SALINAS, CA. (February 26, 2018) —Natividad Medical Center and the Monterey County Health Department announce the opening of the new Natividad Care Center and the expansion of the Laurel Pediatric Clinic on the Natividad campus on Wednesday, March 7th.

Opening ceremonies for both clinics will take place from 12-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 7th Natividad’s Building 400 Lobby. The hospital will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremonies at 12:15 p.m. for the Natividad Care Center and at 1 p.m. at the Laurel Pediatric Clinic. Guided tours of both clinics will also be offered.

“With the opening of our new Care Center and expansion of the Laurel Pediatric Clinic, we continue to improve the efficiency and quality of the health care that we have been providing to the residents of Monterey County for more than 132 years,” said Dr. Craig Walls, Natividad Chief Medical Officer. “We’re extremely grateful for the patience, dedication and hard work of our staff and employees as we worked to open these new clinics to the public.”

The new Care Center, which offers services currently offered by Natividad, but now in one convenient location, includes six cardiology rooms, mammography services, women’s diagnostics, bone density exams, ultrasound scans, and a cardiopulmonary area that will include echocardiogram, stress testing, electrocardiogram and pulmonary testing. It also includes a new photography exhibition titled “Matsui Nursery: Orchids in Bloom” by local artist Hillary Fish expanding Natividad Medical Foundation Art of Better Health program reflecting the people, the culture and spirit of Monterey County.

The comprehensive Care Center was in part made possible by a Capital Implementation grant in the amount of 2.4 million from the Central California Alliance for Health.

The Laurel Pediatric Clinic consists of 27 treatment rooms as well as a health education classroom.

“I am thrilled with the expansion of the Laurel Pediatric Clinic. Monterey County children are challenged with increasing rates of childhood obesity and diabetes. Natividad Administrator of Ambulatory Services Julie Edgcomb. “The clinic expansion has enabled us to hire three new physicians, and we are now offering wellness groups and extended hours to our patients so that we more comprehensively address our patients’ health needs.”

“The Alliance is pleased to be a partner in supporting Natividad’s new Care Center which will expand access to much needed cardiology and women’s diagnostic imaging services for Monterey County Medi-Cal members,” said Stephanie Sonnenshine, CEO, Central California Alliance for Health. “The Alliance greatly appreciates Natividad’s continuing tradition of providing high quality health care for our members.”

About Natividad Medical Center (NMC)
Owned and operated by Monterey County, NMC is a 172-bed, acute-care hospital providing health care services to county residents for more than 132 years. Based in Salinas, California, NMC offers inpatient, outpatient, emergency, diagnostic and specialty medical care. NMC provides more than 38,000 patient days of care each year and has more than 52,000 emergency department visits per year. NMC is a Level II Trauma Center providing the immediate availability of specialized personnel, equipment and services to treat the most severe and critical injuries. NMC’s Trauma Center is a vital community service locally that saves lives and eliminates the need to fly critically injured patients to a distant trauma center. NMC is ranked No. 1 in newborn deliveries in Monterey County and is the only teaching hospital on the Central Coast through its affiliation with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). With a medical staff of more than 380 physicians, NMC’s mission is to continually monitor and improve the health of the people, including the vulnerable, in Monterey County through coordinated, affordable high-quality health care. For more information, please call 831-755-4111 or visit https://www.natividad.com/.

About The Monterey County Health Department:
The Monterey County Health Department exists to enhance, protect and improve the health of the people in Monterey County. To accomplish this, the Department provides a wide variety of health-related services in the areas of public health, environmental health, behavioral health and clinic services. The Monterey County Health Department Clinic Services Bureau operates seven full-time Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike clinics: Laurel Pediatric Clinic, Laurel Internal Medicine Clinic, Laurel Family Practice Clinic, Laurel Vista Clinic, Alisal Health Center, Monterey County Health Clinic at Marina, and the Seaside Family Health Center, along with 2 satellite clinics in Marina and Salinas that provide primary care to people with severe mental illness.

Natividad Medical Center
1441 Constitution Blvd.
Salinas, CA 93912-1611
831-755-4196
www.natividad.com