The pacesetter

Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Burbank-based Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center’s licensed bed count has remained steady over the past year, at 455, slightly above No. 2-ranked Glendale Adventist Medical Center’s 450 licensed beds. Providence also led Valley hospitals in its employee count. At 2,307, it has nearly 400 more staffers than Glendale Adventist. The hospital plans to spend $152 million over the next six years to add a tower that meets new state earthquake safety guidelines. The project is being partly funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “It’ll be significant construction with temporary walkways as building goes on around,” said Dr. Myron Berdischewsky, Providence St. Joseph’s chief medical officer. “That will not in any way curtail services.” When the project is completed in late 2006, the hospital will have about the same number of beds, though all rooms will be single-occupancy. The new facility will also feature an expanded emergency room. St. Joseph first opened in 1943. One of the oldest buildings at the hospital will be torn down as part of the renovation. The hospital had a 70 percent occupancy rate in 1999, compared to 76 percent the previous year.