---

Description

---

Mad River Community Hospital is a locally owned and independent hospital committed to providing the best care to its patients by providing advanced technology and a deep commitment to the community and its residents

Mad River Community Hospital provides a complete range of acute care inpatient services including OB emergency medicine physical therapy ICU medsurg and radiological services The 5bed Emergency Room and 3 room Urgent Care department is staffed 24 hours a day and has applied for a limited trauma designation The radiology department is equipped with fixed MRI CT scan and xray

The facility is also associated with an adult day health care home health care department outpatient rehabilitation clinics wound care and hyperbaric oxygen program Enjoy browsing through our web site to find more detailed information about our facility

Our Mission
The patient is our first concern We will do everything in our power to exceed the expectations of our patients and our community through quality care services attention to detail honest communication and positive attitude All physical facilities skills of personnel and management are geared at all times to the needs of the patient The hospital has an obligation to provide those it serves with the best possible care through the best possible resources

Our Vision
We are Mad River Community Hospital Our quest is to become Californias leading and most innovative community health center We commit to providing excellent care to our patients We pledge to always respect and care for those who choose us for wellness healthcare or employment or as a place to practice the art and science of medicine

---

History

---

Thirty years ago a commitment was made by the local community and concerned medical professionals to keep a medical facility open in the small town of Arcata California Because of the dedication of publicminded citizens of the North Coast an Arcatabased hospital was able to continue serving the local community The following relates this history of Mad River Community Hospital Trinity Hospital


1911 The original Trinity Hospital was built on the corner of 13th and G Streets in Arcata The hospital had 25 beds a nursery and two sun rooms The operating room was on the top floor in order to get maximum lighting The hospital was run by Dr George McKinnon a true pioneer who spent time in Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush Dr McKinnon operated the hospital for 12 years and then sold it to Dr Purlenky

1925 The Arcata Chamber of Commerce raised funds to purchase the hospital from Dr Purlenky The hospital was then staffed with four doctors and four nurses

1927 The Sisters of St Joseph of Orange ran the facility until a tragic fire swept through the hospital on February 3 1943 causing extensive damage

1943 March 25 Rebuilding began when a full city block at 14th and C Streets was purchased for the hospital by the Arcata Chamber of Commerce through contributions from the community With extensive community support and donations the Trinity Hospital was rebuilt in 1944 and operations were resumed by the Sisters of St Joseph


1968 Two financial factors were setting the stage for what appeared to be the final chapter of Trinity Hospital Humboldt State College now University announced they had requested funds to be provided in their 19691970 budget for the purchase of the Trinity Hospital site and the Sisters of St Joseph after considering a plan to build a new hospital on donated land not far from Trinity opted instead to consolidate their EurekaArcata operations into one hospital St Joseph Hospital in Eureka Citing the lack of state and federal funds for modernization or expansion to a new site and the unfeasibility of continuing with the current facility the Sisters announced they would close the hospital on June 30 1969

Arcata Mayor Ward Falor called a town meeting to discuss the future of Trinity Hospital Out of this meeting the Trinity Hospital Action Committee was formed representing community members who were interested in the future of Trinity Hospital They requested help from American Hospital Management Corporation AHMC in building a new hospital and operating Trinity Hospital until a new facility could be built


Allen Shaw President of AHMC was impressed with the community and the physician support In Fall 1968 AHMC and the members of the Trinity Hospital Medical Staff purchased 47 acres for the new hospital site from Mr and Mrs Manuel Machado located at the north end of Arcata on the Mad River Communitywide efforts were underway to purchase the old Trinity Hospital from the Sisters and the arduous political process of gaining State approval to build a new hospital began

1969 July 1 With no interruption of services or employee layoffs AHMC assumed the operation of Trinity Hospital from the Sisters of St Joseph of Orange Among the first improvements was the addition of the Countys first Cardiac Care Unit

1972 October Without the assistance of state or federal funds Mad River Hospital opened its doors with patients from Trinity Hospital transferred to the new facility

Since that time AHMC has sold its four other hospitals thus managing only Mad River Community Hospital and devoting itself entirely to the people of northern Humboldt County To this day Mad River Community Hospital remains deeply committed to ensuring a choice in communitybased health care on the North Coast

North Coast residents continue to support Mad River Community Hospital as their hospital of choice in Humboldt County This is clearly noted in the 2004 quotWhat Patients Think of California Hospitalsquot Survey conducted in partnership with the California HealthCare Foundation and the NRCPicker Group Mad River Community Hospital scored three out of three stars an above average rating The survey results are included in this report for your review