Ambulances lined up outside of Hanford Community Medical Center early Sunday morning to transfer patients to the new Adventist Medical Center-Hanford. The move took hundreds of staff members and more than a year of planning and drills. Hospital officials report it went very smoothly.
A total of 78 patients from Hanford Community Medical Center and Central Valley General Hospital were transferred to the new facility -- including Richard Sanchez. The Hanford resident says he was in a hurry to get to his new room so he could watch the 49er's game.
"I love it. It's got cable. It's got anything you want to play. It couldn't be any better. I got a shower in my room," said Sanchez.
The new hospital features 142 private rooms for patients and has 26 rooms in its E.R. The two other hospitals shut down their emergency rooms at 6 a.m. Sunday morning. The first patient showed up at the new facility at 6:02 a.m.
