GARDEN CITY — Garden City Hospital (GCH) celebrated its fifth anniversary with Prime Healthcare last month with a celebration of achievements in improved patient safety, efficiency, better outcomes and reduced cost.

The improvements and new additions were unveiled at two open house events held at the hospital on September 25 and 26.

Around 700 community members, physicians and hospital staff, along with 200 local dignitaries and members of the business community, gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and received tours of the new areas.

Dignitaries included The Arab American News publisher and Garden City Hospital Board Chairman Osama Siblani, Garden City mayor Randy Walker and Westland Mayor Bill Wild in addition to local officials and leaders of local community and business organizations.

The hospital recently received prestigious designations as the area’s only 100 Top Hospital and one of 13 hospitals nationwide to receive the Everest Award — reflecting significant improvement within five years — by IBM Watson Health.

To date, the hospital has invested more than $45 million in upgrades to infrastructure, facilities and programs with an  expanded heart program with a second cardiac catheterization lab, new recovery rooms, life-saving diagnostic and treatment procedures, including PCI/angioplasty, radial lounge with four-hour recovery and electrophysiology (EP) services.

The hospital also features two brand-new inpatient units complete with private rooms, new, state-of-the-art monitoring (telemetry) system installed in all units, an updated family birthing center with a new look and comforting, family-oriented space.

Upgrades to ER and process improvements include shorter wait times, prompt care and through-put, senior ER for older adult needs and designated areas to care for patients with behavioral health needs.

New digital technology has been added to the radiology and imaging department with all digital x-ray units and new fluoroscopy room, interventional lab and diagnostics for ER.

The hospital has opened a new primary care Continuity Clinic with three board-certified internal medicine physicians and residents providing an option of continuing care for those without a primary care doctor. The clinic is now open and accepting appointments in the GCH Medical Office Building.

An Art of Healing student art gallery collaborates with the area school districts to feature student artwork with a healing theme in the main corridor of the hospital.

At the September 26 unveiling, visitors were given a tour of the facilities. Shortly after, hospital staff and administration gave comments about Garden City Hospital’s new advancements.

“It’s our privilege to have the opportunity to impact many lives,” said Garden City Hospitals president and chief executive officer Saju George. “As we celebrate the 5 year transformation with Prime Health, we reflect on the progress we have made as a community hospital in fulfilling our mission to serve the people around us.”

Siblani cut the ribbon at the ceremony and commented on Garden City’s achievements in revamping and expanding its patient care capacity.

Siblani was joined in conversation by George and longtime Garden City Mayor Randy Walker and Westland Mayor Bill Wild.

“This hospital has been the core of our community in the area,” he said. “While hospitals gobble each other up and become bigger, Garden City Hospital is becoming better. It is important to serve the community’s health care needs especially when we are experiencing a decline in health care across the country.”

He congratulated George on bringing the hospital out of financial dire straits to a viable and profitable health service facility that took initiatives like constructing a psychological care facility well before other area hospitals began doing so.

“This is truly a celebration of our transformation,” George said. “Four years ago we were close to being bankrupt. Today, we are excited we could invest about $45 million into the place to build on the infrastructure and support the programs based on community needs.”