Community Health System president and CEO Craig Wagoner began his new role at the helm of one of our nation’s largest and most essential health systems by publishing The Cause, a vision for the future of healthcare in the Valley and his pledge to being the region’s trusted health leader. Our Community Regional Medical Center campus in downtown Fresno is central to realizing our cause and the special projects underway that will soon benefit patients, staff, clinicians and the neighborhood is evidence.
Skilled nursing care center opening late summer 2025
The newly redesigned and renovated 62,500-square foot Burnett Extended Care Center will provide much-needed access to long-term and short-term skilled nursing care in Downtown Fresno. With 154 beds, the facility will not only provide skilled nursing care but also rehabilitative services to patients who are chronically ill or recuperating from an illness or surgery.
The Burnett Center has beautifully designed areas for patients and is equipped with the latest in therapy spaces and technologies that is expected to attract the best clinicians.
The facility is conveniently located downtown across the street from Community Regional, offering patients continuity of care and easy access to clinicians at the hospital. The two-story care facility features:
- Secure memory care unit with enhanced safety features
- Long-term care unit
- Rehabilitation unit
- Short-term care unit
- Two landscaped courtyards with serene environments
As the only skilled nursing facility in Fresno to have dedicated physical therapy and an occupational therapy gym onsite, the Burnett Center will provide high-quality, patient-centered care.
The occupational therapy gym has state-of-the-art equipment simulating a complete home-like environment (working kitchen, laundry, bathroom and a car) for comprehensive skill development in daily tasks that are crucial for our patients to achieve independence and a safe at-home experience post-discharge.
The physical therapy unit has the latest technologies, including Solo Step sling-assisted walking equipment that promotes faster recovery in gait, balance and strengthening.
The Burnett Center will start admitting patients in late summer.
Community Health System administrative offices moving downtown in fall 2025
Community’s administrative offices are relocating to the health system’s flagship downtown hospital, Community Regional.
About 40 leaders, including Wagoner, will relocate to the 4th floor of East Medical Plaza, located directly across the Parc from Community Regional, after remodeling work is finalized.
This move will provide a hub for senior leaders to work together on system operations and community needs as part of Wagoner’s vision to create a healthier, stronger Central California.
The relocation will begin in late 2025 and includes adding office space and conference rooms.
Bob Smittcamp Family Neurosciences Institute — Construction began March 2025
Beautifully designed, this world-class institute is located on Community Regional’s campus near the Valley’s only Level I Trauma Center. The fourth and fifth floors of the facility will be dedicated to outpatient neurology and neurosurgery with additional services, like neuro-rehab and pediatric neurology, available on other floors.
The institute was made possible by generous donations from the late Bob Smittcamp, the Smittcamp family and many other donors. In January, the $30 million milestone was reached, allowing construction to begin. An additional $10 million is still needed for programmatic support, additional technology and research for the institute.
The neurosciences institute will include treatment and exam spaces, an infusion and diagnostic center, research center, and a conference center for interdisciplinary care planning and peer-support groups. Access to these vital services centralized in Downtown Fresno brings one more needed resource for local patients and families.
Since 2020, Community has grown from only a handful of neuroscience providers to more than 90, ensuring a higher level of care is available to Valley patients.
Last year alone, there were over 62,000 inpatient neurosciences encounters across our system — and we expect that to quickly grow.
Expanding the downtown laboratory space and equipment
Over the last four years, Community Regional’s microbiology testing volume has increased 40% and currently performs about 90% of the microbiology tests for the hospital system. In order to keep up with the new molecular testing options and technologies, the area is being evaluated to bring new testing capabilities in-house that are currently being sent to outside labs.
Recommendations are to expand the footprint of the laboratory downtown and purchase new equipment that is nearing capacity. The expansion project would be an $8.5 million investment and could be operational in about two years considering there are no delays in permitting or licensing.
Community Regional’s Seismic Plan — Meeting California’s seismic deadline
Community Regional is the area’s safety-net hospital and only comprehensive burn center and Level I Trauma Center from Los Angeles to Sacramento. It’s the hospital other hospitals depend on. Last year alone, it received 10,500 transfer requests from 104 other hospitals for specialty care — a higher level of care not available at those locations.
Community Regional is the lifeline for about 4 million people in the Central Valley and meeting California’s seismic deadline is a priority to ensure care for all who depend on its services.
California’s seismic mandate, SB 1953, passed after the 1994 Northridge earthquake requiring all hospitals to meet new strict building codes (regardless of seismic risk areas — Fresno’s is historically low).
While Community met the 2020 seismic compliance mandate (Community’s hospitals are safe), it is among 60% of California hospitals not compliant with the 2030 mandate — yet.
Recently, Community commissioned comprehensive engineering analysis to re-evaluate seismic compliance status and worked with the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI/regulatory agency) to develop an Operational Plan.
As part of the HCAI-approved plan, Community will invest $350 million to be fully compliant with the current seismic mandate and maintain all 685 beds at Community Regional with minimal patient impact.
The Cause and our commitment
These projects are just a few examples of the growth at our downtown campus. As work continues through 2025, our CEO’s vision will be intertwined in all aspects of our health system. For over 128 years, Community has worked to better the lives of Valley residents and will continue to do so for decades to come.
