Dear friends,
You are undoubtedly aware that CHOC has entered one of the most dynamic and exciting eras in our organization’s 48-year history. The state of-the-art CHOC South Tower will open to patients in spring of 2013, with a number of pediatric-specialized programs and services that will be new to our hospital. As we prepare to unveil the outstanding new facilities that will house these programs, we recognize that fostering innovation, discovery and advancement in quality and safety of care, while continuing to build alignment with our physician and community partners, will be essential to offering the world-class pediatric our patients and families deserve.
Our increasingly dynamic health care environment requires that we partner closely with physicians to provide the best possible care to our patients. We made important progress toward this goal with the formation of our new medical foundation, CHOC Specialists, which offers an important option for close collaboration with the pediatric subspecialists and surgeons who practice at CHOC. CHOC Specialists will facilitate clinical integration, expanded access to care, and help us attract and retain the next generation of pediatric subspecialists.
CHOC’s affiliation with UC Irvine continues to present exciting new opportunities for collaboration and synergy. Our two institutions have committed resources to the development of joint research and education strategic plans while building upon our strong foundation of clinical integration. Together, we are realizing the promise of our role as a preeminent academic medical center, discovering cures and training tomorrow’s pediatric experts.
Despite incredibly challenging economic times, evidence of our burgeoning growth is everywhere. Working in collaboration with our longtime community partner, St. Joseph Hospital, we will soon open a 13-bed, CHOC-staffed-and-licensed Level IIB neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) adjacent to St. Joseph Hospital’s new postpartum unit. We also expanded our NICU at CHOC at Mission Hospital, adding six new patient beds.
The most dramatic evidence of our growth is our new, seven-story patient care tower in Orange. When the South Tower opens next spring, for the first time in CHOC history, all core patient and ancillary services will be provided under our own roof—making CHOC one of the safest, most advanced children’s hospitals in the county.
Named one of the best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report (2012-2013) and a 2011 Leapfrog Top Hospital, CHOC also earned the Gold Level CAPE Award from the California Council of Excellence, the only children’s hospital in California to ever earn this distinction. For a second time in a row, our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) earned the Pediatric Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence.
Led by our board of directors and the extraordinary efforts of our physicians, our Magnet-designated nursing program, our Associates and volunteers, CHOC is shaping the future of pediatric medicine. On behalf of the patients and families we are privileged to serve, thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Kimberly C. Cripe
President and Chief Executive Officer
