BRIEFLY IN BUSINESS

Sumner to direct South Coast hospital volunteers

Sherry Sumner recently joined the staff at South Coast Medical Center as the new Director of Auxiliary Services. Sumner, a native of South Orange County, brings 11 years of experience working with volunteers at Hoag Hospital.

“South Coast Medical Center has more than 300 volunteers staffing 35 areas in the hospital,” said Bruce Christian, president and CEO of the hospital.

“Sherry is the right person at the right time to help South Coast Medical Center enhance the quality of customer service we provide all our patients,” he added.

In addition to their service to the patients, visitors, staff and physicians, volunteers also raise funds for medical equipment. The Volunteer Auxiliary holds many fund-raisers for the medical center, including sales in its From the Heart Gift Shop.

“Volunteering is about giving back and helping others make meaningful health care contributions in their community,” Sumner said.

The hospital’s volunteers are instrumental in the Planetree Patient-Centered Care Program which focuses on the individuality of the person.

This includes comfort care services in intensive care, family care services in same day surgery, a music program in the lobby and patient rooms and more. South Coast Medical Center is the only hospital designated in Orange County as a “Planetree” hospital.

Founded in 1959, South Coast Medical Center is a 208-bed facility located in Laguna Beach. In 1998, the medical center joined Adventist Health, a not-for-profit, health system operating in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.

South Coast Medical Center serves South County, including the communities of Laguna Beach, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, Laguna Niguel and Aliso Viejo.

For more information about volunteering at South Coast Medical Center, call Sherry Sumner at 499-7175.

Women’s Health Center joins Laguna hospital

The Women’s Health Center of South Orange County, formerly located in Mission Viejo, has moved to South Coast Medical Center in Laguna Beach.

“The Women’s Health Center offers a variety of services for women including general and complex gynecologic services,” said Dr. Red Alinsod, Urogynecologist of the Center.

“Our unique services include treatment of abnormal vaginal/menstrual bleeding, urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery, incontinence diagnosis and treatments, and expertise in pelvic prolapse management and aesthetic vaginal repairs,” he added.

In addition, the Women’s Health Center offers aesthetic vaginal surgery, which includes comprehensive vaginal rejuvenation, labiaplasty and vaginoplasty and hymen repair.

Dr. Elizabeth Lyster, a principal of the center, provides general gynecological services as well as specialized services and therapies related to menopause, including providing customized prescriptions of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.

The Center also offers aesthetic laser procedures provided by Nurse Practitioner JoAnn Lorbiecki. Services including fractional non-ablative skin rejuvenations, fractional infrared skin tightenings, rejuvelux fotofacials and more.

For more information, call (949) 499-5311 or visit www.urogyn.org.

Johnson named to Visitors Bureau board

Kevin Johnson has been named to the Laguna Beach Visitors and Conference Bureau Board of Directors, Karyn Philippsen, president of the board, announced.

Johnson was recently appointed general manager of Vacation Village Hotel in Laguna Beach. The board consists of 10 members and each elected person serves a two-year term.

“It was my pleasure to work with Mr. Johnson when he came to Laguna Beach as part of the Surf and Sand team,” said Philippsen. “I have watched his career blossom and we are glad to have him back in the community.”

Prior to joining Vacation Village, Johnson was managing director and vice president of Amara Creek Resort & Sedona Center in Sedona, Ariz.

His experience includes positions as general manager of the Inn at Loretto, Santa Fe, and general manager of Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa in Sausalito.