Construction to resume on much-needed hospital expansion in north valley.

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Ending a struggle that frustrated patients and politicians
alike, the Los Angeles City Council voted today 14-0 to reaffirm its 2007
approval of the expansion of Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission
Hills.

The move will expand medical options for many Santa Clarita
residents as well as provide jobs and additional health care specialties for
those living in or traveling through the northern San Fernando
Valley.

“This isn’t just a great day for Providence Holy Cross, it’s
a big victory for our entire community,” said Kerry Carmody, Chief Operating
Officer for Providence Health Services, California region. “We thank the City
Council for allowing Providence Holy Cross to complete our commitment to expand
health care services for the citizens of Los Angeles,
add 250 new high-paying health care jobs while also putting union trade workers
back to work on this most important building project.”

The council chambers were packed, prompting Councilman
Dennis Zine to remark that he’d never seen the room filled with so many
supporters for an issue. Speakers representing labor unions, Chamber of
Commerce members, police and fire unions and nurses expressed their support of
the project.

Construction on the privately-funded $180 million expansion,
which will include 101 patient beds, a neonatal intensive care unit, new ICU
beds, a women’s pavilion and a chapel, among other needed features and
services, was suspended in October after a court upheld a council vote to stop
construction until additional environmental impact studies were obtained.

The council revisited the issue, which was initially
approved in 2007, in light of the community’s need for a bigger hospital to
serve the area’s growing population. Councilman Greig Smith championed the
cause and helped to shepherd the vote, urging the council members to set aside
politics and re-vote on the project.

Emergency Department nurse Cathy Carter helped rally support
for the expansion among co-workers and patients.

"We are thrilled," Carter said. "This
action today by the City Council will help us to
improve patient care.  It's hard enough for our patients to be comfortable
when they're not feeling well, but impossible when they have to sleep on a
gurney in a hallway until there's a room available. Our patients can't wait
until this project is finished."