UCLA West Valley Medical Center

Thank you to everyone who celebrated National Health Center Week with us. 💙 From coffee and treats, to froyo and thank you notes, we're grateful for each and every team member at UCLA West Valley Medical Center.

In honor of National Health Center Week, our team at UCLA West Valley Medical Center threw a Los Angeles Dodgers-themed BBQ, with guest Bobble! This week is about celebrating our wonderful staff and showing our appreciation for everyone's contributions. Thank you to all who made this a fantastic gathering 🍔 💙 💛

Sometimes, the best of friends come from work. On Friendship Day, we're highlighting some work besties at UCLA West Valley Medical Center that embody what friendship really means.

1️⃣ Eva & Brittany McDaniel met in 2014, while working in the Emergency Department. "To have a best friend at work brings a feeling of happiness, joy, and relief knowing whatever the day brings you have someone to depend and lean on."

2️⃣ Holly and Kaylynn met in 2017 as new grads at West Valley - both have since transferred to the ICU. "Having your best friend at work means having endless support and knowing there will be someone there that will always help you with the mental stressors and physical aspects of bedside nursing. It’s comforting when you have someone you trust right next to you and someone who never fails to make you laugh.”

3️⃣ Diana & Amy Stewart work at the West Hills Surgery Center on the UCLA West
Valley Medical Center Campus who have been friends since 2022. “We have created a bond that makes us feel like family. We push each other to better ourselves and our work environment. We are so happy to be part of the UCLA team and to do it together is a dream come true!”

Santi loves his Los Angeles Dodgers bear he received from UMPS CARE Charities last week. MLB umpires brought 100 Build-a-Bears to patients, picking out their favorite stuffed animals and personalizing their outfits. 🧸

Congratulations to Rami Shaarawy, MD, West Valley’s Physician of the Quarter! Dr. Shaarawy was nominated by the West Valley Medical Staff for his dedication and commitment to medical center, as well as the great care he provides his patients.

The Burn Center at UCLA West Valley Medical Center wishes everyone a safe and happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸 🎇 A friendly reminder to leave the fireworks to the professionals, a list of shows can be found here: https://bit.ly/3xH17P8

Hartley Bishop and her classmates created get well cards for the UCLA West Valley Medical Center patients. Hartley is a thoughtful 10 year old who spent one of her first summer vacation days delivering these special messages throughout the hospital!

We’re proud to welcome Matt Cova as the new CEO of Regional Medical Center!

“I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead the exceptional team at Regional Medical Center and to re-envision our mission while building on our record of exceptional patient care,” Cova said. “We’re in the business of making people’s lives better, and I’m truly energized for how we can continue to evolve to serve our community’s needs today and for the future.” Read more - https://bit.ly/4ebrX26

Postcards from Alaska 🏔️ A recent patient sent one of our nurses, Blake, a postcard from their latest trip, expressing gratitude for his encouragement to embark on the journey. Personal connections like these have a lifelong impact 💙 💛

Celebrating EMS Week with delicious BBQ lunch for our local EMS teams. Thank you for all you do for the West Valley Community! 💙 💛

Opening hundreds of safety-sealed pill packs for patients a week causes repetitive motion for nurses, leaving them prone to nail breakage, arthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. That's when Veronica Pellegrino, RN, a nurse on the orthopedic unit, decided she wanted to make this process easier.

Pellegrino submitted her idea to the UCLA Health Innovation Challenge, and is now working with UCLA Biodesign to create a business plan and product development for her device, Popsy.

The Innovation Challenge is a yearlong accelerator open to members of our community, including: doctors, nurses, researchers, trainees and staff members. Ideas like Pellegrino's can advance through the program, and applications are open through June 30th. Submit your idea:

Nurse invents pill-pack-opening device to boost efficiency, comfort, safety for fellow nurses Breadcrumb Home News & Insights Nurse invents pill-pack-opening device to boost efficiency, comfort, safety for fellow nurses UCLA Health Innovation Challenge, one source of resources and funding, is open to employees, volunteers, patients – anyone with a good idea in health care. Veronica Pellegr...

HAPPY HOSPITAL WEEK! Across our larger HCA Healthcare network, approximately 309,000 colleagues are bound together by a collective mission: Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life.

This week and every week, we celebrate the dedicated nurses, physicians, therapists, pharmacists, environmental services professionals – and all who provide and support healthcare services in our communities. Thank you for transforming care and touching lives.

HAPPY NURSES WEEK! Your dedication and commitment to care is invaluable. Take a moment to read the words from our nursing leaders across HCA Healthcare.

Happy National Nurses Week to the heart of HCA Healthcare At HCA Healthcare, more than 99,000 nurses are foundational to all we do and key to delivering on our commitment to our patients.

Nursing Leadership presented a DAISY Award to Chrystal Bridges, RN, for her extraordinary nursing care and patient teaching. Chrystal was nominated by a patient who wrote, “She is a top notch, A+++ nurse and deserves an award for extraordinary thoughtfulness, caring and accomplishing her nurse duties!”

This , we celebrate nurses across our HCA Healthcare family. Today, the Far West Fiesta was in full swing. We were entertained by the talents of Danzantes Studios with the art of Folklorico. While we applauded their grace and beauty, our nurses in the Division offices felt the warmth of culture and compassion. Each nurse brings a diverse background, a wealth of clinical expertise and a heartfelt reason to care for our patients, families and each other. Thank you to each and every one of you.

At HCA Healthcare, we are dedicated to promoting an inclusive culture for our patients, colleagues and the communities we serve. Each May, Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Heritage Month commemorates the vital contributions of Asian and Pacific Islanders to the American story.

We are pleased to welcome Kristina Kleist as our new Director of Government Relations. Kristina brings over a decade of administrative law and government relations experience. Kristina has worked closely to develop and execute complex legislative strategies which have helped foster sound policy within Nevada. Her success has stemmed from strong relationships with decision makers and the ability to work collaboratively with key stakeholders. We're excited to have her join the HCA Healthcare family.

At HCA Healthcare, we’re committed to caring for the individuals we serve with warmth and empathy at every step of their healthcare journey. During Patient Experience Week, our hospitals forge strong connections to ensure every patient receives the compassionate care they deserve.

Thank you to our colleagues for connecting with their patients through compassion and thank you to our patients for trusting us with your healthcare journey. Happy Patient Experience Week!

This National Volunteer Week, we celebrate and thank all of our wonderful volunteers who continue to bring light to our hospital.

We share a spotlight on Jody Gaspar, who worked for UCLA Health for 16 years. After retirement, she missed the health care environment and sought volunteer opportunities. She lived in Woodland Hills, and started volunteering at UCLA West Valley Medical Center (formerly West Hills Hospital), as it was the closest facility to her home. Jody works several areas of the hospital, including the lobby desk, bringing a smiling face to anyone who enters. She started volunteering in 2017 and continues to be committed to her volunteerism today.

Thank you Jody, and all our volunteers at UCLA West Valley Medical Center. Your time and efforts are cherished. 💙💛

There are so many incredible physicians throughout HCA Healthcare and we're so grateful for their dedication and commitment. During this Physicians Week, we recognize our very own Far West Division Chief Medical Officer, Jeff Murawsky, M.D. Anyone that knows Dr. Murawsky can attest to his warm personality, heart of gold, and passion to provide quality care and leadership to all of our hospital leaders and medical staff. Today we celebrate you, Dr. Murawsky. Thank you for all that you do.

Welcoming UCLA West Valley Medical Center, formerly known as West Hills Hospital and Medical Center. UCLA Health is honored to serve the San Fernando Valley community with even more convenience! 💙💛 This 260-bed hospital improves access to specialty care for people in the Valley. Our community is at the heart of what we do. Follow UCLA Health for updates. Read more about this announcement: https://ucla.in/4a9dQrH

Jackie Van Blaricum has served as the first female president of HCA Healthcare's Far West Division since January, 2023. Her leadership and dedication have touched the lives of so many throughout the hospitals, free-standing emergency rooms and surgical centers in Southern Nevada and California markets. Jackie has been with HCA Healthcare for more than 20 years and during Women's History Month, we thank her for her ongoing commitment to our patients, colleagues, and the communities we serve. She is a true inspiration and leads our mission daily by being committed to the care and improvement of human life. Thank you Jackie!

Congratulations to Emi Soto, this quarter's Petal Award for extraordinary nursing support. Emi received several nominations for her amazing care. One in particular wrote, "Emi always bring a smile and sunshine to my hospital stay."

Congratulations to Irina Levitskaya, ICU Nursing Coordinator, for being honored with this quarter's DAISY Award. Irina was nominated by her peers not only for the amazing care she provides to patients, but also for the amazing mentoring she provides to our new nurses!

Did you get Valentine's Day sweets from someone special in your life? If dark chocolate was part of your assortment, those treats might do your heart some good in more ways than one. Find out how: https://westhillshospital.com/blog/entry/is-dark-chocolate-good-for-your-heart

Congratulations to this quarter's Daisy Award recipient, Amy Sekhon, RN. Amy was nominated by a patient's family who wrote, "We loved her calm and gentle yet outgoing personality and she is definitely a person that anyone can feel comfortable around, which is a trait that is so important to have as a nurse."

The big game in Las Vegas was expected to bring almost 400,000 people to our home town. For months now the Far West Division and our 3 Vegas hospitals and free-standing emergency rooms, in partnership with first responders, have been taking steps to ensure the city a safe event. This past weekend our teams celebrated our HCA culture with pre-game celebrations and onsite attendance at the main event. It is an honor to celebrate this incredible event in Las Vegas. Thank you to all our colleagues, first responders, and government officials for your preparation and service to this community.

This National Burn Awareness Week, the American Burn Association is highlighting the dangers of flammable liquids. Avoid burns with these fire safety tips. To learn more about burn prevention, visit: https://bit.ly/42vd9Gl

This National Burn Awareness Week, we’re encouraging our communities to handle flammable liquids with care. The National Institutes of Health reports that 86% of all burns are caused by thermal injury, including from flammable liquids like gasoline and kerosene.

If someone is burned, stay calm and follow the five tips shown here. In the event of a serious burn, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

The Grossman Burn Center at West Hills Hospital is committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care to every patient on every visit.

Is food the way to your heart? Many would say yes, but are you choosing foods that are good for your heart?

Try these food substitutions for healthier options without sacrificing flavor. And if you have any other substitution tips, leave a comment below!

Our team is wearing RED today to promote Go Red for Women and raise awareness about cardiovascular disease!

It's ! Join us in wearing red to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and .

We are a proud supporter of the American Heart Association. Learn more about why we join the American Heart Association and the nation in going red: https://bit.ly/3u9Edy9

Each February, HCA Healthcare honors Black History Month as a time to celebrate the achievements made by Black Americans and recognize their integral role in U.S. history.

As a part of HCA Healthcare, West Hills Hospital remains committed to championing a culture of inclusion and honoring the impactful work and innovations that generations of Black Americans have contributed to our nation.



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A black female healthcare provider hugs patient, text says “Honoring Black History Month”.]

Natalie Bodie, 6th floor Nursing Manager, and her team went above and beyond for 2 very special WHH patients! Bud and Anne were both admitted to the hospital earlier in the week. Anne was admitted to the ICU, while Bud was admitted to the 6th floor. Bud had asked if he could visit his wife, and the team made it happen! While wheeling Bud to the ICU to visit his wife, Natalie asked Bud how long they had been married. It ends up that it was their 66th Wedding Anniversary! The team quickly pulled together a card and some cake to help the couple celebrate!

Observed each year on the third Monday in January, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is designated as a National Day of Service to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King.

West Hills Hospital joins our HCA Healthcare family in honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy by answering his call to serve today. We remain committed to engaging our communities year-round to create healthier, more equitable tomorrows.



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Photo of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. giving a speech, text says, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others? – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”]

GO KNIGHTS!

New year, new eating habits? If you’re considering the keto diet, keep an eye out for flu-like symptoms that might accompany it – this is often called the keto flu. Brain fog, cramping and nausea are just a few of the symptoms you might experience shortly after starting the keto diet.

Find out what causes the keto flu, and how you can manage the symptoms: https://westhillshospital.com/blog/entry/understanding-keto-flu-symptoms-and-treatment