Foundation Awards Grant to Valley Presbyterian to Help Fund Operating Rooms Renovation

VAN NUYS, Calif. — The Fritz B. Burns Foundation awarded a $100,000 grant to Valley Presbyterian Hospital to help fund the construction of a centralized nursing station as part of an ongoing renovation transforming the hospital’s operating rooms into state-of-the-art surgery suites, Gustavo Valdespino, VPH president and CEO, announced.

“We are deeply grateful for this generous gift, which will help ensure better communication and management of our operating rooms for the approximately 7,000 patients who trust us annually with their surgical needs,” said Mr. Valdespino. “The Fritz B. Burns Foundation has been a steadfast supporter of Valley Presbyterian Hospital, donating more than $3.5 million since 1986 to help us provide the technology and the facilities needed to be the premier healthcare provider in the San Fernando Valley. The modernization of our surgical facilities is essential to serving the hospital’s rapidly growing number of surgical patients.”

In a six-year span, the number of surgeries performed at VPH grew by 81 percent, to 7,150 in 2010. VPH already has refurbished four of nine operating rooms to support minimally invasive surgical techniques and to facilitate the move to electronic medical records.

The centralized nursing station, which will be funded in part with the $100,000 grant, will help promote the smooth flow of communication between staff members and the overall efficiency of the operating rooms. It also will improve the charge nurse’s ability to monitor the operating rooms to ensure the surgeons have everything needed for the surgeries to go smoothly.

“With the generous gifts from the Fritz B. Foundation and our other donors, Valley Presbyterian Hospital can continue its progress in offering the latest in surgical facilities for the benefit of the greater San Fernando Valley community it has served for more than half a century,” said Mr. Valdespino.

About Valley Presbyterian Hospital

Founded in 1958, Valley Presbyterian Hospital, a non-profit and nonsectarian hospital, has remained focused on meeting the medical needs of the community for over 50 years. While VPH has grown to become one of the largest acute care hospitals in the San Fernando Valley, it continues to provide patient-centered care for a healthier community. The 350-bed facility offers leading-edge technology and a full range of medical services. With 500 physicians representing virtually every specialty and most sub-specialties, VPH provides the latest state-of-the-art treatments to improve and save lives. For more information, visit www.valleypres.org.