Heritage Snapshot: Part 250

LOMA LINDA>> At the May 21, 2009 “topping off” ceremony for the new hospital in Murrieta, marking the half-way point in construction, the Murrieta Mayor at the time Gary Thomasian said, “Loma Linda is recognized as a worldwide leader in providing healthcare. This means our community will have world-class medical service.” In March 2010, new federal legislation eliminated physician investment in hospitals where they referred patients. Despite much appreciated exemption efforts by United States Senator Dianne Feinstein, the US Senate Finance Committee took a firm position opposing physician investment in hospitals. In the course of time, Loma Linda University Medical Center bought out the physician-investors and the initial development company. Originally named "Physicians Hospital Murrieta," unanimous results from focus groups conducted in the area by the Medical Center's marketing team resulted in naming the facility "Loma Linda University Medical Center — Murrieta." It is now a full-service, 106-bed hospital with six operating rooms and a 19-bay emergency department. If necessary, in time, a Phase II expansion could increase the bed capacity to 250. Loma Linda University Medical Center increased the campus from 26 acres to 44. It is well-positioned on the North side of Murrieta, with good visibility and access from Interstate 215. 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. 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 such as orthopedic, euro-gynecological, urology, and podiatry. It has accommodated southwest Riverside County’s first heart surgery. 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 healthcare students and resident physicians from Loma Linda University. To illustrate local interest, on Feb. 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. 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, 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.