About Us
History
A legacy of care on the Coast
For decades, the communities of San Luis Obispo County have relied on two healthcare facilities — Adventist Health Sierra Vista and Adventist Health Twin Cities — to provide compassionate, high-quality care.
A community coming together for all
Our shared history is one of innovation, dedication, and commitment to meeting the region's evolving needs.
Adventist Health Sierra Vista: Excellence since 1959
On Dec. 7, 1959, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center opened its doors after 21 local physicians joined to create a hospital for their community. It was a 53-bed facility that cost just $500,000. From day one, Sierra Vista distinguished itself as a leader in advanced care and continually introduced groundbreaking services to the region.
Here is a timeline of the advancements through the decades:
- 1970: The county’s first intensive care unit/critical care unit (ICU/CCU).
- 1986: The first neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), ensuring that critically ill newborns could receive expert care without leaving the county.
- 2010: Adoption of da Vinci robotic surgery for minimally invasive procedures.
- 2012: Establishment of the county’s first designated Trauma Center.
- 2023: Introduction of VIZ.ai artificial intelligence for stroke diagnosis, deployed simultaneously at both Adventist Health Sierra Vista and Adventist Health Twin Cities.
Today, Adventist Health Sierra Vista is a 162-bed tertiary referral center and home to the county’s only NICU, Trauma Center and dedicated pediatric unit. In affiliation with UC San Francisco Health, Adventist Health Sierra Vista offers neurosurgery services that are unmatched in the area, supported by nearly 800 employees who embody a spirit of excellence.
Adventist Health Twin Cities: Serving local families since 1977
Twin Cities Community Hospital opened its doors in Templeton on February 7, 1977, replacing two aging hospitals in Atascadero and Paso Robles, thus being named, “Twin Cities.” It provided a newfound peace of mind, as well as quality care with a state-of-the-art, 84-bed acute care hospital. Twin Cities attracted skilled specialists and introduced advanced equipment that had not been made available at healthcare facilities in the region.
In 2007, the hospital celebrated 30 years of care by constructing a new hospital tower, allowing extended capacity and services. Since then, Adventist Health Twin Cities has become a leader in advanced maternity, orthopedic, and stroke care. It has also been the first in the county to introduce these services:
- SCOUT system for breast cancer treatment.
- Hospital-based chronic Would Care Clinic .
- Evis X1 endoscopy system for gastrointestinal procedures.
- EmPATH Unit for emergency psychiatric care, set to open in 2025.
Adventist Health Twin Cities’ emergency department remains the busiest in the county, and its central courtyard honors Dr. Tom Hale, a pioneer in emergency medicine who helped establish the area’s first trauma system.
Two hospitals, one mission
Adventist Health Sierra Vista and Adventist Health Twin Cities joined Adventist Health in 2024, serving San Luis Obispo County with an integrated network of care. While each hospital operates independently to meet the unique needs of its local community, they are united by Adventist Health’s mission of living God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope. This shared purpose drives both hospitals to collaborate as one system, ensuring seamless access to advanced care, specialized treatments and comprehensive health services.
