PHOTOS: Temecula Valley Hospital Makes its Debut

City of Temecula officials and Temecula Valley Hospital executives hosted hundreds of their regional colleagues Wednesday evening for a ribbon cutting, reception and tour of the city's first hospital.

The hospital on Temecula Parkway is the newest venture for Pennsylvania-based Universal Health Services, which is also the parent company of Southwest Healthcare System's Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar and Rancho Springs Medical Center in Murrieta.

Constructed in 19 months, Temecula Valley Hospital is a 140-bed, five-story facility that will specialize in cardiovascular, surgery and stroke care while also providing another emergency department and intensive care unit for the southwest Riverside County region.

Hospital officials said Inland will continue to serve as the region's level 3 trauma center, while Rancho Springs will remain the labor and delivery hub due to its recent expansion.

“We are doing phenomenal work at Inland and Rancho Springs,” said Brian Connors, spokesman for Southwest Healthcare System. “Temecula Valley Hospital just expands the services for this area...there is just a great coverage with the addition of this hospital.”

And while Inland and Rancho Springs share licensure, TVH is applying for its own, said Marcia Jackson, director of strategy and development for the long-planned Temecula facility.

Jackson said the hope is to be licensed and open to the public by mid-September.

On Aug. 10, the public is invited to tour the facility and enjoy refreshments and family activities. For more information about the event and to reserve a tour time, visit Temeculavalleyhospital.com.

For more coverage of Wednesday's event, click here.