Recognizing the importance of healthcare close to home

By Mary-Justine Lanyon

 

“This is a celebration of you!”

That is how Kim McGuire, the executive director of the Mountains Community Hospital Foundation, opened this year’s Summit Circle brunch. Included in her welcome were donors to the Foundation, Foundation board members, hospital board members and hospital staff.

McGuire had recently attended an awards ceremony at Yaamava, an event recognizing organizations making a meaningful impact in the lives of others. Yaamava had awarded MCH a $300,000 grant last year, funds that will be put toward the hospital’s recently begun construction project.

“They understood how transformative this project would be,” McGuire said. “They challenged us to think differently about what would be possible.”

She added that she had used some of the grant funding to produce the annual report she mailed out to the community. That led to three other organizations or foundations contacting her with additional funding. One will be bringing their mobile eye clinic to MCH in July; people will be able to have free eye exams and get free glasses that day.

After showing a recap video of the 2025 Le Grand Picnic, McGuire noted it raised $470,000.

She then gave several examples of how people in the community “stand in solidarity with us.” Dennis Popka, for example, helped start a Community Care Fund which will cover the cost of healthcare for those who can’t afford it. Catherine Savich of the MCH Auxiliary “helped us get a five-star rating on Yelp,” McGuire said, reading the review which cited how Savich makes every patient feel at ease. And Joan Leopold, who volunteers in the Skilled Nursing Facility, paid for new lighting in all the patients’ rooms.

“Donations are critical to the hospital,” McGuire said. “Seventy-five percent of our patients depend on Medi-Cal and Medicare, which don’t reimburse for all our costs. Patient care cannot cover everything it takes to maintain the strength of this hospital.”

She then introduced Julie Davis, the director of acute care nursing, who told the Summit Circle guests about several items recently purchased with donated funds and grants.

The vein finder, Davis said, “can locate veins quickly so we can start IVs with fewer needle sticks and provide faster treatment.” It is invaluable, she noted, for children seniors and trauma patients.

The new bladder scanner allows them to assess bladder function through noninvasive procedures. “There is less risk of infection and increased patient comfort,” Davis said.

And the AutoPulse, an automated battery-powered mechanical chest compression device, “gives us the power to save lives during cardiac emergencies. It helps maintain circulation when every second counts. We need all the hands we can get – staff can focus on additional lifesaving interventions.

“These tools strengthen our hospital’s ability to provide safe care and improve the patient experience,” Davis said.

“Most meaningful is what they say about you. We talk about you daily – you are a group of people who care deeply about one another. You believe access to quality healthcare matters. You invest in us – your neighbors, your family, even strangers.

“You may never know the patients whose lives you touch or their families. Your generosity reaches far beyond the financial – it brings hope, reassurance and reminds us this community stands strong together to provide exceptional care.

“Without your generosity, we would not be who we are. Thank you for recognizing the importance of healthcare close to home,” Davis concluded.

McGuire then introduced CEO Mark Turner to shed light on the where MCH is going next.

“We are at a pivotal point in our history,” Turner said. For quite some time, MCH has been planning not only the construction required to meet California seismic requirements but also an expansion – a new emergency department and a new acute care wing.

“We broke ground a month ago,” Turner said. “This major investment – this new construction project – will help meet seismic needs but will also prepare us for today’s medicine and how we will provide care well into the future. Right now it’s just earth work. We are preparing for what comes next.”

The hope is to be finished in two years. Turner showed renderings of what the new entrance will look like, as well as the exterior of the new ED and a patient’s room.

“We were able to make a big down payment,” he said, “and got financing for two-thirds of the project through the USDA with very favorable terms. We were fortunate to have qualified; it led the board to feel comfortable going forward.”

In a month or so, Turner noted, MCH will celebrate the day the hospital was opened 75 years ago. “We felt an upgrade and new brand identity was needed for our community hospital,” he said, unveiling the new name – Mountains Community Health – and the new logo.

“We are doing more than just being a hospital,” he said. “Our name needed to be more encompassing of all the services we provide.” He added they have plans to further expand services off campus. “We felt the name needed to lead the way.”

In the new logo, he said, “the “M” reflects the mountain, the “o” reflects the sun we enjoy and the wavy lines reflect our beautiful lake.”

A project this size, Turner said, “takes vision, planning, guts, expertise and a strong team to pull it together. One person has been instrumental – Devin Ulibarri, the project manager from JLL.

“Your generosity helps pave the way,” Ulibarri said. “Kudos to all of you.” He cautioned there will be some schedule challenges.

“This is not just about the project,” he noted. “It’s about ensuring your community has access to world-class healthcare for generations. It’s a legacy.”

McGuire introduced Susan Sparks, the first female president of the MCH Foundation board. “We’re going to do some great things,” Sparky said.

And then McGuire called past president Peter Venturini to the stage to recognize him for his service to the Foundation.

Venturini noted he had been involved with the Foundation for more than 10 years, the past four as president. “None of this can be done without an effective team,” he said, pointing to McGuire and her team – Abby Savich, the marketing manager, and Galla Artiaga, the Foundation assistant.

“It never ceases to amaze me to see the dedication of the Foundation members. Every member of the board has played some meaningful role in Le Grand Picnic. For people with busy lives to make that commitment to our signature event is truly commendable.

“All of you – the Summit Circle – are what makes it all work. Your ongoing contributions and support make the hospital, the Foundation what it is. You keep coming back so don’t stop.”

McGuire then announced that this year’s Le Grand Picnic will take place on Sunday, Sept. 13 at the UCLA Lake Arrowhead Lodge rather than in the MCH rose garden because of the construction.