When South Coast Medical Center in Laguna Beach opened its doors 45 years ago, it was known as South Coast Community Hospital. And "community" remains the key word in describing both the high-quality network of healthcare activities within the not-for-profit, 208-bed facility, and its philanthropic-minded supporters from South Orange County.

People in the Laguna Beach community had recognized the vital need for a hospital in South Orange County since the early 1950s. This vision was tragically sharpened in 1954 when a Laguna Beach police officer, Gordon French, died from a gunshot wound before he could arrive at the nearest hospital, 25 miles away.

Laguna Beach soon was joined by residents of San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point and Capistrano Beach in support of the first hospital in South Orange County, which was to be located in South Laguna. The hospital opened July 1, 1959, and not only did hospital patients come from all South Orange County areas, so did volunteer workers and fund donors. The hospital "community" grew.

As the first hospital built in South Orange County, South Coast Medical Center has been committed to community health since admitting its first patient in 1959. Providing the finest in medical care has been no accident. Thanks to careful planning and the tremendous support from the private community, South Coast Medical Center has remained a leader in the delivery of healthcare in our area.

In February 1998, South Coast Medical Center joined Adventist Health, a not-for-profit, faith-based health system operating in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Founded on the Seventh-day Adventist heritage of Christian health care, Adventist Health is comprised of 18 hospitals with more than 2,800 beds, nearly 18,000 employees, numerous clinics and outpatient facilities, the largest system of rural health clinics in California, 15 home care agencies and three joint-venture retirement centers with a fourth on the way.