I have been invited to submit my bio and information for consideration to join the Community Hospital of Long Beach’s Foundation board of directors. I am quite honored to be considered for nomination. Serving on the board of a local hospital is a prestigious honor and one that I will not take lightly. It requires time and commitment to ensure that my involvement means I am giving something back to the community in which I live and practice in.

The tour was given by a nurse who has been with the hospital for over 40 years. She is now the Chief Operating Officer. To say the least, the behind-the-scenes tour was amazing. While we toured the entire hospital, patient rooms, emergency facilities and everywhere in between, what was amazing was this:

1.  Every facet of the hospital has been designed with the patient in mind. There is a small section in emergency that is away from the action, is a darker room and is used for those suffering with migraines or other ailments where a quiet, dark room is crucial. Chairs all through out the hospital vary in size including a larger seat size to accommodate family and loved ones who might be larger in size so they can be comfortable too. A small break room was taken away from emergency personnel like firefighters and police officers to provide yet another room for more patient beds. In ICU, the rooms have glass walls to allow more light all throughout the wing so the ICU patients can get a better sense of day and night for their own orientation. There is a shift to have more private rooms with bed each so patients can recover solo without being disturbed by another patient who may have different needs. The waiting areas have been re-done to welcome families. Overall, it was amazing to hear all of the nuances and changes made to accommodate the patient.

2. The technology that has been embraced by the hospital is phenomenal. On order is a portable computer that can show x-ray readings so the digital x-ray can go to the patient instead of the patient hobbling to the x-ray reading area. There is a state of the art CAT scan equipment that can show images faster and in more detail including an awesome 4D version.

3. The emergency room was beyond impressive. Their goal is that every patient is seen within 5 minutes of entering the emergency room doors and there is no waiting. At 11:30 am on a Thursday, the emergency room waiting area had one body. During our tour, one man rushed in asking for a wheelchair. My tour guide walked away from us, grabbed a wheelchair and took the next 5 minutes to help this gentleman with the incoming patient. Absolutely amazing. There’s even a little gizmo in the wall of the emergency room to submit a lab sample inside a tube and have it shuttle over to the lab across the way for a faster lab analysis.

I am honored to be a part of this community and to have a chance to tour such a wonderful facility. I urge all of you to consider visiting your local hospitals in good times and ask how you can volunteer or help. It will make you feel good and serve your community as well.