Evidence of this commitment has been its efforts to invest in new technology. This year the hospital celebrates the one-year anniversary of its new digital image tracking system called ACCESS, which enables staff to view X-ray images online within minutes.
The system cost $1.8 million to install and has helped to significantly reduce waiting times for patients and improve the accuracy of diagnoses with clearer X-ray images.
The benefits of cutting-edge technology can also be found in the Emergency Department, which is six months through a pilot program to digitize the patient information board.
The new board gives physicians access to patient information at a click of a button. When a patient enters the ED, their medical history can immediately be viewed on a computer screen that can display information such as allergies and past surgeries, which is especially useful for ED staff if a patient is admitted unconscious or not completely lucid.
The digital information board is so advanced that patient pictures can also be stored on it, helping to prevent identity mix-ups and fraud. Once the pilot program is complete, physicians in other hospital departments will have access to the same patient information.
Just as Verdugo Hills Hospital is committed to investing in new medical technology and upgrading its facilities, as it has done in the ED and the Gastroenterology Department, it is also striving to offer new and unique services that meet the needs of the community.
Every day after 3 p.m., the ED offers members of the community a new "Fast-Track Service" that aims to have all non-urgent injuries and illnesses treated within an hour.
Two years ago, the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department started its highly successful "A Balanced Life" program, which aims to prevent falls among the elderly.
This year, the hospital's HomeCare and Care at Home Departments have joined forces to provide Mommy Care, an exciting new program that will be launched in November.
