Community Regional Medical Center physicians, staff, administration and donor-investors celebrated the opening of the new $25 million, 79,534-square-foot Deran Koligian Ambulatory Care Center.

The center at 290 Wayte Lane will house the outpatient clinics which have historically been at Community Medical Center-Cedar, the former University Medical Center and once the county hospital.  Services for patients will now be in one convenient location on the Community Regional Medical Center campus downtown.

“We planned extensively for this move for our department so that patients have a welcoming place to come for medical care,” said Special Services program manager, Sue Flammang, R.N. “Watching the transition of care from the county and now moving to join the rest of the medical center at the downtown plaza is a dream come true.”

The clinics moving from Community’s Cedar campus include Special Services, Pharmacy, Children’s Health, Family Health, Adult Health (Sierra and East), Women’s Health, Specialty Health, Eye Care (Ophthalmology Services) and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Care Centers. The outpatient clinics open for patients on Monday, March 29.

The outpatient clinics were named in 2002 in honor of the late Deran Koligian, Fresno County Board of Supervisors’ chairman and an advocate of health care for the disadvantaged.

Mimi Koligian, Koligian’s wife, along with Sherry Hughes, Director of Ambulatory Care Services cut the ribbon together to recognize the Koligian family and the new state-of-the-art outpatient care center.

Debbi Poochigian,  Deran and Mimi Koligian’s daughter and Fresno County Board of Supervisors District 5 representative, attended  the ceremony along with her brothers Keith and Wayne Koligian and other family members.

“This is an honor for everyone in our family, were just so proud and really humbled and so thankful,” Poochigian said.

Following the ribbon cutting, guests had the chance to tour the new building and its 104 exam rooms, X-ray room and three lab drawing stations all equipped with new computers.

“This new Ambulatory Care Center along with the Surgical Services building has symbolized our resolve and determination in ensuring quality patient care and excellent medical education for the next generation of doctors in the central Valley,” said medical director of ambulatory care Dr. Dominic Dizon.

The building is equipped with the latest technology to better serve patients as well as specific rooms designed to help UCSF residents and fellows collaborate and learn, he added. 

”Patients will finally have a true medical home and stable place for all their ambulatory care needs,” Dr. Dizon said.

The Ambulatory Care Center provides outpatient services including primary care, specialty care, vision, dental, health education, and rural outreach to tens of thousands of patients each year and during 2008-2009 fiscal year, the clinics had more than 139,000 patient visits.

This story was reported by Malissa Rose. She can be reached at MedWatchToday@communitymedical.org