Growing in the South Bay
Growing in the South Bay
Expanding emergency care at Scripps Mercy Hospital, Chula Vista
Roberto Medero, MD, and the emergency department staff at Scripps Mercy Hospital, Chula Vista, work to make patients feel as comfortable as possible.
Philanthropy has been at the heart of Scripps Mercy Hospital since its inception 130 years ago when Mother Mary Michael Cummings and the Sisters of Mercy turned to the San Diego community to raise a then unheard of amount of $200,000. Prominent residents, including E.W. Scripps, stepped up, donating the land and the funds needed to construct the facility.
Scripps Mercy has continued to grow along with the communities it serves and now operates campuses in San Diego and Chula Vista. Scripps Mercy Hospital, Chula Vista, has one of the most in-demand emergency departments (ED) in San Diego County, and recently had its busiest day ever with a record-breaking 220 patients.
“Our mission at Scripps and Scripps Mercy has always been to provide high-quality, compassionate care to the community and the emergency room is a focal point. It’s where we meet patients with the most pressing immediate health care needs,” says Tom Gammiere, regional chief executive – South, Scripps Mercy Hospital.
The need for emergency care in the bustling South Bay shows no signs of slowing down. From October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022, Scripps Mercy Hospital, Chula Vista, saw an increase of roughly 300 patients a month compared to the previous year. Compounding the uptick in emergency department visits is the lingering strain of the pandemic, which brought an influx of patients from the South Bay and across the border.
Philanthropists have taken notice and are heeding the call to help Scripps Mercy, Chula Vista, meet the persistent demand for emergency services. The Henry L. Guenther Foundation has generously donated $300,000 to fund much-needed improvements to the ED lobby, nursing station and patient triage rooms.
"We look forward to expansion of both Scripps Mercy campuses, and are so grateful for support from our generous donors who, through the years, have helped Scripps grow into one of the premier health care systems in the country." — Tom Gammiere, regional chief executive – South, Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego and Chula Vista campuses
Grant funds will be used for a much-needed upgrade to the nursing station and other areas that support patient care.
“The Henry L. Guenther Foundation congratulates Scripps Mercy Hospital on the expansion of their emergency department. The foundation recognizes the need for vital emergency room services and the importance of accessibility; therefore, we are pleased to have partnered with the hospital, resulting in thousands of patients residing in the San Diego area and across the border receiving lifesaving medical services,” says Susanne Sundberg, chairman of the board, Henry L. Guenther Foundation.
A renovation funded by the grant from the Guenther Foundation is under way to make the emergency department’s patient areas more welcoming and give families a more comfortable place to wait for their loved ones to be evaluated.
“Our goal is to make patients feel welcomed and cared for the second they walk in the door,” says Jackie Reardon, DO, emergency medicine physician, Scripps Mercy Hospital, Chula Vista. “The generosity of our donors can help create a healing environment for our patients and updated space for our dedicated team to deliver that critical care to our growing South Bay community.”
The expansions at Scripps Mercy Hospital’s San Diego and Chula Vista campuses are part of Scripps’ master plan for growth during the next decade. Philanthropy is important to support these efforts and other improvements at hospital and outpatient locations across the system and plays an integral role in Scripps’ legacy far into the future.
“Gifts from the Guenther Foundation, and donations from others who have helped us expand our services, are precious resources that help us strive to meet the needs of our community,” says Gammiere.
“We look forward to expansion of both Scripps Mercy campuses and are so grateful for support from our generous donors who, through the years, have helped Scripps grow into one of the premier health care systems in the country.”
This content appeared in San Diego Health, a publication in partnership between Scripps and San Diego Magazine that celebrates the healthy spirit of San Diego.
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