When Charles Vanmarter, 77, went home Friday, Aug. 14 after two stays at Banner Estrella Medical Center during the past three weeks, he became the 900th COVID-19 patient discharged from the medical center.

Banner Estrella, 9201 W. Thomas Road in Phoenix, serves the Southwest Valley.

Mr. Vanmarter originally spent 10 days in the hospital with COVID-like symptoms and returned home for a week before being admitted for additional medical care, according to a press release.

“Be careful around you and take your safeguards, although I did,” Mr. Vanmarter said in a prepared statement. “Even with those, I am living evidence there is a chance you’ll contract it. You don’t want it.”

According to the newly launched dashboard from Maricopa County Department of Public Health, the Southwest Valley has some of the highest concentrations of confirmed coronavirus cases in the region.

The pandemic patient influx prompted Banner Estrella leaders to reconfigure its rooms to handle additional equipment and health care workers to tend to patient needs, bring in special infection prevention equipment to minimize the spread of the coronavirus, and upskill staff so they could be better trained to handle the needs of patients with COVID-19.

“Being able to care for over 900 inpatients, and over 1,500 patients in the emergency room, is a sign that our community trusts the entire team at Banner Estrella Medical Center,” said Courtney Ophaug, Banner Estrella chief executive officer. “The 1,700 team members and 1,100 members of the medical staff are steadfast in their commitment to delivering their best care, even during this pandemic.”

Banner Health encourages the community to remain vigilant in its effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus by keeping a distance from others, washing hands frequently and wearing a face mask when around others. Throughout the pandemic, the team at Banner Estrella has made every effort to treat both patients with and without COVID-19 while ensuring the facility remains a safe place for care, according to the release.