colleague Gwen Smith, who worked for the hospital system for 41 years, as she embarks on a well-deserved retirement. She was joined by her extended family, Crozer Health colleagues, and the mayor of Chester, Pa., where she was born and raised. Everyone gathered to pay homage to an amazing nurse, mentor, colleague, and “the best hire I ever made.”

As the Delta variant of COVID-19 causes surges across the country, Prospect Medical hospitals are preparing to be responsive as necessary, and ready to apply lessons learned during previous COVID-19 surges and to ensure enough PPE for patients and staff.

Congratulations to Crozer Health’s 2021 residency and fellowship graduates. class who graduated from the Residency and Fellowship programs as of June 30, 2021. The graduates—who completed their programs on June 30—included 55 residents and fellows; seven will remain with Crozer Health and the rest will assume positions across the U.S.

East Orange General Hospital in the 1940s. stripers, hospital volunteers who worked without pay under the supervision of nurses, began as an East Orange, NJ, high school civics class project in 1944. They took their name from their red-and-white striped pinafore uniforms sewn by the girls in the class from material provided by the teacher, a red-and-white-striped fabric known as “candy stripe.”

After rapid growth through acquisitions, Prospect Medical migrated to Oracle Cloud applications to centralize operations and lower patient care costs.

Foothill Regional Medical Center, located in Orange County, CA, announced the grand opening of its newly renovated café.

Waterbury HEALTH‘s Women’s Health Program in Connecticut launched a new social media campaign highlighting some of the most important services to patients while focusing on wellness and prevention of disease.

Hypo-fractionated radiation therapy demands the highest levels of accuracy and precision. Roger Williams Cancer Center in Providence, RI, now has the latest linear accelerator for advanced radiation capabilities, the Elekta Versa HD, which the staff nicknamed Zoe, which means life in Greek.

Paul Tuohey, a registered nurse at Crozer Health’s Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, PA, was recently named the health system’s latest DAISY Award winner.

Dr. Laura Zane Kolmar, the System Patient Experience Officer at CharterCARE Health Partners, in has been invited by Spiritual Care Australia to speak at a conference in Sydney, June 21-23, 2021. The conference, entitled Roads Less Traveled: Spiritual Care in the 21st Century, will include discussion of the global pandemic and its impact on spiritual care and healthcare providers.

Dr. Richard Orris of Eastern Connecticut Health Network’s Medical Group has been included in Connecticut magazine’s Top Doctors 2021 list. The magazine partnered with leading national healthcare research company Castle Connolly to create what they’re calling “our most extensive list ever” of Connecticut’s most recommended health practitioners as voted on by fellow health practitioners.

On June 4, 2021, residents from Eastern Connecticut Health Network’s family medicine and osteopathic neuromuscular medicine residency programs had their graduation celebration in Glastonbury, CT. Congratulations to ECHN’s 2021 Family Medicine residents and Osteopathic Neuromuscular Medicine residents. 

Each day during May, Crozer Health in Pennsylvania celebrated Heroes Month, recognizing employees for their commitment and dedication during the past year, despite the many challenges a global pandemic threw in their way. 

On July 1, Prospect Medical East Region organizations will be implementing Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI® 2025), a digital program from the American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical, which improves cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality.

Throughout the pandemic, Southern California Hospital at Culver City employees made personal sacrifices to care for our Culver City community, and we supported them by providing:

In the face of extreme adversity, California’s hospitals and healthcare heroes have risen to the challenge time and again as the backbone of healthcare. Their resilience has been matched only by their unrelenting commitment to care for their communities during the worst public health crisis in generations.

DispatchHealth partnered with Eastern Connecticut Health Network to bring convenient and affordable same-day medical care to people’s home for urgent, but non-life-threatening health issues between 8 a.m.-10 p.m. seven days a week, including holidays.

On May 25, Elsevier Clinical Skills launched at hospitals across the Prospect Medical enterprise. Elsevier Clinical Skills is a cloud-based application that will allow staff access to more than 1,300 evidence-based procedures at the point of care. 

On May 22, 2021, Eastern Connecticut Health Network physicians and caregivers, family, and friends gathered at both Rockville General Hospital and Manchester Memorial Hospital hospitals for NAMI Walks Your Way to raise awareness for mental health illness.

Gabriella* spent 17 years of her career as a hospital technician, a place that she hoped to retire from one day. But that dream—and her whole world—came crashing down earlier this year.

Waterbury Hospital in Connecticut held an open house in the new Hybrid OR and Interventional Room. The open house included demonstrations of the capabilities of the technology inside the room.

Capt. Paul Silvestri of the North Providence, RI, Fire Department (NPFD) was presented with the CharterCARE Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Award during National EMS Week (May 16-22).

Paws from the Heart Pet Therapy held their spring pet parade recently to pay tribute to healthcare workers at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital and Roger Williams Medical Center, which are part of CharterCARE Health Partners in Rhode Island. 

At Waterbury HEALTH we value the healing quality of patient visitation. Our policy allows for visitation with a few limitations to keep patients, visitors and our colleagues safe while providing a healing environment. 

Over the last year, the pandemic has given people a small glimpse of the vital role of EMS professionals. The sacrifice and dedication of EMTs, paramedics and other EMS practitioners has  rightfully earned them admiration and gratitude in their communities. 

On May 3, Clinical Laboratory Scientist Franca Hahn resumed Waterbury Hospital’s 37-year-old annual tradition of counting pollen by climbing to the roof of the hospital and opening a collection device. It collects a sample every 10 minutes for 24 hours, which the hematology lab then examines each morning.

Southern California Hospitals at Culver City and Hollywood announced today they have been recognized as 2021 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient for the fourth year in a row. This distinction places the hospitals among the Top 5 Percent in the Nation of all acute care hospitals reporting patient safety data as evaluated by Healthgrades.

National Hospital Week (May 9-15) provides an opportunity to look back at the past year and appreciate the pivotal importance hospitals play in our communities. It’s also a time to reflect on the invaluable role Prospect Medical’s caregivers and employees fill within our hospitals, and the sacrifices you make every day to deliver care to those who need it.

Eastern Connecticut Health Network’s maternity services were recognized as a Network of Distinction by the State of Connecticut and Signify Health, with Manchester Memorial Hospital’s Family Birthing Center (FBC) offering new parents personal, family-centered care in a welcoming, safe and home-like environment.

Prospect Medical is recognizing Nurses Week 2021 (May 6-12) by celebrating our nurses everywhere. Our nurses are to be applauded for their innumerable contributions to the care of our patients across the enterprise. 

Patient Experience Week is an annual event to celebrate hospitals’ staff impact on patients’ experience. Patient Experience Week (April 26-30)  provides a focused time for us to celebrate accomplishments, re-energize efforts and honor the people who make a difference in our patients’ experience every day—which is everyone who comes in contact with our patients, including information desk and operator staff, housekeeping, doctors and nurses, and technologists.

On April 24, more than 50 volunteers, including 40 from Crozer Health, joined the Chester Housing Authority (CHA) and the city of Chester, Pa., for an Earth Day community service project to benefit the CHA’s Ruth Bennett Community Farm. 

Foothill Regional Medical Center Chief of Staff Tarun Marwaha, MD, (pictured center, with nursing staff ) along with the rest of the medical staff thanked hospital staff for its hard work and dedication over this difficult pandemic year with a gift.

Ten Prospect Medical hospitals received “5 stars” for excellent clinical outcomes in seven categories, according to the Healthgrades’ 2021 national study, which evaluates hospital performance at almost 4,500 hospitals nationwide to determine clinical excellence in 32 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions.

Foothill Regional Medical Center’s staff made a trip to the Orange County Rescue Mission for its third-annual “Christmas in March” event.  Each year, the hospital staff collects and contributes boxes of toys and clothing to the children housed at the rescue mission. The donation included balls and sports items, games, dolls, trucks, building blocks and more.

Roger Williams Medical Center has opened Rhode Island’s first completely dedicated emergency treatment unit to treat mental health, drug and alcohol medical emergencies that features private rooms for comfort, safety and privacy. The new 9-bed unit is the second and final phase of the hospital’s $18 million expansion and renovation of its emergency department, which treats approximately 25,000 patients each year.

American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day^® is on March 23, 2021! Observed annually on the fourth Tuesday in March, Diabetes Alert Day is a one-day “wake-up call” that focuses on the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of understanding your risk. 

Our hospital has implemented extra safety precautions for more than one year now to ensure you remain safe while seeking vital medical care. Delaying important screenings and treatment for chronic conditions can be dangerous and may lead to worsening conditions.

During the pandemic, we appreciate our physicians even more! If there is are doctors in your life that you appreciate, thank them on March 30 for incredible sacrifice during the pandemic.

Foothill Regional Medical Center donated $1,500 to the Tustin Police Foundation for its efforts to reduce crime and improve the quality of life for area residents. “The donation to the foundation gives us the ability to do the work we do to keep the community safe,” foundation’s Sgt. Robert Nelson. “Partnerships like this can assist us in keeping a bright future for all.”

March 14-20 is Patient Safety Awareness Week. As part of this recognition, Prospect Medical is participating in 2021 Joint Commission’s seven patient safety goals for hospitals.

According to the CDC, African Americans, Latinx persons, and Native Americans are 2.9, 3.2, and 3.7 times more likely to be hospitalized by COVID-19 respectively than white, non-Hispanic people.

Eastern Connecticut Health Network now has a call center to help individuals schedule their COVID-19 vaccine appointments at the Vaccine Clinic at Rockville General Hospital. The call center, which opened March 2, can schedule appointments for first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and is an informational resource should anyone have any questions about the vaccine.

Carmelo James, Chief Nursing Officer of Los Angeles Community Hospitals at LA, Norwalk and Bellflower, received the Florence Nightingale Award for Nursing Leadership from the Career Networks Institute College of Nursing. CNI awards hospital CEOs, CNOs, directors and managers for their exemplary work in the healthcare field.

Surgeons at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital recently became the first in Rhode Island to perform surgeries using advanced visualization technology for laparoscopic procedures.

Eastern Connecticut Health Network (ECHN) has rolled out a new resource for people struggling with the effects of COVID-19 weeks or even months after an acute infection.

Three independent physician associations (IPAs) within Prospect Medical have been recognized as 4.5- star provider organizations by Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA) as part of their Align. Measure. Perform. (AMP) Medicare Advantage program.

Bob Solms one of nearly 700 patients a day coming through Pennsylvania’s Crozer-Chester Medical Center’s vaccine clinic. Right now, the earliest appointment is July. But, if there’s a no-show or there are extra doses, calls are made to a waiting list of up to 10,000 patients. “They feel like it’s their lucky day. They are crying. They are overjoyed,” said Administrative Director Kelly Gardner.

The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) is an international professional society of more than 30,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, health systems, and other healthcare organizations. The HLNDV is an independent chapter of the ACHE, serving healthcare professionals in the southern New Jersey, greater Philadelphia, and Delaware regions.

Amazon’s local fulfillment center in Windsor, Conn., donated hundreds of PPE items to Eastern Connecticut Health Network, including face masks for adults and children, disinfectant wipes, face shields, and medical gloves.

Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Dan McKee, who is expected to become governor once current Governor Gina Raimando is confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Commerce, announced a team to advise his administration on pandemic response, which will be led by Dr. John Stoukides, Chief of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine and Vice Chairman of Medicine at Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence, as well as Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena.

Stephen Dayton and his wife Ashley have been married for five years. They have two boys―Brantley, who is 3 years old, and Landon who is coming up on 2―with a girl on the way. Ashley Dayton is an intensive care unit nurse at Waterbury Hospital. 

Crozer Health and Prospect Medical recently gave back to the Delaware County (Delco), Pennsylvania, community with an annual end-of-year financial donation. The $10,000 contribution was divided among four local organizations: The Bernardine Center, Community Action Agency, Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County, and Catholic Social Services of Delaware County.

Lester P. Schindel has been named CEO of Waterbury HEALTH network in Connecticut. Schindel has served as interim CEO of the network for the past 12 months leading the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, a particularly challenging year for the organization and healthcare in general. Since the start of the pandemic, Waterbury Hospital has cared for 862 COVID-19 positive patients, tested over 6,000 people in its outpatient testing site. 

Bellflower Behavioral Health Hospital’s website won a 2021 Gold Audio Visual Arts (AVA) Award in the web-production category for creative design. The UX/UI design was centered around connecting patients and physicians with the resources they need online.

With the development of COVID-19 vaccines, healthcare staffs are among the first to receive the vaccines, thereby protecting themselves, patients, communities, and their loved ones. 

We frequently touch base with our California employees to better understand why they choose to work at our hospitals and if they would recommend working with us to other healthcare professionals. Read what they tell us.

February is American Heart Month and knowing which foods to eat more of and which foods to limit is a powerful way to prevent heart disease and improve your overall health. Use the steps below to work toward a more heart-healthy diet. Here are 6 easy ways to eat smart for your heart.

Foothill Regional Medical Center’s doctors, nurses, and other workers recounted to Univision how hard it has been to see hundreds of patients arrive at the hospital, and Dr. Tuan Ta, a specialist in infectious diseases, stresses the importance of getting vaccinated against the virus and stressed that the vaccines developed are highly effective. 

Eastern Connecticut Health Network’s Visiting Nurse & Health Services of Connecticut is proud to have received a 5-star rating from Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems. 

Whether it was cash, toys, gift cards, or socks, Waterbury HEALTH Network’s employees and corporate contributions made a difference this holiday season in the lives of many Connecticut families and individuals.

“This message is for you  — every employee of Prospect Medical at CharterCARE, Crozer Health, East Orange General Hospital, ECHN, Foothill Regional, Los Angeles Community Hospitals, Southern California Hospitals, and Waterbury Health, who is weathering this pandemic crisis professionally and personally. 

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, laboratory, pharmacist, and infection control leaders across Prospect Medical have had to develop testing and vaccination programs that have led to clinical laboratory service challenges and triumphs.

Eastern Connecticut Health Network utilized Prospect Medical’s generous $5,000 earmarked for local giving by supporting Eastern Connecticut families with the purchase of toys, clothes, and food for over 140 kids. 

The COVID-19 vaccine created by Pfizer arrived at Norwalk Community Hospital this week. The hospital received 205 doses on Monday and planned to begin vaccinations throughout the week.

Just before Christmas, rock band Linkin Park reached out to Los Angeles Community Hospital staff with holiday gift bags for its nursing staff. The band was inspired to serve its community through those that touch the lives of the underserved. 

Each year, BeWellPhilly, the health and wellness guide from Philadelphia magazine, publishes a “Top Doctors” feature. The annual listing recognizes Philadelphia-region physicians chosen by their peers as being notable in their specialties.

Crozer Health renamed its education center to honor the system’s past emergency medical services chief, Robert Reeder. The Chief Robert Reeder Multi-disciplinary Simulation and Education Center is the health system’s lab for mimicking a clinical environment for students and trainees. Reeder, whose efforts were considered remarkable, passed away in 2018.

Santa and his elves left the cold of the north pole for sunny Southern California to partner with Los Angeles Community Hospitals (LA, Norwalk, Bellflower), Southern California Hospitals (Culver City, Hollywood and Van Nuys) and Foothill Regional Medical Center care coordinators for a drive-through Christmas.

When a patient goes into cardiac or respiratory arrest, a team of healthcare providers has mere minutes to assemble at the bedside to perform resuscitation. Every second counts during such a crisis, and a rapid response is critical to the patient’s survival. Called Code Blue, this type of medical emergency occurs fairly often in hospitals and staff must be fully prepared to react quickly.

Pediatric subacute patients at Foothill Regional Medical Center received a surprise when the Tustin Police Department made its 19th annual holiday visit, dropping off gifts for patients and staff.

This year, Santa will be fulfilling a holiday wish from an Eastern Connecticut Health Network nurse who recently stated, “All I want for Christmas is a vaccine.” Diana Flebeau, a registered nurse caring for COVID-19 patients throughout the pandemic recently shared this sentiment with a reporter when interviewed about her work fighting the virus. 

Crozer Health is maintaining its position as a market leader in the Philadelphia region during the second surge of the COVID-19 pandemic. The health system’s chief medical officer, Gary Zimmer, MD, (pictured above) has been available to media outlets to offer subject matter expertise to the region’s audience.

Prospect Medical Systems is hosting a virtual food drive in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, CA. One hundred percent of all funds raised will be used to buy/distribute high quality, nutritious food for those in need.

Meghan Carides, RN, who has been with Roger Williams Hospital since 2009, was recently presented with The DAISY Award by her colleagues. The DAISY Award is a national recognition program started in 1999 by The DAISY Foundation to honor nurses for extraordinary work.

East Orange General Hospital in New Jersey is offering a virtual presentation on behavioral health, presented by Perry Iasiello, LCSW, assistant vice president of behavioral health at the hospital. The session will occur Thursday, Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. EDT.

A brief video on the Roger Williams Internal Medicine Residency program was recently produced to support what will be the hospital’s first virtual interview process for new resident applicants, required due to the constraints of the COVID-19 crisis.

Southern California Hospital at Culver City is aiming to smooth the transition of new nursing graduates into real-world practice by with the creation of a New Grad Nurse Residency, which launched in 2020. The year-long program places new nurses under the wing of experienced nurses and educators.

Eastern Connecticut Health Network’s Manchester Memorial Hospital hosted Sen. Chris Murphy, Rep. Jason Rojas, Rep. Jason Doucette, and Manchester Mayor, Jay Moran who toured Manchester Hospital’s automated laboratory and witnessed the expansion to COVID-19 testing operations in eastern Connecticut.

There is a first-of-its-kind procedure in Rhode Island to ease symptoms in cancer patients. It started when a man came to Roger Williams Medical Center a few months ago with a blockage in his digestive system. It had been caused by a duodenal cancer, which is a rare cancer in the gastrointestinal tract. 

The Connecticut Office of the State Comptroller is partnering with Signify Health to improve health outcomes for certain common procedures and save on costs through a new “Network of Distinction” program. The doctors, hospitals and provider groups in the network will provide improved patient outcomes at a competitive fixed price for care from evaluation to recovery.

Crozer Health has launched a new service for patients in need of scar treatment. This is the first UltraPulse® Laser with SCAARFX™ technology in Delaware County. This technology is safer and can penetrate deeper than aesthetic CO2 laser therapy.

Care@Home is an in-home medical care program that provides 30-60-minute in home physician visits to at-risk patients of CharterCARE Provider Group of Rhode Island. Under the program, a doctor and other care team members provide integrated coordination with at risk, chronically ill patients, family members, the family physician and specialists physicians to manage the chronic condition(s), manage medication therapies and reduce the need for emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

One hundred years ago, on Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1920, Manchester Memorial Hospital opened its doors to fulfill a community vision born during the great influenza epidemic of 1918 for a local hospital to treat those needing care. The hospital was dedicated in memory of the 45 Manchester men who lost their lives in World War I.

Los Angeles Community Hospital hosted a drive-through community flu clinic Friday, Nov 6. from the safety of the hospital parking garage. Nurses were on site and the flu shots administered by nursing students from Compton College of Nursing. 

For the second year in a row, internal medicine residents at Rhode Island-based Roger Williams Medical Center achieved a 100 percent pass rate for first-time takers on the rigorous national exam, conducted by the American Board of Internal Medicine. 

In recognition of its commitment to the health and safety of the community during the pandemic, Crozer Health was named 2020 Company of the Year by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce in Pennsylvania.

A Crozer Health paramedic who was seriously injured in an ambulance accident two weeks ago came home to a hero’s welcome. Lt. Paramedic Nick Scull was given a state police escort home after being released from Crozer Health’s Taylor Rehab.

The combination of underlying medical conditions and a group setting means that residents of long-term care facilities are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. Outbreaks at nursing homes and assisted living facilities worldwide have made headlines throughout the pandemic, leaving many worried about their loved ones in long-term care.

When the pandemic lockdown prevented in-person contact with their patients who are either prediabetic or at risk for Type 2 diabetes, Aimee Chandler and Jillian Miner got creative.

With newly formed clinical education programs, nurses at Southern California Hospital at Culver City have more opportunities to continue learning and expand their skill set than ever before. The programs train nurses in specialized areas such as critical care and emergency to allow them to work in departments where demand is high, particularly in light of the recent pandemic.

Southern California Hospital at Culver City was the 2021 five-star recipient for treatment in 10 clinical categories, including two national recognitions for cardiac care: 2021 Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure for seven years in a row (2015-2021) and Pacemaker Procedures for four years in a row (2018-2021).

Since its founding more than two decades ago, Prospect has built a healthcare system and delivery model that not only anticipated the far-reaching changes facing the healthcare industry today, but also positioned the company for changes that will impact the healthcare industry in the future.

Crozer Health added vital services to new neighborhoods of Delaware County by opening another outpatient recovery center for patients in need of addiction treatment in October 2020. The therapies found at Crozer Health’s flagship campus in Chester, Pa., are now available in Drexel Hill, on the campus of Delaware County Memorial Hospital.

Prospect Medical Group, announced the expansion of their provider networks in Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, effective Oct. 1, in collaboration with SCAN Health Plan, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage health plans. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has offered a stark reminder of the vital role that small, community safety net hospitals – like the ones where I practice – play in our overall healthcare system. The frontline physicians, nurses and other staff at Los Angeles and Norwalk Community Hospitals – as well as at our sister facility, Southern California Hospital at Hollywood – have done a remarkable job treating residents of our local communities during the unprecedented pandemic. 

With the intent to catch diabetic retinopathy (DR) in its earliest stages, primary care practices at Crozer Health have partnered with a regional ophthalmology practice and a national medical devices and software provider to screen patients quickly and easily.

The rehabilitation services department at Southern California Hospital at Culver City is helping patients with COVID-19 recover from the lingering effects of the disease and regain their independence. Whether they need assistance with physical, occupational, or speech-related activities, the therapy team has stepped up to provide individualized treatment throughout the pandemic.

At the end of January, health officials confirmed the first case of novel coronavirus in Los Angeles County, a returning traveler from Wuhan, China. Two months later, that number had skyrocketed to over 1,200 cases. Healthcare workers on the frontline, including those at Southern California Hospital at Culver City, scrambled to treat and contain patients infected with a never-before-seen pathogen.

A new medical partnership significantly expands the number and type of orthopedic services available to Culver City residents. LA Bone and Joint Institute, originally based in Encino, has opened a second office on the Southern California Hospital at Culver City campus.

In the past six months, Southern California Hospital at Culver City has launched a number of new initiatives focused on improving the technology and services offered by the Heart Institute. Despite the recent challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the Heart Institute has continued to move forward with upgrades to its cardiac care, such as a novel treatment system for heart failure and construction of a new catheterization lab.

Crozer Health is celebrating the entire month of September as Heroes Month, recognizing the team’s hard work, compassion and loyalty exhibited during this year’s health crisis. Behind all of the activities, Heroes Month is about the gratitude Crozer Health teammates share with each other for the great work everyone does every day, shoulder to shoulder.

East Orange General Hospital (EOGH) in New Jersey has been serving the mental health needs of the community for decades. The hospital has three prescribers and seven licensed mental health clinicians in our outpatient department. Until the onset of the coronavirus in our area we were delivering more than 1,500 behavioral health services each month from our offices on Central Avenue.

This week, we celebrate National Surgical Technologist Week (September 20-26). Our surgical techs are responsible for properly setting up the room, arranging necessary equipment, and even assisting physicians during surgery. They have some extremely important job duties, so join me in honoring them this week and thanking them for ensuring our OR runs smoothly.

Crozer-Keystone Health System is emerging as Crozer Health this month, complete with a new logo. Even the date of unveiling is strategic, as all of September is being celebrated as Heroes’ Month at Crozer Health, since COVID-19 precautions prevented Hospital Week, Nurses Week, Doctors Day and EMS Week celebrations this spring.

This week (Sept. 14-18, 2020) is Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) Week and there is no better time to find out more about the role that our CDI team plays within the organization.

Four Eastern Connecticut Health Network (ECHN) nurses have been recognized for the significant impact they’ve had on patient care and/or the nursing profession, going beyond the call of duty, demonstrating excellence, showing commitment to the community they serve, and achieving a lifelong legacy in the field of nursing.

A new innovation that holds promise to fight lung cancer is now in use at Crozer Health. Used to view the inside of the lungs and obtain a tissue sample for biopsy, the goal of Auris Health’s Monarch™ Platform is to enable earlier and more accurate diagnosis of small and hard-to-reach nodules in the periphery of the lung. Crozer Health has now put the Monarch to use at Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill, Pa., with thoracic surgeon Joseph D. Whitlark, M.D., at the helm.

Eastern Connecticut Health Network’s Manchester Memorial Hospital has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines supported by the latest scientific evidence.

Waterbury Hospital has teamed with a newly created City of Waterbury Overdose Response Technicians team recently to provide support for opioid addicted patients. In response to Waterbury’s opioid overdose epidemic, the city has hired two Overdose Response Technicians (ORTs).

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic impacted virtually every healthcare organization in the world. Prospect Medical Holdings, which operates 17 hospitals in five states, as well as 165 outpatient centers and 28 medical groups, found its hospitals at the center of the crisis. 

Prospect Medical Holdings hospitals, along with the majority of U.S. hospitals, are evaluated by both the federal government and by consumers, on a significant number of clinical, quality and outcome measures.

The Roger Williams Medical Center Sleep Disorders Center has been awarded re-accreditation for five years by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). The Sleep Center provides sleep testing as well as out patient consultations for patients with sleep-related complaints such as snoring, daytime fatigue, fragmented sleep, insomnia, and sleep apnea.

Waterbury Hospital‘s Dr. Justin Lundbye received the Waterbury, Connecticut, Regional Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Council Leadership Award at a virtual ceremony on Aug. 4, 2020. The leadership award is presented to a health professional who embodies the qualities required to improve healthcare in the community by raising awareness, initiating change, enhancing quality of care, and/or creating new services.

We Honor Veterans, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in July named Crozer-Keystone hospice in Pennsylvania a certified Earn Your Stars Level-1 partner.

Waterbury Hospital in Connecticut has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to and success in implementing a higher standard for stroke patients.

CharterCARE has been recognized as one of Rhode Island’s healthiest employers in an annual survey conducted by Providence Business News (PBN), the region’s leading weekly business newspaper serving RI and Southeastern Massachusetts.

Prospect Medical Group and its subsidiaries in California and Texas  have been awarded “Elite Status” by America’s Physician Groups (APG) — the organization’s highest ranking — as part of its 2020 Standards of Excellence™ survey. This is the ninth consecutive year that Prospect Medical Group-California has received this national recognition.

Primary & Multi-Specialty Clinics of Anaheim, known as Gateway Medical Center, is Prospect’s owned staff model clinic in Orange County, California. Gateway has provided comprehensive primary care and urgent care to patients and families in the community since 1984. During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the clinic’s highest priority is to continue providing top-quality healthcare while maintaining the health and safety of providers, staff, and patients.

With trends dynamically moving on the COVID-19 front, Crozer-Keystone Health System officials are taking what they’ve learned from their experience here to prepare for what may yet arrive.

Eastern Connecticut’s Health Network‘s “Don’t Put Your Health on Hold” campaign promotes the importance of primary care visits, preventative screenings, rehabilitation and more, including cardiac health and the necessity of calling 911 when experiencing symptoms of cardiac arrest.

Nothing is more important than patient safety, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our communities in West LA and Hollywood can take comfort in the fact that Southern California Hospitals at Culver City and Hollywood are among the top 5% in the nation for Patient Safety Excellence in 2020. This the third year in a row that the hospital has achieved this national designation from Healthgrades.

Southern California Hospital at Culver City celebrated the start of construction on a new cardiac catheterization lab that will allow for faster, easier access to care. The lab expands the Heart Institute’s capacity to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease, eliminating the need to transport patients to a different hospital—especially in cases where every second counts.

To meet the increased demand for blood donations as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Orange County, CA-based Foothill Regional Medical Center physicians, staff and local residents stepped up to help meet the need. The hospital partnered with the American Red Cross to hold a blood drive on July 15 at the hospital.

Prospect Medical Holdings’ CharterCARE Health Partners has been honored for superior patient satisfaction—in the top 20%—by the SHPBest™ award program, which recognizes home health and hospice providers that consistently provide outstanding performance in patient and caregiver satisfaction.

CharterCARE Home Health Services has earned the Strategic Health Program’s (SHP) Best Superior Performer patient satisfaction award for the 2019 calendar year, the hospital’s second win in a row.

After witnessing a devastating fire that left 35 members of the community homeless when two nearby residential buildings were destroyed, Waterbury Hospital Auxiliary created a Go Fund Me Page with all funds going to buy furnishings and needed items for the families.

Roger Williams Medical Center’s Drs. Nabil Toubia, a gastroenterologist, Vince Armenio, a medical oncologist, and Abdul Saied Calvino, a surgical oncologist, worked together on this procedure using endoscopic ultrasound guidance to create a path between the blocked portion of the bowel and the stomach, using the new Lumen opposing stent technology that recently became available in the United States.

Thirteen Southeastern Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems recently announced a collective commitment to combat racism, inequality and discrimination in all its forms. Crozer-Keystone Health System is counted among them.

Los Angeles and Norwalk Community Hospitals are among the top 5% in the nation for Pulmonary Care Excellence in 2020, according to Healthgrades. This is the second year in a row the hospitals received this national recognition.

Foothill Regional Medical Center is 5-star rated for Hip Fracture Treatment outcomes for the second year in a row, according to a national report released by Healthgrades.

Waterbury Hospital in Connecticut has partnered with Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast, a nonprofit community milk bank, to offer donor human milk to premature babies.

Two Prospect Medical nurses were featured in the Los Angeles Times for their “On the Frontlines” contributions during COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to caring for infected patients, Tiffany Wang and her family donated 8,000 masks to supplement the Los Angeles Community Hospital’s supply. 

Thirty-one CharterCARE physicians have been named as Top Docs in Rhode Island Monthly’s annual survey and magazine.

Southern California Hospital at Culver City is reportedly the first hospital in Los Angeles County to acquire joimax's technology for endoscopic spine surgery.

All services at Prospect Medical’s California hospitals are now open, which includes Southern California Hospitals at Culver City and Hollywood, Los Angeles Community Hospitals at LA and Norwalk, and Foothill Regional Medical Center.

Southern California Hospitals at Culver City and Hollywood are named among America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Gastrointestinal Care in 2020, according to a national study by Healthgrades. Every year, Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 32 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions using Medicare data.

“Being diagnosed with COVID-19 gave me a better perspective on health and our extraordinary staff,” said Hector Hernandez, who is the CEO of Los Angeles Community Hospitals at LA, Norwalk and Bellflower.

CharterCARE Health Partners is pleased to announce that we are restoring all services at our hospitals and our other affiliates. And, our hospital emergency rooms continue to be open, offering comprehensive services and short waiting times.

With the intent to catch diabetic retinopathy (DR) in its earliest stages, primary care practices in the Crozer-Keystone Health System have partnered with a regional ophthalmology practice and a national medical devices and software provider to screen patients quickly and easily. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4 million adults have DR, it is the leading cause of new blindness in adults, and it costs an estimated $500 million in direct medical costs annually.

In this video , Prospect Medical clinical leaders across the nation share stories of sacrifice, encouragement and thanks from the front lines of care during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Prospect Medical's clinicians from our 17 hospitals across the U.S. share stories of sacrifice, courage and encouragement from the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and the safety precautions being taken for patients and staff.

The mother of three young kids, Carrie Santoro has every reason to focus all of her attention on her family during the quarantine. But that’s just not who she is. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Santoro and her family regularly served meals at a local food shelter. So, as the seriousness of the virus became apparent, Santoro’s mind naturally turned to how she could help.

On National Nurses Day, the Culver City Council in Los Angeles, along with the fire and police departments, paraded in front of Southern California Hospital at Culver City to honor the nurses, along with all staff, during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Every year, we celebrate National Nurses Week. This year, at this exceptional time, our Prospect Medical nurses’ sacrifices, dedication, and compassion have an even deeper meaning. I thank all our nurses for the tremendous work they do every day to care for our patients, especially during this pandemic.

Dr. Ernst von Schwarz performed the first implantation in California of the new Optimizer® Smart system for treating patients with chronic, moderate-to-severe heart failure. Dr. von Schwarz is the medical director, Southern California Hospital Heart Institute in Culver City. He practices in Los Angeles and Temecula.

Los Angeles Community Hospital received a donation of 8,000 face masks from Tenscent co-founder Liqing Zeng (Jason), which was coordinated by Song Pang, from the Janelia Research Campus – Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and its dedicated Chinese American volunteer team working behind the scenes to make this possible.

A story of survival from Los Angeles Community Hospital when a 25-year-old Southern California woman spent more than a week in a medically induced coma after doctors gave her a 50 percent chance of surviving COVID-19.

In the halls of a local hospital, posters proclaiming the mantra “Know Your Size” line the walls. The banners refer to knowing your face mask size, and remind over 1,000 health care workers at Southern California Hospital in Culver City that the correct medical equipment could save their lives, and the lives of their family and friends.

Jennifer Martinez, a 25-year-old Los Angeles resident, warned other millennials that the pandemic is real. She almost died as a result of the virus, but is alive today and warning other young people to pay attention to social distancing and health guidelines to save themselves from an extremely unpleasant ordeal.

Southern California Hospital at Culver City employees donate much-needed essentials and supplies to residential care and assisted living homes during the pandemic as staff makes a difference in the community.

Coronavirus puts significant strain on hospitals, but some of that burden has been lifted at Los Angeles Community Hospital in east LA. The hospital has been the recipient of dozens of donations to both the hospital and to its nurses and staff working during the crisis.

As we approach the one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s encouraging to see how enthusiastically and selflessly Californians are still stepping up to care for one another.

When Kate Griendling offered to bring her friend lunch at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood two weeks ago, she had no idea she would soon be leading an effort to feed hundreds of doctors, nurses and others on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle.

Employees of Los Angeles Community and Southern California Hospitals are giving back to the communities during the COVID-19 crisis, delivering bags of food and supplies to residential care and assisted living facilities. 

Southern California Hospital at Culver City began temperature screening employees and patients on March 20 to determine if they posed a risk of spreading COVID-19. This is just one of the effective steps the hospital is taking to protect patients and employees on the frontline of the pandemic.

As the numbers of positive coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to climb in Rhode Island, some hospitals around the state say they see a silver lining, at least for now: The number of patients who need intensive care has not risen as dramatically.

According to Mustafa Al-M. Brent, the new coronavirus took him “to the brink.” But after spending five days in the hospital recovering from COVID-19, the East Orange councilman says he’s officially on the mend. And he's bringing a message of hope back with him.

To continue to provide care for patients during the COVID-19 outbreak, many doctors are offering telemedicine appointments, including Dr. Ernst von Schwarz, a board-certified cardiologist and medical director of the Southern California Hospital Heart Institute in Culver City.

March 30 is National Doctors’ Day across our nation. Many of our physicians are on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis, so today we recognize our talented and committed doctors. Regardless of their specialty, the COVID-19 pandemic brings unique challenges to our doctors requiring sacrifice, dedication and compassion.

I want to thank all of you for the tremendous work you are doing every day to care for our patients. In this time of tremendous change, I am grateful for all you do and the professionalism and care you show those who rely on us for care.

A newly announced clinical trial at Roger Williams Medical Center will test the ability of a system designed to deliver drugs directly into pancreatic tumors. The approach streamlines traditional pancreatic cancer treatment methods, which delivers drugs through the body’s artery system.

Preparing for a likely surge in the need for coronavirus disease testing and treatment, hospitals around Rhode Island are joining their counterparts across the United States in taking readiness measures, including freeing up beds for intensive care and erecting tents to expand capacity.

As the number of COVID-19 cases are expected to grow, health providers are working to get more patients suspected of having the virus tested.

As the number of COVID-19 cases are expected to grow, Prospect Medical’s Waterbury Hospital in Waterbury, CT, opened a drive-through sampling station.  As a community safety net, Waterbury Hospital’s drive-through station helps area residents avoid to emergency department and other public areas to avoid spreading the disease.

There is a new minimally invasive procedure to treat herniated discs and spinal stenosis now available in Los Angeles. Southern California Hospital at Culver City is the first hospital in Los Angeles County to acquire the endoscopic spine surgery technology by joimax®. 

The health of our patients, visitors, employees and physicians is our highest priority. We are working closely with the public health agencies in our communities and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to respond to any potential coronavirus cases in our communities.

March 8-14 is National Patient Safety Awareness Week, which is an annual recognition event intended to encourage everyone to learn more about healthcare safety. During this week, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement seeks to advance important discussions locally and globally, as well as inspire action to improve the safety of the healthcare system—for patients and the workforce.

Patient safety is a top priority at Prospect Medical hospitals, which is why the corporate and hospital leadership is committed to becoming a High Reliability Organization (HRO).

In the coming weeks, Crozer-Keystone Health System will begin performing WATCHMAN device implantation. It’s intended for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, or A-fib, which is an irregular heart rhythm that increases your risk of a stroke. Crozer-Keystone is the first to offer WATCHMAN in Delaware County.

Liu et al¹ report a large cohort study of palliative care (PC) consultations for 57 272 hospitalized adult patients with a diagnosis of heart failure (HF) (16 741 patients [12.4%]) or cancer (40 531 patients [30.0%]), using the Palliative Care Quality Network database.

Peter Adamo has been named CEO of Crozer-Keystone Health System, Prospect Medical’s four-hospital health system based in Delaware County, Pa. Adamo, who held the president and CEO position at Prospect’s Waterbury Hospital in Waterbury, Conn., since August 2017, began transitioning to his new role at Crozer-Keystone on Feb. 10.

West Los Angeles residents interested in weight-loss surgery now have access to a nationally designated program in Culver City. Southern California Hospital at Culver City has been named a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States. Despite increases in awareness over the past decades, only about half (56%) of women recognize that heart disease is the No. 1 killer, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Many believe it’s cancer, yet heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined.

So many positive changes have been made over the last year at Southern California Hospital at Culver City‘s behavioral health services that Barbara Neefs, program director, even surprised herself when she listed them: Detox unit renovations; new inpatient and outpatient program protocols; and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) expanded services, increased patient safety and satisfaction.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of both women and men. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease. The good news is that healthy choices can help manage or prevent heart disease. Many of us set up a New Year’s Resolutions in January related to lifestyle improvements, such as eating healthier, exercising more, and reducing stress. These lifestyle changes not only help you, but creates a framework that your children will take into adulthood. February Heart Month provides another opportunity to keep those positive lifestyle changes.

More nurses are opting to make their careers at Southern California Hospital at Culver City, thanks to the “Grow Your Own” retention and recruitment initiative.

In December, Foothill Regional Medical Center delivered more than 300 holiday gifts to the Orange County Rescue Mission in Tustin. With the help of hospital staff and students from St. Hedwig, the gifts were wrapped and delivered to the mission to be distributed to homeless men, women and children.

Employees at Southern California Hospital at Culver City in Los Angeles County opened their hearts and wallets in December so local children in need had toys to unwrap during the holidays. In a partnership with the Culver City Fire Department, employees donated hundreds of toys to the annual Spark of Love Toy Drive.

Learn more about Orange County's weight-loss surgery program at Foothill Regional in Tustin. The program is nationally accredited and the closest bariatrics program to residents in south and central Orange County.

Despite gaining 40 pounds after having her third child, Sose Antebelian said she rarely thought of herself as being overweight; that is, until she saw pictures of herself.

Using the talents of experienced orthopedic surgeons, the CharterCARE Orthopedics Program offers patients leading edge surgical procedures at both Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recognized Southern California Hospitals at Culver City and Hollywood for meeting or exceeding the Healthy People 2020 target of 90% influenza-vaccination coverage for healthcare personnel.

The news was devastating; 19-year-old Skye Gray had been T-boned in a car accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and broken neck, pelvis and ankles. If she even survived her injuries, the doctors thought she may be in a coma for the rest of her life.

Patients and employees have seen lots of changes in Southern California Hospital at Culver City‘s 17-bed emergency department in 2019—from an attractive face lift to substantially faster times to see a doctor.

The name of the procedure is a mouthful, but the impact it’s having on patients is huge. It’s called transcatheter aortic valve replacement—TAVR for short—and it’s revolutionizing how patients with aortic valve disease are treated at Crozer Keystone Health System.

Southern California Hospital at Culver City received five-star ratings for “Treatment of Heart Attack and Heart Failure” for the fifth year in a row by Healthgrades (2015-2019). Heart failure occurs when your heart is damaged and too weak to pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body.

Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders brightened the day of Los Angeles Community Hospital subacute patients on Tuesday, Oct 15. They spent time with our patients, which included photos and autographs with the cheerleaders followed by lunch.

Foothill Regional Medical Center, located in Orange County, CA, has been named a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities shown to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies with input from the medical community.

Prospect Medical Group and its subsidiaries in California have been awarded Elite Status on the America’s Physician Groups Standards of Excellence™ Survey 2019, for the eighth year in a row. APG (formerly known as CAPG) is the leading association in the country representing physician organizations practicing coordinated, capitated care.

The first hospital in Rhode Island to receive certification for Disease Specific Care for Spine Surgery has also become the first to do it again! Fatima Hospital’s program was recently recertified by The Joint Commission for another 2 years and this was achieved with absolutely no negative findings. A perfect score, in other words.

It takes two to make a weight loss dream come true. Just ask Isela Mauri and Martin Espinosa of Anaheim Hills, a married couple who both underwent weight loss surgery at Foothill Regional Medical Center in Tustin to regain their health.

Norwalk Community Hospital hosted a senior and community health fair on June 29, 2019. As part of the day’s events, which included screenings, food and fun, Vice Mayor Luigi Vernola recognized the hospital on behalf of the California senate and assembly for providing Norwalk residents with valuable healthcare resources, including a 24/7 paramedic-receiving ER.

Los Angeles Community Hospitals at Los Angeles and Norwalk were recognized with five stars—the highest rating—in nine clinical areas for 2019, according to Healthgrades. This means that the hospitals’ actual performances are statistically significantly better than expected in these areas. In addition, the hospitals continue to be named among the top 10% in the nation for Pulmonary Care Excellence for 2019.

As part of being a valued community partner, Southern California Hospital at Culver City is always looking for ways to expand needed programs and services. In 2019, the hospital launched a gender confirmation surgery program—called the Transgender Surgery Center of California—providing comprehensive care by a hospital team that honors its patients undergoing a life-changing experience.

Malissa had waited more than 25 years for her dream to come true: to feel fully content in her own body. Thanks to modern medicine and advanced surgical techniques, Malissa, 52, is now comfortable with her new self after undergoing gender confirmation surgery with Beverly Hills-based Dr. Alexander Sinclair at Southern California Hospital at Hollywood, which is now part of the Transgender Surgery Center of California, which offers gender confirmation surgery in Hollywood and Culver City.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded Southern California Hospitals (SCH) at Culver City and Hollywood an impressive four out of five stars for high-quality health measures.

Stephanie Sosa has been overweight since childhood. In high school, she was able to lose some weight, but soon put it back on. At 28 years old, she hit an all-time high of 272 pounds—a considerable amount for a 5-foot-3-inch woman.

Roger Williams Medical Center today opened its new, 12,000 square foot emergency department, which is part of a $15.1 million project to create an entirely new, comprehensive emergency department serving the metropolitan Providence, RI, area.

Southern California Hospitals at Culver City and Hollywood received the 2019 Patient Safety Excellence Award from Healthgrades, putting the hospitals in the top 5% in the nation among acute care hospitals for patient safety for the second year in a row. This is the fourth year the hospitals have achieved this distinction (2015-16, 2018-2019).

Most people never expect to get sick. But when it happens, it’s comforting to know you’re already in a hospital. Sally Romero, a behavioral health nurse at Southern California Hospital at Culver City, thought everything was fine a few summers ago before she doubled over in severe pain and had to go to the hospital’s emergency department.

With a pure human heart, sometimes fate intervenes when you least expect it. Just ask Juan “Eddie” Marte, who has been employed for more than nine years with Southern California Hospital at Culver City. His sojourn to healthcare caregiver was one of loss and heartache.

Seven spine surgeons discuss the most important non-clinical skill-sets. Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. We invite all spine surgeon and specialist responses.

Few employees can boast that they've worked in every hospital department, but in her 33 years at Southern California Hospital at Culver City, Enid McKenzie, RN, can do just that.

As a behavioral health technician at Southern California Hospital at Culver City, Trejo is part of a team that provides patients with a full continuum of mental health services and treatments—from family and individual counseling to inpatient care for adults, including treatment for chemical dependency.

Manchester Memorial Hospital’s John A. DeQuattro Cancer Center is one of only two cancer programs in Connecticut to receive the Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC). Only 14% of the 1,500 accredited cancer programs receive this recognition nationwide.

Improving patient access to cardiac services and reducing transportation time in an emergency was the common refrain from many who urged state health regulators Wednesday to allow for enhanced cardiac services at Manchester Memorial Hospital.

Rhode Island-based Roger Williams Medical Center today opened a new, 12,000 square foot emergency department, part of a $15.1 million project to create an entirely new, comprehensive emergency department serving the metropolitan Providence area.

The Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) has awarded accreditation to the pathology/clinical lab at Southern California Hospital at Culver City based on a recent accreditation inspection.

The Los Angeles Community Hospital’s subacute unit has been awarded an above-average rating of five stars by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Norwalk Community Hospital hosted a grand opening ceremony to unveil a first responders’ lounge on Jan. 18, 2019. The purpose of the lounge is to give first responders a place to relax after bringing a patient into the emergency department.

Los Angeles Community Hospital, Norwalk Community Hospital and Los Angeles Community Hospital at Bellflower, each gave back to their community with an annual donation. The total contributions amounted to $2,500, split between East LA Women’s Center, Angel Tree Project, Eastman School Student Affair and Clean the Closets.

Los Angeles Community Hospital officially kicked off the season of giving by hosting a Christmas party for one of the Eastman Avenue Elementary School kindergarten classes on Dec 13, 2018, which included a visit by Santa Claus himself. The children were served breakfast and given the opportunity to meet the Santa, who presented each child with a gift and posed for a photo.

Los Angeles Community Hospital, along with Santa, hosted Eastman Avenue Elementary School kindergartners for treats, presents and, of course, a picture with Santa!  

Foothill Regional Medical Center, along with students of St. Hedwig, wrapped up the holiday season by putting together more than 200 wellness kits for the Hurtt Family Health Clinic to be distributed to the homeless men, women and children of the Orange County Rescue Mission.

Experts say an explosion of benzodiazepine prescriptions in the middle of an opioid crisis is particularly concerning, because both drugs become much deadlier when mixed with each other.

The signs that every woman should be looking for are not the same as men. Cardiologist Ernst von Schwarz, MD, medical director of the Heart Institute at Southern California Hospital at Culver City, says that women can experience unique warning signs of heart disease which can be mistaken for other issues or ignored completely by their doctors.

Millennials' health suffers from all that technology at their fingertips. Local doctors are seeing variety of problems – from hearing loss to orthopedic issues.

On Dec. 5, 2018, Santa Claus—escorted by the Tustin Police Department in Orange County—delivered gifts to Foothill Regional Medical Center pediatric subacute patients. This is an annual tradition and the presents are donated by police and city hall employees.

CharterCARE Health Partners’ hospitals in Rhode Island are 5-star rated for outcomes for numerous conditions and procedures according to a study released by Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. Those 5-star rated health outcomes included treatment for heart failure, heart attack, total knee replacement, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, appendectomy, sepsis and respiratory failure.

Foothill Regional Medical Center’s pediatric subacute unit has been awarded an above-average rating of four stars by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The Foothill Regional program is the only pediatric subacute unit in Orange County to receive four stars from CMS.

Southern California Hospitals at Culver City and Hollywood have been recognized with five stars – the highest rating – in five clinical areas for 2019, according to Healthgrades, which means the hospitals’ actual performance is statistically significantly better than expected in these areas.

The turkey salmonella outbreak, which started a year ago, has continued to progress. With Thanksgiving only a week away, 164 people in 35 states have been infected. Sixty-three people have been hospitalized and one person in California has died. Hear from expert Dr. Ernst Schwarz from Southern California Hospital at Culver City on ways to ensure your family’s safety with this seasonal favorite.

Eastern Connecticut Health Network’s Center for Weight Loss meets all criteria as a Comprehensive Center according to national quality standards established to deliver safe, high quality bariatric patient care.

Several Prospect Medical hospitals received 5-star ratings in 32 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions, according to Healthgrades’ 2019 national study that evaluated hospital performance at almost 4,500 hospitals nationwide to determine clinical excellence.

Four Prospect Medical hospitals in Southern California were recognized with five stars—the highest rating—in 11 clinical areas for 2019, according to Healthgrades. This means that the hospitals’ actual performance is statistically significantly better than expected in these areas.

Southern California Hospitals at Culver City and Hollywood are recognized with five stars—the highest rating—in five clinical areas for 2019, according to Healthgrades. This means that the hospitals’ actual performance is statistically significantly better than expected in these areas.

Los Angeles Community Hospitals at Los Angeles and Norwalk were recognized with five stars—the highest rating—in nine clinical areas for 2019, according to Healthgrades. This means that the hospitals’ actual performances are statistically significantly better than expected in these areas. The two hospitals are recipients of the 2019 Pulmonary Care Excellence Award, which means they are among the top 5% in the nation for Overall Pulmonary Services, as well as among the top 10% in the nation for GI Medical Treatment for six years in a row (2014-2019).

Pregnancy can be an amazing gift, a time when women feel beautiful and blessed. But it also does some weird things to women’s bodies. From feet to faces, everything changes in size and shape.

South Orange County residents seeking surgical treatment for obesity and its related conditions have a nationally recognized choice for receiving treatment at Foothill Regional Medical Center. Some 15.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from severe obesity and the numbers continue to increase, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The findings of a study published last year are changing the way medical professionals treat stroke victims, according to a neurosurgeon at Crozer-Keystone Health Systems.

For some people living with diabetes they may have no other choice than amputation. However, some diabetics are turning to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to save their limbs.

Waterbury Hospital in Connecticut was selected the Reader’s Choice for a hospital through a community vote conducted by the Waterbury Republican American.  More than 28,000 votes were cast in this year’s Reader’s Choice Awards. Congratulations, Waterbury Physicians and Staff!

Going back to school after the summer break, especially when transitioning from elementary school to middle school, from middle school to high school or from high school to college, can be an especially stressful time for many adolescents. In some cases, the change can coincide with the first onset of depression or other serious mental health issues.

Crozer-Keystone Health System, based in Pennsylvania, recently received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold quality achievement award. The award recognizes the system’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

Joseph Daly was admitted to Crozer-Chester Medical Center with an obstruction in his digestive system. Two days later, he was on his way home after successful and back to work as a chief of police a couple of days after that, thanks to minimally invasive surgery.

Crozer-Keystone Health System OB/GYN Rachael Polis, D.O., M.P.H. recently received a grant to launch a two-year initiative to “stop the violence before it begins” in adolescent relationships. The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) gave Polis and her partners, the Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County and the William Penn School District, a collective $15,000 to establish a “community of practice alliances” through schools, agencies and health systems in Delaware County.

Crozer-Keystone Health System has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold quality achievement award. The award recognizes the system’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

There are a ton of questions about periods that exist out in the universe. For instance, is it true that spending time with a close female friend will cause your cycle to sync up with hers? Does your period really stop when you’re in water? And getting pregnant during your period is completely off the table, right?

In 2018, 10 Prospect Medical hospitals were the recipients of the distinguished Healthgrades awards for clinical specialty care and patient safety. Many of the hospitals are in the top 5% and 10% in specialized care in the nation. Waterbury Hospital is the only Connecticut hospital named among America’s 100 Best for Coronary Intervention in 2018.

Los Angeles Community Hospital and Los Angeles Community Hospital at Norwalk are the recipient of the 2018 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ for the fifth year in a row (2014-2018). This designation recognizes superior performance of hospitals that have prevented the occurrence of serious, potentially avoidable complications for patients during hospital stays, according to Healthgrades. The two hospital campuses operate under a consolidated license.

Los Angeles Community Hospital at Norwalk is the recipient of the 2018 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ for the fifth year in a row (2014-2018). This designation recognizes superior performance of hospitals that have prevented the occurrence of serious, potentially avoidable complications for patients during hospital stays, according to Healthgrades.

Southern California Hospital at Culver City received the 2018 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ from Healthgrades, putting it in the top 5% in the nation among acute care hospitals for patient safety. This is the third year Culver City has achieved this distinction (2015-16, 2018).

Four Prospect Medical hospitals in Southern California were ranked among the top 5% in the nation for patient safety by Healthgrades. The hospitals are Southern California Hospital at Culver City, Southern California Hospital at Hollywood, Los Angeles Community Hospital and Norwalk Community Hospital.

The ultimate future for caring for victims of sexual violence starts with education and research communities. What are the best practices for recovering evidence and documenting findings?

CEO Araceli Lonergan welcomes you to the newly renovated Foothill Regional Medical Center. Discover all the exciting advancements in services and technology being offered to the Tustin and surrounding Orange County neighborhoods in Tustin’s only hospital.

Learn how to make a healthy, tasty and refreshing strawberry caprese farro salad with a pesto dressing. If you haven't tried farro, it is a grain that has a nice chewy texture, is high in fiber and can help lower your LDL cholesterol.

With no end in sight to the epidemic, county residents received information Thursday evening from a panel of experts on what they can do to get help as the prominence of opioids and related drugs infiltrate families and kill thousands in the state every year.

Southern California Hospital at Hollywood received the 2018 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ from Healthgrades, putting it in the top 5% in the nation among short-term acute care hospitals for patient safety. This is the third time (2015-16, 2018) Hollywood hospital has achieved this distinction.

Foothill Regional Medical Center announced it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Hospital Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards in June. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care.

Bloodless medicine surgery is a medical practice that does not use donor blood in patient medical care or surgery. Foothill Regional Medical Center participates in this program for patients who prefer medical and surgical treatment without the use of donor blood.

Dr. Tarun Marwaha explains how Foothill Regional Medical Center is uniquely positioned to serve Tustin and surrounding communities with state-of-the-art technology, personalized care and multilingual care team.

Waterbury Hospital has received two awards recognizing the hospital’s high quality of care: The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Achievement Award, and the Mission: Lifeline – STEMI Receiving Center – Silver Plus Award.

Foothill Regional Medical Center—which has undergone a successful transformation since it reopened under new ownership in 2015—received the City of Tustin’s Large Business of the Year 2018 award on June 21 in recognition of its contribution to Tustin and surrounding area.

What's Normal and When to Seek Medical Advice

Crozer-Keystone Health Systems has engaged more than 1,000 people battling opioid addiction since opening its Center of Excellence, a full-service case management program launched in January 2017.

Erin Chabot struggled with her weight until she made a decision that helped her reclaim her life: bariatric surgery at Roger Williams Medical Center with Dr. Dieter Pohl. Since her weight-loss surgery in January 2016, Erin has lost more than 200 pounds and seen a marked improvement in her health and overall quality of life.

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller today visited Crozer-Keystone Health System, a state-granted opioid recovery Center of Excellence (COE).

The vividly painted walls depicting an Italian countryside and the muted sounds of cartoons playing in the background add an air of lightness to what is an otherwise serious undertaking: caring for chronically ill children 24 hours a day.

What would you call a hospital that delivers high quality care with a personalized touch? We call it Roger Williams Medical Center.

Foothill Regional Medical Center now offers comprehensive bloodless surgery and medicine services for the growing number of patients who are opting not to have a blood transfusion, either for safety concerns or religious reasons.

The Wound Care Center at Fatima Hospital was expanded and renovated to handle the growth in the program and recent partnership with Restorix.

Women are most at risk for developing bipolar disorder at two key stages of their lives: in their later teenage years and when they reach their late 40s, when the risk of suicide may increase.

Crozer-Keystone Health System’s Springfield Hospital in Springfield, Penn., is almost doubling its bed capacity to accommodate anticipated growth in inpatient admissions, intensive care and observations.

Pennsylvania-based Crozer-Keystone Health System broke ground for a two-phase emergency department (ED) expansion project at Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park. The first-phase construction began on June 1, 2018, and will include a new waiting area, expanded registration and triage areas, and new high-visibility signage. The target for completion of this phase is November 2018.

Crozer-Keystone Health System is expanding two of its Delaware County hospitals at a cost of about $9 million.

Fatima Hospital has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s “Get With The Guidelines” Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes Fatima’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

Pennsylvania-based Crozer-Keystone Health System’s physicians dominated Delaware County’s presence in Philadelphia magazine’s “Top Doctors 2018” listing, with 158 physicians making the list.

Restaurateur Tony Luke Jr. has one lasting memory of his son and namesake, who died of a heroin overdose in March 2017. "It was 1:30 a.m., and he was standing on a corner smoking a cigarette," Luke said. "There was no hope in his eyes. None."

Crozer-Keystone Health System recently recognized Scott Bird, R.N., of Holmes, a Telemetry nurse at Taylor Hospital, as a recipient of the DAISY Award. This award recognizes nurses who consistently meet each of the following criteria: Dedicated, Autonomous, Innovative, Selfless and Extraordinary. Bird was nominated for the award by one of his patients.

Eastern Connecticut Health Network’s two acute care hospitals, Manchester Memorial and Rockville General, have been named as two Screening Centers of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) for its ongoing commitment to responsible lung cancer screening. There are 530 Centers of Excellence across the U.S. and 9 Centers are located in Connecticut. Low dose CT screening for lung cancer is carried out safely, efficiently and equitably and can save tens of thousands of lives each year.

Waterbury Hospital is donating around 1,000 Lbs. of medical supplies and medicine to the Department of Health in Puerto Rico to help patients affected by Hurricane Maria.

The newly minted CEO of Eastern Connecticut Health Network (ECHN), which posted a steep loss last year, expects to turn that around rather quickly.

The violence in Chester, Pennsylvania continues to escalate. Several shootings overnight caused the Crozer Chester Medical Center to institute a Code Orange.

See why Our Lady of Fatima is the leader of exceptional healthcare in Rhode Island. Discover the latest advances in clinical care, highly trained staff, and the personal care provided at a community hospital.

Our Lady of Fatima’s Emergency Department in Rhode Island provides the highest quality care with the shortest ER wait times in the state. Discover why Fatima is the best care provider for you and your family.

Discover why Roger Williams Blood and Marrow Transplantation program in Rhode Island is the leading edge of cancer treatment.

I'm an ever optimist," said Dr. Ponnandai Somasundar. "My favorite saying is always if the patients are not positive nothing can be done by us. The first word is hope. For the patients, I always tell them If you don't look at it positively, none of it can be obtained. We cannot give adequate care for you."

For more than a year, the new owners of Foothill Regional Medical Center have quietly been rebuilding a shuttered community hospital that had been marred by scandal. The name, furniture and medical equipment are all brand new. About 275 employees have been hired, and a 5-bed emergency department opened in January after a decade-long absence.

Since 1986, Crozer Regional Trauma Center has been and still is the only trauma center in Delaware County. Celebrating 30 years, Crozer Regional Trauma Center is proud to serve its community.

As a comprehensive healthcare system focused on serving emerging community needs, Eastern Connecticut Health Network (ECHN) has identified a significant health challenge that has been largely under-addressed – and a significant population largely underserved.

The latest news and announcements from Crozer Health.

Drexel University’s College of Medicine is expanding its long-standing academic affiliation with Crozer-Chester Medical Center by designating the Delaware County hospital as its sixth regional medical campus next year.

Changes are being made in the local emergency room to make it more comfortable for older patients.

A rally meant to unite concerned citizens with recovering heroin addicts, families who have lost loved ones to drug use and agencies battling the opioid epidemic is set for Wednesday.

Three independent practice associations (IPAs) affiliated with Prospect Medical Group were awarded Elite Status on the CAPG Standards of Excellence survey for 2016. The awards – CAPG’s highest recognition – were earned by the Prospect Medical Group-affiliated IPAs in California, Rhode Island and Texas, making it the fifth year in a row that Prospect Medical Group has received this prestigious award.

Meet the network of physicians, nurses and caregivers who are proud to be a part of CharterCare Health Partners, bringing you their dedication to excellent care.

Get to know the CharterCare Health Partners network of physicians, nurses and caregivers that are here to give you the right level of care at the right time, bringing you a better way to better health care.

In an effort to increase access to health care at lower costs, the parent company of two local hospitals says it’s spending millions of dollars on renovations.

One year ago, CharterCARE Health Partners (now known as CharterCARE Community Board) entered into an innovative joint venture with Prospect Medical Holdings of California. Our first anniversary is an apt time to share where we have come in the past year.