Encapsulated Desert Hospital History

  • Prior to 1948

    Patients requiring hospitalization were transported to healthcare facilities in Indio, Loma Linda, Redlands, San Bernadino, and Riverside.

  • In 1948

    Desert Hospital District was formed, and a Palm Springs City committee opened the first community hospital. It was a single building with 33 beds located on 7.85 acres of land on the grounds of the historic El Mirador Hotel. Named Palm Springs Community Hospital, it cost $500,000 -- a total of $450,000 for the building and $50,000 for the land.

  • In 1951

    Palm Springs Community Hospital closed and Desert Hospital District opened Desert Hospital on the same location.

Major Expansions

  • 1971

    15,400 square foot Martin Anthony Sinatra Medical Education Center opened with a 220-seat capacity in the main auditorium.

  • 1981

    First major hospital expansion was completed, including a 10-suite surgical pavilion and support services in the five-story Sinatra Patient Tower.

    The tower also included a new and expanded intensive care and coronary care units, a new lobby, the Desert Hospital Auxiliary Betty Hale gift shop, outpatient surgery offices, the surgery pavilion and recovery area, and an inpatient pharmacy, the dietary department, print shop, purchasing and supply, processing, and distribution departments.

  • 1989

    Desert Hospital opens Coachella Valley's first and only Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for the care of seriously ill newborns.

  • 1990

    The famous El Mirador tower is rebuilt after being destroyed by fire. Reproduced using original 1927 floor plans, the historical building houses a new and expanded cardiac rehabilitation center, a senior services center that includes Desert Hospital's 18,000 Health Key Plus membership program and HealthReach, a community screening center.

    Desert Hospital embarks on its' largest expansion plan and announces its' healthcare vision for the 1990's.

  • 1993

    Desert Hospital completes Phase I of its $65 million expansion. Included are state-of-the-art Emergency/Trauma and Radiology Centers as well as an entire floor dedicated to Women and Infant Services.

    Still to be completed in the fall of 1994, a freestanding 150,000 square-foot outpatient services center and medical office building.

  • 1995

    Desert Hospital opens its' new freestanding medical office building, El Mirador Medical Plaza/Palm Springs. The Plaza houses a new outpatient surgery center, comprehensive cancer center, and various physician offices and outpatient services.

    July, 1995 opens the Coachella Valley's first dedicated HIV Special Care Center that includes 10 patient suites, patient/family activity center and skilled HIV care team.