French Hospital Medical Center Will Redefine Health Care in San Luis Obispo County with Transformation of Hospital Campus

This elaborate $100 million-plus expansion is slated to begin in November of 2019

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – March 2 2018 – French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC), a Dignity Health Central Coast hospital, today announced that after years of strategy and planning, health care in San Luis Obispo County will be redefined with a momentous transformation of its hospital campus. This incredible undertaking will transcend the facility into the hospital of the future, far exceeding the needs of our growing community through advanced technologies, highly skilled personnel, and a new state-of-the art facility.  

This elaborate $100 million-plus expansion is slated to begin in November of 2019, and will include:

• A new four-story 85,000 square-foot hospital addition
• 20,000 square-feet of renovated space within the existing facility
• 95 new private patient rooms, for a total of 115 private rooms, bringing the licensed bed count to 195
• An eight-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, delivering critical care to the tiniest of patients
• Five (5) Intensive Care Unit patient suites will be added to our present 11, bringing the total to 16 
• A new front entrance and lobby area to fit the growing space
• A helipad to ensure we can get patients requiring emergency care faster, when needed
• Expanded space for imaging, labs, materials management, food preparation, and more
• 90 additional parking spaces for the ease and convenience of our patients and their families
• Enhanced and advanced technology

“French Hospital Medical Center continues its pledge to remain at the forefront of health care, and we are eternally grateful to those that have continued to support our facility by contributing to our vision of exceptional care for our community,” says Alan Iftiniuk, President & CEO, French Hospital Medical Center. “We are eager to share our vision with the community, and look forward to the future of French Hospital.”     

This monumental expansion will ultimately establish French Hospital as the largest hospital in the county and the only with private patient rooms, allowing FHMC to further advance its programs and services. The project will transform not only the physical structure, but the way the hospital delivers health care to the community.

“The new facility is intended to implement a vision to deliver on a commitment to excellence, offering patients a transformational care experience and fulfilling promises made to the staff, physicians, volunteers, and the many donors and supporters who have invested their trust and belief in the direction of the hospital," adds Iftiniuk.                                      

The majority of the funding for this incredible project will come from hospital operations, in addition to seeking community donations, a campaign which the French Hospital Medical Center Foundation will initiate in the near future.

Along with this considerable effort, beginning in May, expansion will begin for a new Emergency Department, to be named the Oppenheimer Family Center for Emergency Medicine. As the premier cardiac center in San Luis Obispo, and as a designated stroke center, French Hospital is experiencing a significant increase in emergency room visits. This essential expansion project will house the most advanced emergency services center in the San Luis Obispo County.

French Hospital has seen an influx of growth and expansion as the facility continues to develop to remain the leaders in local health care. After completion of the cardiac facility, the now renowned Copeland, Forbes & Rossi Cardiac Care Center, the innovative George Hoag Family Hybrid Surgical Suite was introduced, followed by the technologically advanced Copeland Health Education Pavilion. The expansion and renovation of the impressive Stollmeyer Family Birthing Center and Acute Care nursery were recently completed, along with the renovation of the highly acclaimed Hearst Cancer Resource Center. Since Dignity Health acquired French Hospital in 2004, more than $45 million has been invested in the hospital to transform and modernize the facility. 

Aside from the aforementioned physical enhancements to the hospital, French Hospital also has the exceptional ability to invest in the community it serves.  As a reflection of the mission and commitment to improving community health and well-being, FHMC continues to identify and prioritize significant health needs and work in collaboration with local organizations to make positive and lasting impacts. Since 2004, French Hospital has provided nearly $25 million in community benefits to support various non-profit community programs.

To learn more about the project, visit www.dignityhealth.org/frenchhospital 

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About French Hospital Medical Center

French Hospital Medical Center, located in San Luis Obispo, California, is rated one of the Top 100 Hospitals in the nation and one of the Top 50 Cardiac Hospitals in the nation by Thomson Reuters.  The Copeland, Forbes, and Rossi Cardiac Care Center provides the latest innovative cardiac and imaging technology on the Central Coast. The hospital’s current modernization and redesign project is an example of the commitment to meet the growing needs of the community with lifesaving advancements in medicine coupled with excellent, compassionate care. The hospital is home to the unique Hearst Cancer Resource Center offering free education, resources and support to cancer patients and their families.  French is a Dignity Health member of the Central Coast which also includes Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, CA and Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, CA. Dignity Health of the Central Coast is an integrated network of top quality hospitals, physicians from the most prestigious medical schools, and comprehensive outpatient services including primary care offices, premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically-advanced laboratories and imaging centers and a full service home health agency; all recognized for quality, safety and service.  Each hospital is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to help meet the growing health care needs of our communities.