Loma Linda Heritage Snapshot: Part 199

LOMA LINDA >> On Feb. 4, 2011, at the opening ceremony attended by 800 regional, state, and federal officials, Bucky Weeks, community liaison for the project, opened the ceremonies with Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Murrieta Mayor Randon Lane explained the financial impact the new facility would have on the region as a big economic-development boon for the corridor. Dr. Piconi, Chair, board of trustees and Dr. Jeff Conners, Chief of Staff shared their vision for creating a community hospital with world-class medical services in the Murrieta area. Opened just 26 months from its groundbreaking, the new hospital was identified by US representative Darrell Issa, state Senator Bill Emmerson, and state Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries, as the fastest-built medical center in United States history. In the only Hybrid Operating room in inland Southern California, visitors witnessed demonstrations of the $2 million Siemens Artis Zeego, technology that allows the surgeon to see in real time and with ultra-clarity the surgical site. Services include advanced cardiology, radiation oncology, a family birthing center, a well-baby nursery, pain management, wound and hyperbaric medicine, urgent care, women’s specific diagnostics, and a variety of surgical specialties (orthopedic, euro-gynecological, urology, and podiatry). It has accommodated southwest Riverside County’s first heart surgeries. With its accompanying $20 million medical office building, the $230 million state-of-the-art complex, dubbed “the Murrieta Miracle,” promises to be the medical hub for the region. It is projected eventually to employ 500 and will be used by 250 board-certified physicians, as well as health care students and resident physicians from Loma Linda University. To illustrate local interest, on February 6, 2011, the new hospital was prepared to host 2,000 visitors at a public open house. Even though it was Super Bowl Sunday, 10,000 showed up. Tour participants saw that the new hospital meshes faith and healing. Loma Linda University’s motto, “To Make Man Whole,” covers a wall of the lobby and echoes the facility’s philosophy. At the entrance, a life-size bronze sculpture by Colorado artist Victor Issa, titled “Come Unto Me,” depicts a seated Jesus flanked by children, an adult, and pets. According to, Kathryn Stiles, director of marketing and communication, prayer and faith played key roles in the hospital’s quick opening and that success will play out further with its future health and economic benefits. The new facility now provides the highest quality medical care with a mission-focused team of medical professionals. Over time, Medical Center administration anticipates that the attractiveness of the area as a place to live and raise families will result in even more of Loma Linda’s influence being felt in the area. On April 7, 2011, Tri-Valley Medical Group announced it had just moved into a new office in the medical office building located at Loma Linda University Medical Center—Murrieta. “We are very proud to be affiliated with Loma Linda University Medical Center—Murrieta, said Jonathan Dinh, MD, a board-certified internal medicine specialist. According to Dennis Kim, MD, a board-certified internal medicine specialist, “Our community is very excited about the opening of Loma Linda University Medical Center—Murrieta. We will now have access to the quality care Loma Linda is noted for, close to home.” Just before opening day, CEO Bruce Christian issued a statement. “Twenty-seven months ago, we broke ground and today, we are ready to begin meeting the medical needs of this wonderful community. We are grateful to those who helped us move so quickly, from the construction teams, to our employees who have prepared themselves and this facility to our physicians who have supported and trained hard to be here, we express gratitude to all those who have made this day possible. We began a journey that now includes the community in a more tangible way, and we are looking forward to sharing our motto, To Make Man Whole, with our neighbors, friends, and families.” After final approval by the California Department of Public Health, and receipt of its license to operate, the final preparation included bringing on-line the hospital’s information technology system, including all-electronic medical records. On Friday, April 15, 2011, a small crowd of hospital administrators and elected officials from both Murrieta and Temecula gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the hospital. The cover was removed from the hospital’s entry sign, announcing the emergency department was ready to serve patients. Hospital staff, dressed in scrubs, cheered in anticipation. Before the ribbon cutting ceremony was completed, Loma Linda University Medical Center—Murrieta accepted its first patients. By 8:30 am, two expectant mothers had registered in the emergency room, and another patient checked in for an elective procedure. Within six weeks of opening, the new facility’s emergency heliport had been used as much as three times a day. According to Kathryn Stiles, by July 22, 2011, hospital officials had signed contracts with Healthnet and Cigna and had just received its Medicare provider number, allowing it to treat Medicare patients. It had already served more than 6,000 patients and delivered almost 100 babies.