The History of Pacific Hospital of Long Beach
Pacific Hospital of Long Beach is a full-service, teaching hospital with 184 licensed acute care beds.
We are fully accredited and have all the innovative technology that is expected of a medical center but with an important difference.
Our environment is small enough to assure patients of calm, homelike surroundings while providing a capable, professional staff. The result is a perfect blend of sensitivity and technology.
Our history stretches back to 1932 when Pacific Hospital was founded by a group of civic minded citizens and doctors. Magnolia Hospital joined the system in 1934 and in 1944, Los Cerritos Maternity Hospital was acquired. The Long Beach Poly Clinic was opened in 1947 to provide care for those unable to pay for a private physician.
Because of the growing need for additional facilities, a new non-profit corporation was formed, and in 1956 the present hospital was opened with 92 beds under the name
Long Beach Osteopathic Hospital.
The city of Long Beach, recognizing the need for additional hospital beds to cope with the huge population increase after World War II, funded the construction of a 96-bed addition that became operational in 1961. Early in 1962 the name was changed to Pacific Hospital of Long Beach and in 1978 construction of the west wing was completed.
Since its inception, Pacific Hospital has been a progressive innovator in the healthcare field. The first Intensive Care Unit in Long Beach was opened here in 1962. The first lens implants performed in the South Bay were done here, as were many other procedures, including Keratofractive surgery, the initial grant to establish paramedic training for this area under the Regional Medical Program was given to Pacific Hospital.
In 1997, HealthSmart Pacific Inc., a diversified health care organization located in Long Beach purchased the hospital. Since that change in ownership, the hospital has tripled the inpatient census, increased surgeries by more than 600%, purchased Doctor’s Hospital two miles west on Pacific Avenue, bought new technology for many department and provided secure jobs for over 800 employees and maintained the teaching program for 23 interns and residents in osteopathic medicine. We are a center of excellence for spine surgery and perform many orthopedic surgeries each day. At the Family Clinic, we supply necessary prenatal care for the large population of the Hispanic community and other nationalities.
On September 1st 2005, Faustino Bernadett assumed ownership of Pacific Hospital of Long Beach. He has continued the excellence in leadership that we have become accustomed to by continuing to expand our services and successfully lead us in to the future.
