[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 154 (Thursday, November 8, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE MARIAN MEDICAL CENTER WEST

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 8, 2001

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to the 
most recent addition of the Marian Medical Center, the Marian Medical 
Center West.
  Since its inception on May 20, 1940, the Marian Medical establishment 
has found the perpetual need to keep expanding in order to better serve 
the growing community of Santa Maria, California. In 1940, eight 
Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity were assigned 
to Santa Maria to manage and staff a hospital for the growing community 
of approximately 8,000 people. The new facility was named Our Lady of 
Perpetual Help Hospital, by its first administrator, Sister Noella 
Dieringer.
  Three years later, in 1943, the 1000th baby was born at the hospital, 
and it became apparent that the Santa Maria community was growing fast. 
Sister Marilyn Ingram worked hard to secure land in the Santa Maria 
area, and, through the generosity of Captain and Mrs. Allan Hancock, a 
new facility, Marian Hospital, was able to open its doors in 1967.
  Today, the Marian Medical Center has expanded to include a 130 bed 
acute care hospital, a 95 bed extended care center, a dialysis unit, a 
home health agency, infusion services, a hospice program, and 
outpatient healthcare services. Yet as the Santa Maria community 
continues to grow, the medical center must expand as well. The addition 
of the Marian Medical Center West will help alleviate overcrowding in 
the hospital's main facility by providing 36 inpatient beds and 
expanded outpatient facilities.
  The Marian Medical Center has provided services to thousands of Santa 
Maria residents over the last 60 years and with the addition of the new 
center thousands of more citizens can be served in the future. I am 
honored to have the opportunity of recognizing the Marian Medical 
Center West on its grand opening, and it pleases me that this facility 
continues to prosper.

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