In an era of hospital emergency department closures throughout Los Angeles County, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills has embarked on the first phase of expanding its Emergency Department and Trauma Center. When the project reaches completion next year, the Emergency Department will increase from 22 to 34 patient beds.

"We will be able to accept more ambulance traffic with the new monitored beds," said Michael D. Sarti, M.D., Emergency Department medical director. "These new beds and the upcoming expansion will allow us to treat the increasing numbers of emergency patients while still receiving trauma patients --- mostly people who are critically injured in car accidents."

The success of the hospital's $7.5 million capital campaign, "The Golden Hour," provided sufficient funds to start the expansion. To contribute to the capital campaign, visit www.thegoldenhour.org or call (818) 898-4576.