About Us

Letter to the Community


April 3, 2008

Dear Friend:

This year marks one of the most important years in Washington Hospital’s history.  It is not only a significant year in terms of the Hospital providing health care services to the District, but it is the beginning of a rebirth of Washington Hospital as we begin to replace, rebuild and add buildings that will position the Hospital well to provide health-care services for the next 50 years to meet the needs of our community: 

  • This year, 2008, is significant because it marks the 50th anniversary of Washington Hospital Healthcare System and it also marks the 60th anniversary of Washington Township Health Care District.  If not for the forward-thinking residents of the District 60 years ago who voted to tax themselves, access to local healthcare services might not exist today. But what began as a small community hospital then has developed into a 359-bed hospital with the second busiest emergency room in Alameda County and home to internationally known Neuroscience and Joint Replacement programs.  The Hospital has come a long way since construction began more than 50 years ago in Fremont’s cauliflower fields. Join with us this year as we celebrate the Hospital’s golden anniversary.  
  • Washington Hospital will soon embark on the largest construction project in the Hospital’s history as a result of state mandated seismic regulations as well as the growth of the Tri-City area’s population since the Hospital opened its doors.  The phased construction will ultimately result in the replacement of nearly every building on the Hospital’s campus that today is used for patient care. The first phase of construction will begin this summer on a new Power Plant and the Center for Joint Replacement.  The Power Plant must be built before any new programs or services are added to the Hospital’s campus because the current Power Plant is at capacity.
  • A successful, three-day community legislative forum was held in January and focused on healthcare funding, financing and coverage issues. With health care as one of the leading topics being discussed at all levels of government – local, state and federal -- the forums were not designed to take one side or the other in the ongoing debate about access to healthcare services, but rather were intended to provide unbiased information to employers and the community at large. Health care is not a simple subject nor does it lend itself to short sound bites. The forums provided an opportunity for those who attended to ask decision-makers about all aspects of health care.

The first night of the forum featured remarks by former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, author of the Oregon Health Plan.  A panel discussion moderated by the League of Women Voters was held on the second night and featured State Senator Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro); State Assembly Member Alberto Torrico (D-Newark), Cindy Ehnes, Director of the California Department of Managed Health Care; Anmol S. Mahal, M.D., Immediate Past-President of the California Medical Association (CMA); and Sara Rogers, health consultant to State Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica).  The last night of the forum included Congressman Pete Stark (D-CA), who shared his views on Medicare Reform; and Dr. Dan Morgan, co-chair of Washington Hospital’s Bio-ethics Committee, who discussed single-payer initiatives.  The forum was an excellent way to bring forward the many issues in public policy that are so important for each of us to understand.  If you were unable to attend, a DVD copy of the three-day event may be obtained by contacting Washington Hospital’s Community Relations Department at (510) 791-3417.

  • The Gamma Knife Program, which opened last year as part of the Taylor McAdam Bell Neuroscience Institute, continues to bring together our highly-skilled physicians to provide treatments on the most advanced technology available -- the Leksell Gamma Knife® PERFEXION™-- to treat brain tumors and neurological disorders. Most importantly, the patients who need this specialized treatment can rest assured that they are receiving the highest level of care available anywhere in the world, right here at Washington Hospital.  In addition to providing treatment, the Gamma Knife Center draws physicians from all areas of the country that attend Gamma Knife PERFEXION training programs which are led by our physicians and professional staff.  We are also in the planning stages for another international conference this summer, the Second Annual Neuroscience Symposium, which will bring together physicians from throughout the United States and other countries to discuss the latest treatments and research associated with the brain and spine.  We’re looking forward to hosting this important symposium.

I hope you have found the news updates in this letter interesting and informative. Please feel free to contact our Community Relations department at (510) 791-3417 with any questions you may have about Washington Hospital, our wellness programs we offer to area businesses, or about the updates in this letter.

Sincerely,
Signature
Nancy Farber
Chief Executive Officer
Washington Hospital Healthcare System