Feather River Hospital
Encyclopedia
Feather River Hospital is a 101-bed acute care
hospital near Sacramento
, with a wide array of outpatient departments and services designed to meet the health care needs of Paradise, California
and its neighboring communities.
Construction was scheduled to begin in April 1948, however, at the time funding was not available to build surgical and obstetrical units. When applying to the State of California for an operating license, the hospital board learned that the hospital did not qualify for licensure unless it had a surgical unit. Dr. Horning contacted a friend, the state director of public health, and soon a new hospital classification was created to accommodate the project. Within days, Feather River received licensure to operate as an acute medical facility containing 18 beds and officially opened in 1950.
Feather River has experienced three “firsts” in their geographical region. It was the only hospital in the area to train nurse assistants; they pioneered the teen volunteer program of candystripers and handystripers, and the facility was the first public building in Butte County to prohibit smoking.
In 1952, a surgery unit was added and by the end of the decade, a new wing also had been completed. More space was soon needed, so in 1964 a new food service department and a physician’s office building was added. Four years later, in 1968, the construction of a new 150-bed hospital was completed. This facility is located uphill from the original building which now houses the hospital’s Health Center.
The hospital founders and trustees desired to ensure the facility’s long-term mission as an Adventist
health care center and so in 1960 they entrusted the hospital to the Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. On January 8, 1973, Feather River joined Adventist Health
and became Adventist Health/Feather River Hospital.
, a health care organization headquartered in Roseville, California. Adventist Health
represents regional delivery networks spanning California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. The networks comprise 85 distinct business units including 20 acute care facilities—controlled, managed or leased—with more than 3,000 beds, 17,000 employees, numerous clinics and outpatient facilities, medical foundations and 18 home health agencies.
In 1999, Feather River became the first hospital in Northern California to house an Endoscopy Suite complete with voice activated, hands free surgical equipment. It is one of only four hospitals in the region with an anticoagulation clinic, and funds a wide range of preventative treatment programs.
Acute care
Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery...
hospital near Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
, with a wide array of outpatient departments and services designed to meet the health care needs of Paradise, California
Paradise, California
Paradise is an incorporated town in Butte County, in the northwest foothills of California's Central Valley, in the Sierra. The town is considered part of the Chico Metropolitan Area. The population was 26,218 at the 2010 census, down from 26,408 at the 2000 census...
and its neighboring communities.
History
In 1946, Dr. Merritt C. Horning envisioned building a “total health center” in Paradise, California. Dr. Horning shared this vision with three of his colleagues: Dr. Dean Hoiland, Dr. C.C. Landis and Dr. Glenn Blackwelder. These men, along with other community leaders, purchased 35 acres (141,640.1 m²) from Paradise Irrigation District for the price of back taxes – $3,500. Within the next few years, additional acreage was acquired throughout several purchases, eventually totaling 182 acre (0.73652852 km²). Labor and building materials were largely acquired through donations and volunteers.Construction was scheduled to begin in April 1948, however, at the time funding was not available to build surgical and obstetrical units. When applying to the State of California for an operating license, the hospital board learned that the hospital did not qualify for licensure unless it had a surgical unit. Dr. Horning contacted a friend, the state director of public health, and soon a new hospital classification was created to accommodate the project. Within days, Feather River received licensure to operate as an acute medical facility containing 18 beds and officially opened in 1950.
Feather River has experienced three “firsts” in their geographical region. It was the only hospital in the area to train nurse assistants; they pioneered the teen volunteer program of candystripers and handystripers, and the facility was the first public building in Butte County to prohibit smoking.
In 1952, a surgery unit was added and by the end of the decade, a new wing also had been completed. More space was soon needed, so in 1964 a new food service department and a physician’s office building was added. Four years later, in 1968, the construction of a new 150-bed hospital was completed. This facility is located uphill from the original building which now houses the hospital’s Health Center.
The hospital founders and trustees desired to ensure the facility’s long-term mission as an Adventist
Adventist
Adventism is a Christian movement which began in the 19th century, in the context of the Second Great Awakening revival in the United States. The name refers to belief in the imminent Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It was started by William Miller, whose followers became known as Millerites...
health care center and so in 1960 they entrusted the hospital to the Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. On January 8, 1973, Feather River joined Adventist Health
Adventist Health
Adventist HealthTypeOperates health care facilities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and WashingtonFounded1980HeadquartersRoseville, CAAffiliationSeventh-day Adventist ChurchEmployees17,500Mission Statement...
and became Adventist Health/Feather River Hospital.
Affiliation
Feather River is part of Adventist HealthAdventist Health
Adventist HealthTypeOperates health care facilities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and WashingtonFounded1980HeadquartersRoseville, CAAffiliationSeventh-day Adventist ChurchEmployees17,500Mission Statement...
, a health care organization headquartered in Roseville, California. Adventist Health
Adventist Health
Adventist HealthTypeOperates health care facilities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and WashingtonFounded1980HeadquartersRoseville, CAAffiliationSeventh-day Adventist ChurchEmployees17,500Mission Statement...
represents regional delivery networks spanning California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. The networks comprise 85 distinct business units including 20 acute care facilities—controlled, managed or leased—with more than 3,000 beds, 17,000 employees, numerous clinics and outpatient facilities, medical foundations and 18 home health agencies.
Services
In 1980, a $1.5 million, 13600 sq ft (1,263.5 m²). addition was built to house the Intensive Coronary Care Unit, Emergency Department and Medical Imaging Department. Operating suites, a laboratory and certain services were also remodeled. In the late 1980’s, an Alcohol and Chemical Recovery Program opened and a state-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterization Lab was added in March of 1990. The Center for Women’s Health opened in September of the same year.In 1999, Feather River became the first hospital in Northern California to house an Endoscopy Suite complete with voice activated, hands free surgical equipment. It is one of only four hospitals in the region with an anticoagulation clinic, and funds a wide range of preventative treatment programs.