Cutting the ribbon were all members of Seaside Emergency Associates, staff and friends. Photo by Bernie Goldstein
After 1 1/2 years of renovation, and 1 1/2 years after the opening of the North Tower at Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC), the new addition to the Emergency Department at the county hospital has opened. Celebrated on Thursday, February 28th, with a ribbon cutting hosted by Seaside Emergency Associates — which oversees both VCMC’s emergency department and Santa Paula Hospital’s — the enthusiastic attendees didn’t let the rain dampen their spirits. Almost 100 invited guests gathered under a tent to hear from VCMC CEO Kim Milstien, Dr. Marty Ehrlich, and County Executive Officer Mike Powers, on how the updated ED will better serve the community it’s been serving for 100 years.
Twelve new patient exam rooms were added, making the total room count 34. That count includes seven triage bays, four observation rooms and one eye exam room. Also included in the renovation is a waiting room triple the size of the previous waiting room, lab space for dedicated point of care testing, dedicated rapid care space, a patient quiet room for families, new department nurse manager’s office and a staff conference room. In all, the new space added an additional 12,000 square feet.
Seaside Emergency Associates, members of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, had their assistance in bringing the ribbon cutting ceremony to fruition. Cutting the ribbon were all members of Seaside Emergency Associates: Drs. Jeffrey Robinson, Marty Ehrlich, Scott Speier, Ted Mandryk, Rick Rutherford and Rich Cegelski, County Executive Officer Mike Powers, VCMC CEO Kim Milstien, County Supervisors Kelly Long, Linda Parks, John Zaragoza and Robert O. Huber, Health Care Agency leadership, including Director Bill Foley, Deputy Director Matt Sandova,Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere, hospital medical staff, including trauma surgeons and nurses.
Ventura County Medical Center was awarded the designation as the west county’s Level II Trauma Center in 2011, and is dedicated to providing the most effective, efficient trauma care to the critically injured patient in Ventura County.
