Photo by Ben Hensley | Adventist Health received a $1 million donation from Valley Strong Credit Union to go towards its new catheterization lab, expanding heart health in the Valley.

Valley Strong Credit Union and Adventist Health Hanford joined forces Monday to celebrate a $1 million donation to fuel expansion of the cardiac catheterization lab, laying the groundwork for life-saving heart care in a previously underserved region.

The donation, earmarked for the hospital’s $10 million catheterization lab, is the first major contribution in the project. Aimed for completion by 2027, the lab is part of a larger $40 million investment by Adventist Health to improve heart-care services in Hanford.

“Over 18 years, imaging has drastically increased,” said Dr. Patrick Hoffman, director of cardiopulmonary services at Adventist Health Central California. “We’re kind of going from a low-def system to a high-def system, so you can really see what’s going on and you can pinpoint where there’s a blockage or where an artery is not working.”

Adventist’s Hanford hospital constructed its current catheterization lab nearly 15 years ago. In 2024, the lab team cared for more than 650 unique patients.

With the expansion of four additional labs, that number is expected to nearly quadruple when fully operational. With the increase in demand for cardiac care reaching highs, these high-demand, state-of-the-art facilities will be located adjacent to the existing hospital.

“Some of this technology, originally, you’d only see at Stanford or UCLA or at UCSF in San Francisco,” said Jason Wells, Adventist Health Central California Network president. “To bring this type of technology to Central California and right here in Kings County, will be unprecedented. It will be able to save hundreds and hundreds of lives every single year, and Kings County deserves it.”

The expanded lab will also include the acquisition of ARTIS imaging technology. The technology enables faster, safer and more accurate diagnoses and treatments.

Adventist Health hopes the expansion of cardiac services will help to attract top-tier cardiologists and specialists to the Central Valley.

Wells added that he hopes to see continued support for the facility among new and existing business partners, adding that the nonprofit provider hopes to continue attracting local supporters to complete the project by 2027.

“We will be providing this care in 2027,” he said. “We feel fully confident that we will raise the money we need to make this happen.”