Five years ago this week, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center opened to the public as a member of Catholic Healthcare West. An impressive list of statistics shows how the hospital has been growing right along with the East Valley. Since June 2005, Mercy Gilbert has more than doubled its number of employees to about 1,330 and tripled its medical staff to 760, and the hospital has seen 49,427 admissions, 168,928 ER visits, 89,782 outpatient visits, and 25,520 surgeries.

- 3555 S. Val Vista Dr., Gilbert, (480) 728-8000

Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, a Catholic Healthcare West hospital, has received certification as a Primary Stroke Center from the Joint Commission, an independent, nonprofit group that accredits and certifies healthcare organizations and programs in the United States. This certification designates Mercy Gilbert as a facility that demonstrates “exceptional effort in treating and improving long-term outcomes for stroke patients.”

Mercy Gilbert Medical Center completed its second expansion since opening less than three years ago, and it will eventually need a third tower to accommodate the growing population.

Gilbert's first full-service hospital turns two years old today - and Mercy Gilbert Medical Center is growing as fast as a toddler, with a tripling of employees and a boom in services.

Mercy Gilbert Medical Center this week opened two palliative care rooms dedicated to providing supportive care to patients and their families.

Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers, Dignity Health Members, each received the Partner for Change award by Practice Greenhealth, an industry leader and nonprofit organization that recognizes healthcare facilities for going above and beyond in keeping and maintaining a “green” workplace.

“Dignity Health Foundation — East Valley,” the fundraising arm of Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers, has announced that the Gila River Indian Community is the recipient of its annual donor of the year award.

It used to be said that you couldn’t be born or buried in Gilbert.

Mercy Gilbert Medical Center Sleep Center in Gilbert recently received program accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

The pediatric unit at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center will be closing June 30 as part of a strategic alliance between its owner, Catholic Healthcare West, and Phoenix Children’s Hospital, which opened a new 11-story hospital tower on June 1.

Chandler Regional Medical Center and Mercy Gilbert Medical Center will hold a free stroke awareness and prevention seminar 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 12. Board-certified neurologist Jonathan Hodgson, D.O., medical director of Mercy Gilbert Medical Center’s Stroke Center, will discuss acute stroke management and signs and symptoms of stroke. Dinner will be provided. The event will be held at the Mercy Gilbert Medical Office Building, McAuley Auditorium, 3420 S. Mercy Road. Registration is required. Call ResourceLink toll-free at (877) 728-5414 or email ResourceLink@chw.edu.

Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical centers are looking for summer volunteers.

A new, multispecialty pediatric and women’s center on the Mercy Gilbert Medical Center campus will help patients and families deal with medical needs associated with high-risk pregnancies, as well as neonatal and pediatric care, and stay closer to home.

Mercy Gilbert Medical Center is embarking on its next leg of research, aimed at identifying the genes that could predispose people to cardiac disease.

Mercy Gilbert Medical Center is teaming up with Chandler-Gilbert ARC to begin a new recycling program as area hospitals continue to go more "green."