Providence Redwood Memorial Hospital to unveil new portable X-ray machine at ribbon-cutting ceremony
Fortuna, Calif. (July 15, 2025) — A new portable X-ray machine is now calling Providence Redwood Memorial Hospital home, thanks to the generous support of community donors.
The hospital will officially unveil this vital piece of diagnostic equipment during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, July 18 at Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna at 3 p.m.
This advanced, mobile imaging unit will enhance the hospital’s ability to provide immediate, bedside diagnostic care — particularly benefiting emergency room patients, critical care units and individuals with limited mobility.
The new portable X-ray brings real time imaging to providers in emergency situations through a built-in mirror. This allows them to view images directly from the machine at the patient’s bedside. Another benefit of the new portable X-ray is it uses less radiation on the patient.
“Time is the metric which determines positive outcomes,” says Jason Gildersleeve, director of Diagnostic Imaging, Providence Humboldt County. “Providers no longer need to wait for image processing — what used to take 20 minutes now only takes 30 seconds.”
This achievement was made possible through contributions from local residents who attended the 2024 Redwood Memorial Hospital Foundation Benefit Ball, Golf Scramble and generous donors.
"The Foundation's ability to provide this kind of equipment to the hospital is due to the generosity of the citizens of the Eel River Valley,” says Sarah Mora, Redwood Hospital Foundation board chair. “We are thankful for the support we receive from the community and don't take it for granted. I'd like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone wo had a part in making this purchase possible."
The new portable X-ray is more than a piece of equipment — it’s a powerful reminder of what a community can accomplish when it comes together in support of better health care.
Michael Keleman, chief executive, Providence Humboldt County expresses his gratitude, “We are deeply grateful for the generosity that made this possible. The impact of this portable X-ray machine will be felt by our patients and clinicians alike for years to come.”
Event Details:
What: Ribbon-cutting ceremony for community-funded portable X-ray machine
When: Friday, July 18 at 3 p.m.
Where: Redwood Memorial Hospital, 3300 Renner Dr., Fortuna CA, 95540
Who: Open to donors, media, hospital staff, and community members
For more information or to RSVP, please contact Shannon Garcia at 860-709-5143 or Shannon.garcia@providence.org.
About Providence in Humboldt County-
Providence is committed to meeting the highest standards in health care delivery while ministering to the needs of the whole person – body, mind and spirit. This commitment to the people of the North Coast is expressed in the Providence’s five core values –-Compassion, Dignity, Excellence, Justice and Integrity. -In Humboldt County, Providence operates St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka and Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna and offers a comprehensive network of specialty care and services including a Level III Trauma Center, Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and a Cancer Center Accredited by the Commission on Cancer. -The health care ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange began in Humboldt County during the flu epidemic of 1918. The Sisters opened the first St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka in 1920 and committed to continually improving the health and quality of life of the people served. This commitment continues today and has been further defined by the vision of Providence – Health for a Better World.-