The landscape of emergency care in Los Angeles is shifting as population growth and other pressures dramatically expand the volume of patient visits to hospital emergency rooms. Thanks to visionary donor support, Cedars-Sinai is meeting the rising tide of need. This year, contributors from across the community came together to enhance our Emergency Department—one of the busiest in the nation—investing in critical infrastructure to serve a burgeoning population of adults and children citywide.

With a $20 million gift to name the Barry and Rena Plost Senior Emergency Center, philanthropists Barry and Rena Plost are equipping Cedars-Sinai as a vital resource for older adults—a particularly vulnerable group whose dependence on emergency services has skyrocketed.

“Rena and I thought we could do something to ensure quality care is available to the increasing number of people over age 65 requiring ER care,” Barry Plost said. “There are an awful lot of older individuals who could use support, and we feel fortunate to be in a position where we’re able to offer it.”

Support from dedicated contributors is a lifeline for Angelenos of all ages. An enduring partnership with Walter and Shirley Wang established a new 14-bed unit in the Emergency Department that will provide care to patients confronting potentially serious—but not acutely life-threatening—trauma or illnesses. The Walter and Shirley Wang Treatment Area East, funded by a substantial gift, will feature private rooms with specialized equipment to help patients experiencing medical emergencies such as infectious illnesses, gynecological concerns, and trauma involving the eyes, ears, nose, and throat.

“Strengthening public health is vital to securing a productive future for individuals and families around the world,” Walter Wang said. “We are thrilled to ally ourselves with Cedars-Sinai in its mission to advance medicine and healthcare locally and globally.”