Glendale Adventist Medical Center

Glendale Adventist Medical Center (GAMC) is a non-profit organization located in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale, California. GAMC is one of the city's oldest businesses, founded in 1905, a year before Glendale was incorporated as a city. Back then, they were known as Glendale Sanitarium, and they occupied the former Glendale Hotel, a 75-room Victorian structure on what is now Broadway Avenue.

Then it was owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. And it was their Christian mission of community caring that helped form their reputation as a "health resort" of choice. Now, as part of Adventist Health, this same mission continues.

Today, Glendale Adventist Medical Center emphasizes eight Centers of Excellence: Advanced Surgical Program, Cancer Services, Heart and Vascular Institute, Neuroscience Institute, Orthopedic Services, Rehabilitative Services, Spine Institute and Women's Services. As of 2011, GAMC had been voted Glendale's Best Hospital for several years running. Other designations include: Certified Advanced Primary Stroke Center, One of the Best Places to Work in Los Angeles and San Fernando Valleys, Gold Performance Plus Achievement Award from the American Stroke Association, and Three-Year Certificate of Approval with Commendations from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. In addition to many other awards and accolades, GAMC offers over 80 support groups and ongoing health education classes. In addition, the cafeteria food is noteworthy.

The mission statement of Glendale Adventist Medical Center is, "To share God's love with the community by promoting healing and wellness for the whole person." To expand efforts to promote healing and wellness in 2009, GAMC debuted HEALTHline, a weekly television show helping people understand their health and health options. HEALTHline can also be viewed online.

In addition to being a non-profit organization, Glendale Adventist Medical Center is heavily involved with the community supporting and participating in many annual events such as Glendale Downtown Dash held on daylight savings every March, the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Saving Strokes.

Prior to 1998, the hospital was victimized by an employee who was a respiratory therapist. Efren Saldivar came to be dubbed the "Angel of Death" when he confessed to 50 murders of patients through the injection of paralytic drugs. He was tried and found guilty. Many more patients were believed to have died.