Catalina Island Medical Center named Business of the Year

The Catalina Island Medical Center, pictured above, must be upgraded or replaced to meet state seismic standards. The issue: how to pay for it. This week, Avalon voters rejected a tax on cross channel boat passengers. File photo

For the Islander

The Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau recently named the Catalina Island Medical Center the Harvey Cowell Business of the Year for 2017.

For the Islander

The Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau recently named the Catalina Island Medical Center the Harvey Cowell Business of the Year for 2017.

The award is given in honor of Harvey Cowell, one of 15 visionary businessmen who on June 2, 1949 founded the Avalon Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce. Cowell was the proprietor of Island Pharmacy, a prominent leader of the Catalina Island business community, served as an Avalon City Council member and mayor, and remained active in the community until his death at the age of 98 in March 2011.

The Harvey Cowell Business of the Year Award was established to recognize an extraordinary contribution by a business to the furtherance of tourism to Avalon and Catalina Island. This year, seven businesses were nominated by business members of the Chamber.  The nominees were:

• Avalon Freight Services

• Avalon Diving History Museum

• Catalina Island Medical Center

• Catalina Island Museum

• Catalina Beverage Company

• Hotel Metropole

• Overlook Hall

• Xceptional Music Company

A committee of the Chamber’s Board of Directors was appointed to reviewed the nominations and selected this year’s winner.

Catalina Island Medical Center has made significant changes improving the health and safety of visitors to the island.

For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017 Catalina Island Medical Center Emergency Department has an overall patient satisfaction percentile ranking at the 97th percentile compared to all hospitals in the nation.

The Medical Center has purchased Leo’s Catalina Drug Store to improve patient experience with pharmaceutical prescription transfers. The Medical Center has opened The Med Spa On Catalina to provide visitors access to aesthetics care (Botox, Juvederm, Kybella). and a host of other medical-grade cosmetics. The Medical Center has improved the quality of care in the Emergency Department by staffing with only UCI Emergency Medicine board certified physicians.

For information on the Chamber of Commerce, visit www.CatalinaChamber.com or call 310-510-1520.