Mountains Community Hospital Receives $18,625 Grant from Shanahan Family Charitable Foundation for Portable Telemetry Packs

Lake Arrowhead, CA —

Mountains Community Hospital Foundation is thrilled to announce a generous $18,625 grant from the Shanahan Family Charitable Foundation. This gift has allowed us to purchase 12 portable telemetry monitors for our Emergency and Medical/Surgical Departments—an important upgrade in how we care for our patients. Each year, these departments treat around 12,000 patients. With the addition of portable telemetry, our team can now monitor vital signs like heart rate, rhythm, and oxygen levels in real time—even while patients are up and moving about the hospital. Unlike traditional bedside monitors, these portable units let patients walk around freely while still being safely monitored, making their stay more comfortable and secure.

“Monitoring our patients has become so much easier and more efficient,” shared Nick Starr, RN. “I feel confident knowing I can keep track of their heart rhythms even when they’re walking down the hall.” Manny Manalo, Respiratory Therapist Manager, added, “Patients love being able to move without feeling ‘tethered’ to a stationary monitor. It’s improved their comfort and confidence.”

This grant also marks the return of the Shanahan family as generous supporters—this time through their foundation. Between 1995 and 2014, longtime donors Mike and Mary Shanahan contributed over $100,000 to the hospital. “We’re incredibly grateful to be on their radar and for their continued commitment to our hospital and community,” said Kim McGuire, Foundation Executive Director.

The timing of this gift is especially meaningful, as Mountains Community Hospital and its Foundation are experiencing a period of strong momentum and growth. A recent fundraising event raised a record-breaking $478,000 to support the acquisition of critical medical equipment. The hospital is also moving forward with several key projects, including:

• A newly opened front entrance and gift shop
• An new inpatient pharmacy to meet current regulations
• Mandatory seismic compliance work, scheduled to begin in Q1 2026
• Plans to build a new emergency department and acute care wing, and skilled nursing facility expansion

For more information about the grant or the impending construction, please contact Kim McGuire, Foundation Executive Director at kimberly.mcguire@mchcares.com.