Riverside Community Hospital

Riverside Community Hospital, in partnership with OneLegacy, honored the life and legacy of Jenny Fedele-Fennell during a special Floragraph and Rose Dedication Ceremony. Jenny’s cornea donation in 2017 restored sight to four people, and her family joined hospital and OneLegacy leaders to dedicate roses that will be placed on the 2026 OneLegacy Donate Life float. CEO Peter Hemstead reflected on the profound generosity of donor families, and local dignitaries, including representatives from Supervisor Medina’s office and Riverside Mayor Lock-Dawson, recognized Jenny’s lasting impact. More than 20,000 Californians await life-saving transplants, yet one donor can save up to eight lives and heal many more. This New Year’s Day, the Donate Life float, Treasure Every Moment Together, will honor all who give the gift of life.

A big thank you to RMC Urgent Care for the 100 custom teddy bears donated for kids in our ER this month. It’s great to see our community show up for one another—especially during the holidays. @riverside-medical-clinic

Thankful for our colleagues, physicians and volunteers who make Riverside Community Hospital an exceptional place to receive quality and compassionate care. Wishing you and yours a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

IMPACT Award - For Ancillary Leaders. IMPACT stands for Inspiring Meaningful Performance in Ancillary Care Teams. Congratulations to our inaugural awardee, Yolanda Harriman, Pathology Supervisor! “I would like to nominate my Supervisor, Yolanda Harriman. She has been a dedicated employee at RCH for over 25 years. Yolanda exemplifies professionalism and compassion within the department. She is very knowledgeable and the go-to person for our Management Team in the Laboratory and the Pathologists. I know when I interviewed here over 3 years ago, she was one of the main reasons that I accepted my position, as it was so encouraging to see someone so excited about her own job and what she exemplified as a leader with patient care being her number one priority. Yolanda wasn't just going through the motions. She steps in to lend a helping hand working alongside others within the department whenever it is needed. She speaks with confidence and is a bright light to the other employees that she comes in contact with. She always shows gratitude for our teams' contributions. I think she would be the perfect choice for this new recognition program.”

The Graduate Medical Education (GME) department at Riverside Community Hospital recently hosted a powerful Women in Medicine & Healthcare Leadership Symposium, featuring an exceptional panel of leaders including Jackie Van Blaricum, president of HCA’s Far West Division, Dr. Monique Butler, president of GME for HCA Healthcare, and several distinguished RCH GME program directors and associate program directors. Residents, faculty and staff came together to hear these women in medicine share their experiences navigating gender disparities in the medical field and in healthcare leadership. Drawing on national data and personal stories, panelists addressed key challenges such as the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles, concerns about pregnancy and career progression, higher rates of burnout among female physicians, delayed childbearing and persistent pay inequities. They offered candid insights into balancing professional growth with family planning, sustaining personal wellness and advocating for equitable opportunities and compensation. The leaders also provided actionable guidance on building confidence, seeking mentorship and overcoming systemic obstacles—including the enduring “glass ceiling.” The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session that left attendees feeling inspired, empowered and supported in their pursuit of leadership within healthcare. “Thank you for the honor of serving as your keynote speaker,” said Dr. Butler following the event. “Being here at Riverside today, I’m reminded when we lift each other up and create spaces for women’s voices in medicine, we don’t just change individual lives – we transform the future of healthcare itself.”

Congratulations, Nicole G., RN on South 5, for earning the DAISY Award! A colleague wrote, "I would like to nominate Nicole for this award, not only because she is a great nurse, but because the heart and compassion she shows for her patients is unmatched. Nicole is constantly being praised by her patients for going above and beyond as well as everyone else in need. She is excellent with our chemotherapy patients because of her attention to detail and unmatched compassion for those going through an incredibly difficult time in their lives. One night, Nicole took it upon herself to hand-make a crocheted bear for a cancer patient going through chemo that had been on our floor for several weeks. She was alone and unable to see her family due to being immunocompromised and not feeling well. Nicole stated, 'I didn't want the patient to feel alone and for her to know that we here for her.' Nicole even went as far as to ask what the patient's favorite color was to make sure that the bear was personalized for her. Additionally, Nicole is always willing to help other nurses, despite her busy assignment. She is always being praised during employee rounds for her willingness to help and her positive attitude, despite any stress she is facing throughout the day. PCTs love that she is willing to help or even complete any hygiene needs of her patients. Nicole has been precepting a new RN during her orientation period. Nicole is an excellent, detail-oriented teacher, while also keeping on time with medication, pain regiments and all-around needs of all of her patients." This was many of several nominations for Nicole. Thank you, Nicole, for bringing your best and heart to RCH every day! #DAISYAward

This Veteran's Day, we pause to honor the courage and sacrifice of our Nation’s veterans. At Riverside Community Hospital, we are especially proud to recognize our own colleagues who have bravely served in the armed forces. Your dedication to service, both in uniform and now at our hospital, strengthens our mission to care for and improve human life. Happy Veterans Day. #veteransday2025

Riverside Community Hospital is happy to share that Shesh Rao, MD has been named Chief Medical Officer, effective November 17, 2025. Dr. Rao previously served as Chief Medical Officer at Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, since 2018. As CMO, Dr. Rao implemented multidisciplinary team rounds for every patient in acute care, significantly reducing length of stay and readmission rates while promoting timely discharges. He also enhanced patient experience and collaborated with the Clinical Documentation and Quality teams to optimize physician and resident documentation practices and advance interventions to prevent hospital-acquired infections. Before being named CMO, Dr. Rao served as Director of Hospital Medicine, leading the hospitalist team to improve length of stay, reduce readmission rates and elevate patient experience. He also served as Physician Advisor, Residency Program Director, Designated Institutional Official for Graduate Medical Education and Site Director for University of Illinois College of Medicine medical students. A seasoned internist, hospitalist and educator, Dr. Rao earned his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois, his medical degree from SABA University School of Medicine, his Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of Illinois and his MBA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Dr. Rao is passionate about advancing standards and strategies for safety and quality, clinical documentation excellence and physician engagement. Dr. Rao’s wife, Radhika, also an internist, is a medical director at a pharmaceutical company. Their daughter and son are both undergraduate students. The family, along with their beloved Australian Labradoodle, Rafael, looks forward to moving closer to their extended family in Southern California and joining the Inland Empire community. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Rao!

Behind the Red Line gave our hospital leaders Peter, CEO, Mike, COO, Jesse, CNO and Jami, VP of Surgical Services, a behind-the-scenes look at what it truly takes to deliver exceptional surgical care. From witnessing Malika's effortless coordination in the OR, anticipating every need with precision and grace, to observing Christina’s incredible multitasking as the OR CNC, balancing elective and emergent cases while guiding teams across pre-op, surgery, and PACU - the level of teamwork and leadership on display reflected true dedication to our patients. In pre-op, Lade's calming care reminded our leaders that compassion is as vital as skill. Her warm narration and reassuring words transformed a patient’s nervousness into calm confidence. Every moment Behind the Red Line revealed the expertise, collaboration, and heart that makes the Riverside Community Hospital surgical team exceptional. ❤️ 💉 #BehindTheRedLine

Riverside Community Hospital has achieved 36 accolades for clinical excellence from Healthgrades. Riverside Community Hospital’s distinctions include One of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Surgical Care and 100 Best Hospitals for Critical Care, Orthopedic Surgery and Prostate Surgery for 2026. In addition to 15 Five-Star Recipient awards spanning seven specialties, Healthgrades also named Riverside Community Hospital #4 in California for Cranial Neurosurgery and #4 in California for Surgical Care in 2026. These achievements place Riverside Community Hospital in the upper echelon of hospitals for specialty care Nationwide and reflect our organization’s commitment to delivering exceptional care, year after year. #raisethebar