Puerto Rico: Adventist Hospital turns 60, announces expansion plans

Bella Vista Hospital staff and family members of the late Dr. Antonio Bulls Ortiz pose for a picture in the newly named surgery hallway room 3 during celebration activities of the Adventist operated hospital in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, held Feb. 2, 2014.  Hospital administrators announced the expansion plans which will be set in motion to add three new floors to the medical facility.  Images courtesy Bella Vista Hospital/IAD

March 3, 2014 – Mayaguez, Puerto Rico…Bella Vista Hospital/IAD Staff

Adventist owned and operated Bella Vista Hospital in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, is celebrating 60 years of providing medical services this year, and recently announced a $3.5 million expansion plan. The announcement was made during a series of anniversary activities in the community.

Bella Vista Hosptial Administrator Jesus Nieves speaks on the $3.5 million expansion plans to add three-stores of patient rooms, administrative offices and conference meetings rooms as well as an endoscopy services area during the hospital’s 60th year of providing medical services to the island.

“After 6 years of providing excellent services, we continue transforming our facility to provide the newly advanced health services to patients in Mayaguez and the region,” said Jesus Nieves, executive director of Bella Vista Hospital, amid a crowd of people gathered during the celebration event on Feb. 2, 2014.

The institution will continue with the expansion and construction of three additional floors, explained Nieves. The first floor will feature 14 private rooms, the second will have 28 semi-private rooms and and a new endoscopy department, and the third will be designated for administrative and finance offices and conference and meeting rooms. A helicopter landing platform is also in the plans.

Community activities leading up to the celebration included a 5K health run in which more than 400 people participated to benefit the Jesus de Nazaret Children’s Home of Mayaguez.

Some 400 people joined in the 5k run organized by hospital on Jan. 26 as part of the anniversary activities of the 60-year-old hospital.

The medical facility’s surgery department was named in honor of the prestigious Dr. Juan E. Suris Alvarez, who served as a surgeon for 35 years. In addition, Surgery Room Three was named after Antonio Bulls Ortiz, a physician who served the hospital for 49 years.

Additionally, the first retiree from the hospital, Roselio Muniz, was honored for turning 100 years old. Twelve other hospital employees were recognized for serving for more than 40 years.

In 2009, Bella Vista Hospital inaugurated its cancer institute, the only such institute in the western part of the island and the first to offer such treatments throughout the church in the Inter-American Division territory.

Established in 1954 and one of 13 Adventist hospitals in Inter-America, Bella Vista Hospital continues to provide specialized medical services in Puerto Rico. The hospital facility has 157 beds and a medical staff of 200 members.

For more information, visit bvhpr.org