Ashland Community Hospital is holding an open house event to introduce the new ACH Health Resource Center Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. in the Diagnostic and Surgery Center on the corner of Maple and Chestnut streets.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, followed by short speeches, refreshments and an introduction to the ACH Health Resource Center.

The new ACH Health Resource Center is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays beginning Monday. Located in the corner of the Diagnostic and Surgery Center lobby, the ACH Health Resource Center is convenient for patients and family members waiting for a test, procedure or surgery, and it is easily accessible to the community.

A variety of educational materials are available. Health reference books, reliable medical Web site information, current books on medical and health related topics, current periodicals and brochures about local services are offered. Trained volunteers offer personal assistance and guidance to locate information through specialized health related data bases and Health Resource Center.

The speakers at the Saturday open house include The Rev. Harvey Ray, Hospital Board of Directors, Mark Marchetti, hospital CEO, Steven Hersch, MD, Internal Medicine Physician and Founder of Meducation, PC and Lloyd Knapp, Planetree Team Leader.

The ACH Health Resource Center is one of the many essential elements needed in creating a patient-centered Planetree hospital. In 2006 Ashland Community Hospital affiliated with Planetree. The Planetree Organization helps hospitals provide patient-centered programs and care focused on healing and nurturing body, mind and spirit.

Planetree philosophy integrates human caring with cientific medicine and complementary healing traditions. Nutritious food, spiritual support, and massage, patient education and encouragement of support from family and friends, are all essential elements toward improving the patient's hospital experience. The new ACH Health Resource Center is one of the many services needed to achieve the goal of providing patient-centered care, by supporting patients' increasing hunger for information about their health and medical care, according to hospital officials.