KEEPING US WELL AREA HOSPITALS PROVIDE VARIETY OF SPECIALTIES.

Byline: - Lisa Van Proyen

The San Fernando Valley is home to some of the nation's leading specialty medical facilities.

Among them is the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital, which treats patients flown in from as far away as Japan and Afghanistan for burn treatment and therapy.

Northridge Hospital Medical Center specializes in rehabilitation and treatment of brain and spinal cord injuries. Last year, Northridge became one of only about 100 hospitals nationwide to offer a state-of-the-art Gamma Knife Center that uses gamma radiation - rather than traditional surgery - to treat lesions or tumors in the brain.

The outpatient procedure targets specific areas of the brain to preserve healthy tissue. It is performed without a single cut and patients need not shave their head. The cost is about 25 percent less than for traditional methods, with patients having little discomfort and a shortened recovery time. Patients even bring CDs to listen to during treatment.

``In many instances, it's much safer than doing open surgery,'' said Dr. David Huang, a radiation oncologist who helps perform Gamma Knife treatment at Northridge Hospital.

Both Northridge and Providence Holy Cross Medical Center are part of Los Angeles County's trauma-care network, which treats the most critical cases.

West Hills Hospital and Medical Center plans to expand its emergency department, intensive care unit, and outpatient services facility beginning in April. The project, which will add 47,000 square feet to the hospital, is set for completion in 2008. West Hills Hospital specializes in cardiovascular health, oncology and critical care services.

Many of the Valley's hospitals also have wellness classes and support groups. For example, Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center has a Diabetes Care Center that offers services for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The program includes support groups.

Here is a list of major hospitals in the Greater San Fernando Valley:

--Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center 16237 Ventura Blvd., Encino; [phone]. Tarzana, 18321 Clark St.; [phone]. Women's Resource Center (parenting and childbirth), [phone].

--Glendale Adventist Medical Center, 1509 Wilson Terrace, Glendale; [phone].

--Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center, 1420 S. Central Ave., Glendale; [phone].

--Kaiser Permanente Foundation Hospital, 13652 Cantara St., Panorama City; [phone].

--Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, 5601 De Soto Ave., Woodland Hills; [phone].

--Mission Community Hospital-Panorama, 14850 Roscoe Blvd., Panorama City; [phone].

--Northridge Hospital Medical Center, 18300 Roscoe Blvd., Northridge; [phone].

--Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, 14445 Olive View Drive, Sylmar; [phone].

--Pacifica Hospital of the Valley, 9449 San Fernando Road; Sun Valley, [phone].

--Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, 15031 Rinaldi St.; Mission Hills, [phone].

--Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, 501 S. Buena Vista St.; Burbank, [phone].

--Sherman Oaks Hospital and Health Center, 4929 Van Nuys Blvd.; Sherman Oaks, [phone].

--Valley Presbyterian Hospital, 15107 Vanowen St., Van Nuys; [phone].

--Verdugo Hills Hospital, 1812 Verdugo Blvd., Glendale; [phone].

--West Hills Hospital and Medical Center, 7300 Medical Center Drive, West Hills; [phone].

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Patient Claudette Sieger, 75, of Porter Ranch gets ready for her Gamma Knife treatment at Northridge Hospital Medical Center as her medical team monitors the procedure.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

(2 -- color) no caption (hospital)

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

Box:

Here is a list of major hospitals in the Greater San Fernando Valley: (see text)