Fresno Heart & Surgical celebrates 5th anniversary

Some of the employees who have been with Fresno Heart & Surgical for all five years of the hospital's existence.

Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital celebrated its fifth anniversary in style Nov. 14. The dinner program saluted the 115 out of 212 original employees who have been with the hospital since its beginning, and honored the individuals who helped create the Valley’s top-rated cardiac hospital -- Drs. Kevin Boran, Robert D. Chambers, Lakhijit S. Sandhu, and Richard D. Gregory and Ken Manock, J.D. 

The specialty hospital in north Fresno opened in October 2003. Eventually the Fresno Heart Hospital name was changed to reflect diversification of services. The hospital is continuing to grow its foundational cardiac services while offering bariatric, minimally-invasive vascular and general surgery services. 

In the past year the hospital has added new leading-edge minimally-invasive surgery suites, additional recovery rooms, a new procedure room and a conference center.

In just five years the hospital has received:

• A 5-star rating from outside health care ratings organization HealthGrades for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery or open-heart surgery
• 5-star ratings from HealthGrades for treatment of heart attacks two years in a row
• “Best in the Region” for cardiac services two years in a row
• Cleanest Hospital in California, based on patient surveys, and among the top 5% in the nation.
• And consistent top marks in patient satisfaction surveys

Wanda Holderman took over in January 2007 as CEO of the 57-bed hospital. Holderman wrote last week: “We are celebrating good times... this is one of the Community Medical Centers’ exceptional health care organizations with tremendous staff.”

This story was reported by Erin Kennedy. She can be reached at ekennedy@communitymedical.org.

Thursday, November 20, 2008