VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN GROWS ACCOUNTING TIGHTENED; BUILDING PROJECT GOES FORWARD.Byline: Evan Pondel Staff Writer VAN NUYS - It's been more than a year since the former business manager of Valley Presbyterian Hospital Presbyterian Hospital can refer to several places:
Robert C. Bills, president and vice chairman of the hospital, still looks pained when uttering the name of Svetlana Boshkinov. He shakes his head in disbelief that a once-trusted employee apparently stole from an institution known for a high standard of care. ``We've moved forward. She's been forgotten here,'' Bills said Wednesday morning. ``We're excited about what's new at Valley Presbyterian.'' The 290-bed hospital has altered its accounting practices, tightening up on procedures that may have allowed Boshkinov to divert hospital-bound payments to her own bank account. But the most significant change is the new six-story building that will open in spring 2004. Framed in glass and steel, the 127,250-square-foot building will house intensive care units on the first two floors, including neonatal and pediatric pediatric /pe·di·at·ric/ (pe?de-at´rik) pertaining to the health of children. pe·di·at·ric adj. Of or relating to pediatrics. ICUs on the second floor. The remaining floors will be devoted to patients and their families. The project cost the hospital about $50 million, with $43 million derived from the Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the federal agency responsible for coordinating emergency planning, preparedness, risk reduction, response, and recovery. The agency works closely with state and local governments by funding emergency programs and providing technical following the 1994 Northridge Earthquake The Northridge earthquake occurred on January 17, 1994 at 4:31 AM Pacific Standard Time in the city of Los Angeles, California. The earthquake had a "strong" moment magnitude of 6. . The hospital's board was able to generate about $7 million through fund-raising efforts Noun 1. fund-raising effort - a campaign to raise money for some cause fund-raising campaign, fund-raising drive crusade, campaign, cause, drive, effort, movement - a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported . Recently, the Weingart Foundation and The Ahmanson Foundation donated a total of $600,000 toward completion of the new building. A campaign is under way to raise an additional $5 million. The Fritz B. Burns Foundation has been among the largest donors, contributing about $1 million in 2000. Employees have also made contributions, totaling about $400,000. David Fleming
David Fleming , the hospital's chairman, donated about $100,000. He said the new building marks a fresh beginning for the hospital. ``This is not only wonderful for the hospital, but the community stands to benefit from this building,'' said Fleming, who has been a board member since 1974. An electronic wristband wristband An identifying bracelet attached to a Pt's wrist at the time of admission to a health care facility, which may be the only identifier used during a person's stay in a hospital monitoring system is part of the building's advanced technology. Fleming said doctors will be able to track patients' progress via the wristbands. ``We've come a long way,'' he said. Founders opened Valley Presbyterian in 1958 with the intention of operating it as a small neighborhood hospital. But as more and more families moved to Van Nuys, Valley Presbyterian soon evolved into one of the largest independent, not-for-profit hospitals in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . In 2002, the hospital reported total revenue of $95.8 million, with total expenses hovering hov·er intr.v. hov·ered, hov·er·ing, hov·ers 1. To remain floating, suspended, or fluttering in the air: gulls hovering over the waves. 2. at $99.5 million. ``Right now, when I look at the new building, it makes me feel good knowing that we will be able to provide a new setting for our patients,'' said Bills, who has also worked at the hospital for several decades. Many hospitals throughout the Valley are being upgraded to meet state- required seismic standards by 2008. Almost 95 percent of the hospitals in California List of hospitals in California (U.S. state), grouped by county and sorted by hospital name. Alameda County
A $65 million renovation was recently finished at Mission Community Hospital, while ground was broken last month for Kaiser Permanente's new $267 million hospital in Panorama City. The new 218-bed facility will stand adjacent to Kaiser's decades-old Panorama City Medical Center. ``The key to these hospitals' success is the commitment and support of the community,'' said Jim Lott, executive vice president of the Hospital Association of Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . Valley Presbyterian executives said much of that hospital's support stems from its employees. At a time when many hospital employees are organizing with the Service Employees International Union and the California Nurses Foundation, Valley Presbyterian remains nonunion nonunion /non·union/ (non-un´yun) failure of the ends of a fractured bone to unite. non·un·ion n. The failure of a fractured bone to heal normally. . ``About half of the hospitals in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County are not affiliated with a union, and I'd say that's because some administrators are able to communicate with their employees better than others,'' Lott said. Fleming agrees. ``It's easy for people here (at Valley Presbyterian) to do the arithmetic and understand that it's in their benefit to remain nonunion.'' Evan Pondel, (818) 713-3662 evan.pondel(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Robert C. Bills, president and vice chairman of Valley Presbyterian Hospital, left, and David Fleming, board chairman and a donor, stand in front of the new $50 million building under construction at the hospital. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer (2 -- color) Advances in electronics are being incorporated into a new building rising on Valley Presbyterian Hospital grounds. An electronic wristband system for patients will help nurses and other personnel monitor their progress. |
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