[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 139 (Thursday, September 29, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STAFF OF RIVERSIDE GENERAL HOSPITAL

                                 ______


                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 29, 1994

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, there has been much said in this House 
about the topic of health care during the 103d Congress, but, 
unfortunately, words alone--even those from Members of Congress--do not 
make people healthier.
  While we have been talking about health care reform, a dedicated 
group of health care professionals and local officials in my district 
have been hard at work doing something to improve the quality of health 
care for the citizens of Riverside County, CA. Working together, they 
have begun preparations for construction of the new Riverside General 
Hospital-University Medical Center.
  For more than 100 years, Riverside General Hospital has served the 
needs of the citizens of Riverside County, and is currently the only 
county-funded hospital in Riverside County, and the only hospital to 
serve people without benefits and others unable to pay for their health 
care.
  First established in 1893, Riverside General is currently a 358 bed 
facility, owned and operated by the County of Riverside, and governed 
by the county board of supervisors. It treats all persons, regardless 
of age, race, sex, creed, or ability to pay, and it offers training 
programs for nursing students, medical residents and allied health 
professionals attending Riverside Community College, Loma Linda 
University and other regional colleges.
  As a Level II Trauma Center, Riverside General treats more than 
60,000 patients in its emergency room each year, and provides special 
services for neurosurgery, neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive 
care, high risk obstetrics, child abuse and neglect, and hemodialysis.
  In addition, this wonderful medical facility provides more than 
120,000 outpatient visits each year with a staff of 1,500 and an 
operational budget of approximately 200 million dollars.
  On October 13, a ``Field of Dreams'' groundbreaking ceremony for the 
new Riverside General Hospital-University Medical Center will take 
place in Moreno Valley in Riverside. I want to offer my congratulations 
to the Riverside General Board of Supervisors and to the administrators 
and staff of Riverside General on the beginning of an exciting new era 
of health care delivery in our county.
  When this magnificent new facility is opened in 1997, the excellent 
staff of doctors, nurses and other health care providers at Riverside 
General will have a facility worthy of their skills and talents--a 
facility which will enable them to better serve the health care needs 
of the people of our county.
  Thanks and congratulations to all who have made the ``Field of 
Dreams'' a reality.

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