It was Wednesday January 14th, 2004 that the new $50-million Sonora Regional Medical Center opened their doors for the first time.
Gail Witzlsteiner, Director of Development and Public Relations, was Friday’s KVML “Newsmaker of the Day”.
Tuesday will mark the ten year anniversary of moving into and opening what many residents still call the “new” facility on Greenly Hill Road in Sonora.
The successful move from the old facility on Forest Road in Sonora, was the result of numerous planning meetings.
On that Wednesday morning of ten years ago, patients began to be transferred at 6 a.m.
That was when Sonora Community Hospital closed and Sonora Regional Medical Center opened, according to Witzlesteiner.
Several ambulances and support vehicles were used to transfer about 30 patients from the old facility and into the new complex across town.
“It is a very exciting time for everyone,” Witzlesteiner said.
In 2004 Sonora Community Hospital had 871 employees. Today, SRMC employees a total of 1,372 individuals. The number of physicians has grown from 120 in 2004 to 170 in 2014.
Adventist Health took over management of the Sonora-area hospital in 1961.
The “Newsmaker of the Day” is heard every weekday morning on AM 1450 KVML at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45am.