St. Joseph Hospital Celebrates 75th Anniversary

Business Wire, Sept 16, 2004

ORANGE, Calif. -- St. Joseph Hospital of Orange - a 448-bed, not-for-profit Catholic hospital and one of Orange County's largest medical facilities - today will celebrate its 75th Anniversary. Since opening its doors on Sept. 16, 1929, St. Joseph Hospital has been rooted in the economic and social history of Southern California and Orange County.

"Seventy-five years is a significant milestone and we are proud of all that we have accomplished to create a facility that has been - and continues to be - a leading healthcare institution in Orange County," said Larry K. Ainsworth, president and chief executive officer of St. Joseph Hospital. "Thanks to the tireless dedication of our entire staff of talented physicians, nurses, employees, volunteers and donors, this day gives us the opportunity to celebrate our history and allows us to look ahead and dedicate ourselves to the next 75 years."

During the past 75 years, St. Joseph Hospital has served the community and delivered clinical excellence and compassionate healthcare. Following are some interesting facts about the history of the hospital, as well as some key milestones:

--When St. Joseph Hospital opened, it had a medical staff of fewer than 50. As of May 2004, the hospital has 3,302 employees, 1,000 staff physicians and 961 nurses.

--When St. Joseph Hospital opened, it was one of the most state-of-the-art hospitals in the nation, but it was the fourth hospital in Orange County. In order to get the word out about the new facility, the general superior at the time, Mother Francis, would leave the lights on so all five floors appeared to be occupied.

--In its first year of operation, the hospital served fewer than 1,000 patients. In fiscal year 2003, the hospital had nearly 21,500 discharges, more than 231,000 outpatient visits and almost 117,000 home health visits.

--Judy Garland, star of the film "The Wizard of Oz," was at St. Joseph Hospital in 1939 to visit a critically ill girl. Garland brought her gifts and sang "Somewhere Over The Rainbow." After the visit, doctors said the girl's condition improved.

--In 1961, St. Joseph Hospital performed the first open-heart surgery in Orange County.

--In 1970, the hospital began Orange County's first nuclear medicine program and performed the area's first total hip replacement surgery.

--In the early 70s, the facility performed the county's first knee-replacement and elbow-replacement surgeries.

--St. Joseph Hospital's emergency department is the largest in Orange County and houses the county's only pediatric emergency department. In calendar year 2003, its emergency room logged more than 97,000 visits, making it the busiest in Orange County.

--In 1986, La Amistad de San Jose Family Health Center was opened as a low-cost, primary-care medical and dental clinic for low-income people without access to healthcare. Today, it receives about 14,000 visits each year.

--In 1996, the Puente a la Salud Mobile Community Clinics began delivering low-cost medical, dental and vision care to low-income seasonal and migrant agricultural workers and their families often at their work sites.

--Since it opened in 1929, St. Joseph Hospital has delivered more than 230,000 babies.

--In recent years, the innovations continued with the first total hysterectomy performed using a robotic surgical system; the opening of Orange County's first Women's Heart Center; the region's first drug-eluting stent procedure; and the county's first digital pacemaker implant.

For more information about St. Joseph Hospital, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange or the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation, visit the hospital's Web site at www.sjo.org.

About St. Joseph Hospital

Since 1929, St. Joseph Hospital, a 448-bed, not-for-profit Catholic hospital has been dedicated to extending the healthcare ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. With a reputation for delivering compassionate care, clinical excellence and superior outcomes, St. Joseph Hospital prides itself on providing this care in an atmosphere that treats the whole person - body, mind and spirit. Dignity, Service, Excellence and Justice are more than words to the hospital's 1,000-member medical staff, as many - physicians, nurses and hospital employees - donate their time in serving Orange County's medically underserved. St. Joseph Hospital has earned the distinction of "most preferred hospital" in Orange County and offers many outreach services, a freestanding medical and dental clinic, mobile community clinics and a holistic care center. For additional information, call St. Joseph Hospital at 714-744-8075 or visit www.sjo.org. St. Joseph Hospital is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year.