Pillars of Care

👩‍⚕️ The Alta Bates Campus: A Pioneer's Vision

The foundation of the Alta Bates Campus is rooted in the pioneering spirit of Alta Miner Bates, a distinguished nurse and nurse anesthetist. In 1905, she established the hospital that would eventually bear her name. Bates was a trailblazer, being among the first graduate nurses from Eureka, California, and a prominent early female anesthetist in the San Francisco Bay Area, having administered thousands of anesthetics during her career. She directed the hospital until her retirement in 1949 and continued to serve on its board. The institution, initially known as Alta Bates Hospital, later became Alta Bates Medical Center before its merger, and is now recognized as the Alta Bates Campus of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.

👨‍⚕️ The Herrick Campus: From Mansion to Memorial

The origins of the Herrick Campus trace back to 1904 when Dr. LeRoy Francis Herrick, a graduate of the Kentucky College of Medicine, acquired the Hume House mansion in Berkeley. He transformed this residence into a 25-bed facility named "The Roosevelt Hospital," inspired by President Theodore Roosevelt's advocacy for public health. By 1924, it had expanded to 50 beds and was renamed Berkeley General Hospital. Following Dr. Herrick's death in 1932, his heirs converted the hospital into a non-profit entity. It continued to grow, reaching 100 beds by 1934. In 1945, it was renamed Herrick Memorial Hospital in honor of its founder. The hospital formally affiliated with Alta Bates Hospital in 1984 and merged in 1988, eventually becoming the Herrick Campus of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.

🤝 The Summit Campus: A Convergence of Care

The Summit Campus in Oakland represents the consolidation of three previously independent healthcare facilities: Providence Hospital, Peralta Hospital, and Samuel Merritt Hospital. Providence Hospital was founded in 1904 by the Sisters of Providence. Peralta Hospital was established in the 1920s by local Oakland physicians. Samuel Merritt Hospital and its affiliated college (now Samuel Merritt University) were founded in honor of Dr. Samuel Merritt, a notable Oakland physician and former mayor, who donated the land for Lake Merritt. Merritt and Peralta merged in 1982, and this combined entity merged with Providence in 1992 to form Summit Medical Center. This center then merged with Alta Bates in 1999, creating the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.

🏗️ Strategic Expansion in Emeryville

In February 2025, Sutter Health announced a significant investment of US$1 billion to develop a new medical campus in Emeryville, California. This ambitious project is designed to eventually replace the existing Alta Bates acute care campus in Berkeley. The development will occur in phases, beginning with the repurposing of two buildings at 5555 Hollis Street and 5300 Chiron Street for outpatient services and specialty clinics, slated to open in 2028. The centerpiece, a flagship hospital located at the intersection of 53rd and Horton Streets, is projected to open in 2033. This new facility will feature at least 200 beds, comprehensive emergency services, an intensive care unit, and modern private patient rooms.

💡 Addressing Needs and Enhancing Capacity

This strategic expansion is part of Sutter Health's broader initiative to address seismic compliance requirements for older hospital facilities across California. Upon completion, the Emeryville campus is expected to substantially increase the organization's patient capacity, expanding from approximately 480,000 to 800,000 patients. Local officials in Emeryville have expressed enthusiasm for the project's anticipated economic benefits, including job creation and increased local business activity. Concurrently, the existing Alta Bates campus in Berkeley is planned for repurposing into an ambulatory surgery center, an urgent care clinic, and potentially a skilled nursing facility.

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