MemorialCare Recognized Nationally for Heroism During COVID-19 Pandemic

Health system one of only two West Coast organizations honored

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Dec 22, 2020, 15:38 ET

ORANGE and LOS ANGELES Counties, Calif., Dec. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MemorialCare has been honored nationally with Special Recognition for Heroism for the Southern California health system's continued commitment to patient safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The prestigious Pandemic Heroes Award honor were selected by leaders and advisors of The Leapfrog Group, an independent national organization of employers and other groups focused on healthcare safety and quality. Selections were based on nominations from U.S. hospitals.

MemorialCare nurse practitioner Malina Adriano, RN gives vaccines to Elyse Laurance, RN, MemorialCare Emergency Department nurse (top photo) and Brandon Gatling, RN, MemorialCare COVID-19 unit nurse. Within just a few days of receiving its first batch of vaccines, MemorialCare vaccinated more than 3,000 of its front-line workers in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

MemorialCare was one of only two health systems on the West Coast to receive this prestigious honor presented to just 24 health care organizations and individuals nationwide.

"We are honored, humbled and enormously grateful for this honor," says Barry Arbuckle, Ph.D., MemorialCare president and CEO. "Our MemorialCare team members are an inspiration. Their commitment and compassion towards our patients, our communities and each other never wavers, even during the most challenging of times. I am immensely proud of them."

"The COVID-19 pandemic has required hospitals and people who work in hospitals to sacrifice and lead as never before. Leapfrog holds hospitals accountable for the highest standards of excellence in patient care because we know how important it is, and never more so than during a health crisis. So we are honored to give special recognition to MemorialCare hospital and outpatient teams for their heroism during the pandemic," said Leah Binder, The Leapfrog Group president and CEO. "We thank them for their profound service to their community and their powerful example for all Americans."

MemorialCare, with more than 200 healthcare locations, includes leading hospitals—Long Beach Medical Center, Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach, Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley and Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills; MemorialCare Medical Group, Greater Newport Physicians; MemorialCare Select Health Plan, MemorialCare Research Program; and numerous outpatient health, medical imaging, ambulatory surgery, urgent care, physical therapy, breast health and dialysis centers throughout Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside counties. Accolades include Best U.S. Health Systems, Best Places to Work, Top 50 U.S. Hospitals, Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals, 10 Largest Children's Hospitals, 100 Best Hospitals for Spine and Prostate Surgeries, Best of Orange County and Long Beach Hospitals and Medical Groups, Top Performing Medical Groups, U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals and/or "high performing" in 31 clinical categories, Newsweek Top 100 Hospitals and more. Visit www.memorialcare.org.