Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center Buries 50-Year Time Capsule to Commemorate New Pediatric Unit

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC) has broken ground for a new pediatric unit to expand pediatric inpatient services and improve access to higher levels of care. The state-of-the-art unit will lessen the number of patients transferred to out-of-area hospitals and allow local pediatricians and primary care physicians an option for direct admissions to PVHMC. To commemorate the event, a time capsule containing items reflective of the past three years was buried at the new site.

“We were excited to bury a time capsule to capture some of this decade’s most memorable moments that our future Associates and community can reflect upon,” said Richard E. Yochum, FACHE, President/CEO of PVHMC.

The pediatric unit will complement PVHMC’s complete prenatal to adolescent care it currently provides. PVHMC has an existing perinatal center and a high-risk maternity care program with a transport team. One of the largest birthing hospitals in California, PVHMC includes a 53-bed, Level IIIB Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with a transport team. Additionally, the facility operates a high-risk infant follow-up clinic, a children’s outpatient clinic and two pediatric physical, occupational, speech and language therapy clinics.

A $15 million dollar grant from the California Health Facilities Financing Authority will help finance the 15-bed unit, featuring nine fully private rooms and three semi-private rooms that can accommodate large families. Designed for safer, more modern and efficient care, the new area will have pediatric room designs that promote a healing environment. Also contained will be a telemedicine program to allow for immediate, remote patient access. The facility will continue to be staffed by pediatric hospitalists and neonatologists through an affiliation with CHOC Children’s Hospital.

The buried time capsule will be opened in 50 years. Included are pictures of PVHMC’s pediatric nursing team, a note from PVHMC pediatricians, a covid nasal swab, an N95 mask, a covid isolation sign, copies of hospital newsletters, a holiday ornament with an ode to the COVID-19 quarantine ordinance, and pediatric statistics from the past decade. To learn more about pediatric care at PVHMC, visit www.pvhmc.org.

About Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC), a nationally recognized and accredited 412-bed, not-for-profit community medical center and trauma center, proudly serves residents in eastern Los Angeles and western San Bernardino counties. PVHMC’s accolades include Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence and The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for advanced certification in inpatient diabetes care, palliative care, sepsis, perinatal care and total joint replacement. As one of the largest birthing hospitals in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, PVHMC is honored to hold the prestigious Baby-Friendly designation. The Hospital is named a Best Regional Hospital and High-Performing Hospital by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit pvhmc.org.