Recognizing the Usc Verdugo Hills Hospital's 50th Anniversary

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 50th anniversary of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital in Glendale, California.

Originally founded in 1947 as the Behrens Memorial Hospital, the hospital moved in 1972 to a new hilltop location and was renamed Verdugo Hills Hospital. Initially established as a 158-bed acute care hospital serving Glendale, La Canada Flintridge, and the surrounding foothills area, it has grown over the last five decades and significantly expanded its healthcare options and services.

In 2013, the Verdugo Hills Hospital began a partnership with the University of Southern California (USC) and officially became the USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, in concert with Keck Medicine of USC. Since this acquisition, increased investment from the community and university have transformed the community-based hospital into a cutting-edge, academic medical institution. Some of the hospital's most essential services include a 24-hour emergency room, bariatric and minimally invasive surgery, a primary stroke center, and orthopedic surgery services. Recently, multi-million-dollar expansions have also funded the opening of a new Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and an Interventional Radiology/Cardiac Catheterization Lab, as well as the expansion of clinical services in Labor and Delivery and Urology. In partnership with USC, the hospital also hosts community events such as Caregiver's Night Off and ``Doc Talks'' to assist both patients and their families.

USC Verdugo Hills Hospital's innovative services and expansive network has earned the hospital numerous awards, including the Board of Certification in Emergency Nursing's Honorary Certification Recognition, and its emergency department nurses received their second Lantern Award for their outstanding and innovative emergency room performance. The hospital has long been known for the friendliness, warmth and kindness of its staff and small-town hospital feel, beginning with a cheerful greeting at the hospital's front door by a caring volunteer. USC Verdugo Hills Hospital's volunteer program includes many longtime volunteers, including prospective medical students, and offers the opportunity to learn more about the medical field and provides a chance to give back to the community.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital's staff, physicians, and nurses worked tirelessly to care for their patients, serving as a leader in the community in the fight against the virus. The hospital's inpatient beds and Intensive Care Unit beds were crucial in providing high quality care to those most adversely affected by the virus.

I am proud to represent USC Verdugo Hills Hospital and commend their ongoing commitment to providing outstanding service to their patients and community. I ask all Members to join me today in honoring USC Verdugo Hills Hospital upon the celebration of its 50th anniversary.

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