Harrison Memorial Hospital is refocusing its identity, changing its name to Harrison Medical Center in an effort to reflect the facility’s transition from a community hospital into a first-rate regional health provider.

In a statement, Hospital President and CEO Scott Bosch said “Harrison Medical Center best describes what we are becoming. People also feel the term ‘medical center’ implies a technologically advanced facility that reaches a larger geographic base and offers a wider variety of services than a community hospital does.”

Spokeswoman Patti Hart said the hospital will soon decide whether to “revise our corporate identity” and create a new logo, or just change the lettering on the logo that now exists.

Also in development is a strategic communication plan, in order to enhance the public perception of hospital.

This will include an effort on Bainbridge Island, where residents gravitate toward the large Seattle hospitals for care.

“People on Bainbridge don’t know a lot about us,” she said. “It’s not that they don’t like us. We need to do a better job marketing to that area and telling our story.”

Hart said the hospital intends to strengthen its services in four basic areas: Cardiac, orthopedic, mother/baby and oncology.

Harrison Hospital was founded in 1942 and now has branches in Bremerton, Silverdale and Port Orchard.

A not-for-profit hospital, it employs a staff of 250.

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