Mountain View Health Center

Our History

The kern valley hospital district was formed on November 23, 1964. The district was organized for the purpose of building and operating a 24-bed (12 acute and 12 long-term) hospital. The District was comprised then, as today, of an area of approximately 400 square miles. The project of constructing and equipping the hospital was determined to be a General Obligation Bond Issue and application for State and Federal aid. Approval for the preparation of preliminary plans was received in March of 1965. Financed by an issuance of $490,000 of Hospital Construction Bonds plus State and Federal financial aid (Hill-Burton) totaling another $432,000 and taxes levied by the District, the hospital was constructed and commenced operation in May 1968.

During the first year and a half of operations, 1,000 patients were admitted and some 4,500 emergency cases cared for. The need for additional acute care beds became obvious so long-term beds were reclassified. With the licensure of three intensive care beds in April 1975, the hospital bed count increased to 27.

In 1976 the Emergency Room physician coverage was increased from a call-in basis to 24 hour physician-in-attendance, seven days per week. Certain ancillary services were added throughout the following years and in 1984 twelve beds were certified for long-term care on an as-needed basis under the California Swing-Bed Program.

On July 28, 1992 a 74-bed long-term care unit was opened. The new construction also included a surgery wing of 3 suites with pre-op and post-op areas, a Dietary Department that included a kitchen, serving area, and cafeteria, a laundry area, a classroom, and a helipad. Cost of the new construction was over $20,000,000 dollars.

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