French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) which along with Arroyo Grande Community Hospital (AGCH) and Marian Regional Medical Center (MRMC) are Dignity Health’s Central Coast hospitals, is holding a groundbreaking ceremony for the Copeland Health Education Pavilion.
The Copeland Health Education Pavilion will be a true community asset, providing access to the most advanced health care education resources free of charge. The pavilion will provide the most advanced learning tools, simulation labs, and expanded conference facilities which will be available to health care professionals as well as the entire community. The community is invited to come learn more about the facility and attend the Copeland Health Education Pavilion Groundbreaking Ceremony on Wed. Aug. 20th at 2 p.m. at the FHMC campus, 1911 Johnson Ave., San Luis Obispo. The ceremony will take place outside, to the right of the hospital as you enter the main parking lot.
This exciting addition to the FHMC campus is made possible by a contribution from the Copeland family. James and Sandra Copeland and Thomas and Pamela Copeland, longtime San Luis Obispo residents as well as business leaders and philanthropists, have given generously to FHMC over the years. Among their contributions, the Copelands joined the Forbes and Rossi families in 2007 to help fund and create the Copeland, Forbes and Rossi Cardiac Care Center. The Copeland family also donated funding to help support the multimillion-dollar hospital expansion project currently underway that will bring increased patient capacity, needed upgrades and leading-edge technology to the now 40-year-old facility.
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“We continue to be proud of our support of French Hospital and believe this is a significant next step to enhance health care education for our community,” says Jim Copeland, past Chairman of the French Hospital Community Board. “Providing access to the latest educational tools will only strengthen the quality of care for patients.”
Alan Iftiniuk, FHMC president/CEO, is grateful for the continued generosity of the Copeland family. “This wonderful community education resource would not be possible without the Copeland family. Their many contributions to French Hospital over the years have been invaluable, and are deeply appreciated,” he adds.
The Copeland Health Education Pavilion is an extension of the many programs and services offered by FHMC, and will fill the community’s need for a comprehensive health education facility. The pavilion will provide ongoing learning opportunities for employees and physicians at FHMC, keeping them informed on the latest technology and procedures. The community will benefit from no-charge health and wellness educational opportunities to achieve and enhance a healthy lifestyle.
Says Iftiniuk, “the Copeland Health Education Pavilion is part of the transformation taking place at French Hospital to address many of the changes happening in the health care industry.” He continues, “with a greater emphasis emerging on wellness and less hospitalizations, it is imperative for hospitals like French to take a greater leadership role in educating our community about ways to stay healthy.”
In keeping with our commitment to promoting a healthy community and outreach, FHMC will be donating space for a public walking and bike path through the hospital campus as part of constructing the pavilion. In addition, we are sharing our new facility with local organizations for training purposes, and providing access to the facility to the City of San Luis Obispo, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, Cal Poly State University, and Cuesta College. To learn more or to donate, please contact the French Hospital Medical Center Foundation at 805.542.6496.
About French Hospital Medical Center
French Hospital Medical Center, located in San Luis Obispo, California, is rated one of the Top 100 Hospitals in the nation and one of the Top 50 Cardiac Hospitals in the nation by Thomson Reuters.
The Copeland, Forbes, and Rossi Cardiac Care Center provide the latest innovative cardiac and imaging technology on the Central Coast. The hospital’s current modernization and redesign project is an example of the commitment to meet the growing needs of the community with lifesaving advancements in medicine coupled with excellent, compassionate care. The hospital is home to the unique Hearst Cancer Resource Center offering free education, resources and support to cancer patients and their families.
French is a Dignity Health member of the Central Coast which also includes Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, CA and Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, CA. Dignity Health of the Central Coast is an integrated network of top quality hospitals, physicians from the most prestigious medical schools, and comprehensive outpatient services including primary care offices, premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically-advanced laboratories and imaging centers and a full service home health agency; all recognized for quality, safety and service. Each hospital is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to help meet the growing health care needs of our communities.