Our History
Whittier Hospital Medical Center has been striving to meet the healthcare needs of this region since we were established in 1957. Orange trees were being bulldozed at an alarming rate in those days, and it was hard to keep up with the new homes and schools.
Despite the rapidly increasing population, however, only a single medical facility was available to care for patients - the small and fairly old Murphy Hospital. This inadequacy motivated Dr. Lester Morrison and a group of his associates to build a new hospital to better serve the burgeoning community of East Whittier.
Whittier Hospital opened its doors to patients during National Hospital Week, May, 1957, with 52 beds for acute care patients, a 3-room surgery suite and a 10-bed nursery to compliment the obstetrics department. Approximately 125 physicians from Whittier and the surrounding areas joined the active and courteous staff of the new hospital.
In 1965, the hospital expanded to 99 beds, which included an intensive care unit, recovery room, pediatric unit and a small emergency room. The next major expansion took place in 1972 when the hospital opened the new three-story tower building, bringing the bed total to 197.
After the purchase by Summit Health Ltd. in November, 1981, the hospital's name was changed to Whittier Hospital Medical Center. Then, in April 1994, Whittier Hospital Medical Center became part of Ornda HealthCorp and, three years later, it was acquired by Tenet Healthcare Corporation.
On November 1, 2004, the hospital was purchased by AHMC Healthcare Inc., At about the same time, AHMC purchased three other former Tenet hospitals: Garfield Medical Center, Monterey Park Hospital and Greater El Monte Community Hospital.
Whittier Hospital Medical Center is now a 178-bed acute care hospital, accredited by the Joint Commission, with a medical staff of approximately 500 physicians representing over 40 specialties.
Our goal is to continue protecting the health of those living in East Whittier, and to always be ready and prepared to help when our community needs us.
