Community and Local Dignitaries Celebrate Completion of Tahoe Forest Health System Measure C Projects

A Community Open House was recently held at Tahoe Forest Hospital to celebrate completion of its Measure C General Obligation (GO) bond projects.

Ten years in the making, and thanks to a voter-approved initiative providing $98.5 million, in funding, the Measure C improvements brought Tahoe Forest Hospital up to state-mandated seismic standards and modernized and upgraded life-saving health care facilities.

Harry Weis, Tahoe Forest Health System President & CEO, thanked the community for supporting the projects. “It is with deep gratitude to our community, our medical staff, donors, employees, and volunteers that we celebrate the completion of the Measure C projects,” said Weis.

Michael Melarkey, a Trustee of the Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation, shared personal insight to the Joseph Family’s legacy of philanthropy which founded Tahoe Forest Hospital and which it continues to support. Dr. Charles Zipkin, President of the Tahoe Forest Hospital Board, recognized Rick McConn, Chief of Facilities Development at TFHS, and Mike Geney, owner of Geney Gassiot Construction, for their dedicated management of the project that was completed within budget.

Gerald Herrick, Chairman of the Citizens Oversight Committee (COC) discussed the COC’s work of monitoring progress and ensuring that bond money was used solely for the projects authorized by the ballot measure.

Jennifer Montgomery, Placer County Supervisor, Richard Anderson, Nevada County Supervisor, and Morgan Goodwin, Vice Mayor of Truckee, each presented framed certificates in honor of the completion of the work.

Following the ceremony, the over 250 guests were invited to tour the improvement projects supported by the Measure C General Obligation bond:

• Joseph Family Center for Women and Newborn Care The new state-of-the-art facility includes a dedicated operating room along with four labor and delivery suites and four postpartum suites, and meets current California seismic and building codes.
• Long Term Care Center Due to seismic upgrade requirements, part of the building was demolished and replaced with a 3,500 square foot annex that provides new nurses stations as well as patient and public spaces. The new facility now offers 24-hour care and 37 beds, as well as amenities such as recreational programs, nutritional services, laundry and onsite salon services.
• Emergency Department Undergoing major renovation, the Emergency Department was reconfigured to allow for two private triage areas, increased patient capacity, easier patient access and a comfortable lobby for waiting family and friends.
• Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center This facility offers medical oncology, hematology and radiation oncology services. A UC Davis Cancer Care Network member, the GU Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center provides local access to high-quality cancer treatment, in an honest and supportive environment.