WEALTH OF CARE FACILITIES OFFER SERVICES FOR BABIES, BURN VICTIMS AND MORE.

Byline: - Lisa Van Proyen

Just over 75 years ago, the San Fernando Valley's first hospital opened in Van Nuys to care for a sparse population that included many farm and oil field workers and their families.

Today, the widely populated Valley is home to 15 major hospitals, some of which are among the nation's leading specialty medical facilities, such as the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital.

Both Northridge Hospital Medical Center and Providence Holy Cross Medical Center are part of Los Angeles County's trauma-care network, providing treatment for the most critical cases. Northridge also specializes in rehabilitation and treating brain and spinal cord injuries.

Sherman Oaks Hospital serves the emotional and medical needs of its aging population with a unique program called SAGE - Specialized Ambulatory Geriatrics Evaluation. This service won the Horizon Regional Award for Excellence in Customer Service for 2004.

West Hills Hospital and Medical Center houses a new bariatric surgery unit, providing state-of-the-art treatment for morbidly obese patients.

Many of the Valley's medical facilities are also focusing on wellness classes, such as Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center, which offers a baby sign language course to help parents better communicate with their infants.

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):

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Photo:

(color) Baby signs instructor Jeanie Chandler, right, teaches signs to Saskia Wong-deWildt as Saskia's mother, Stacey Wong, watches at the Tarzana campus of the Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

Box:

Major hospitals in the greater San Fernando Valley (see text)