RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (Diya TV) — Eisenhower Health dedicated its emergency department to the Chandi family on Nov. 6, honoring Nachhattar and Susana Chandi for a major gift to the Coachella Valley health system. The ceremony recognized the family’s support for a department that treats more than 50,000 patients a year.
More than 200 people attended the event at Eisenhower’s main campus in Rancho Mirage, including hospital leaders, board members, donors and local officials. India’s Consul General in Los Angeles, Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, attended as guest of honor. The Indian Consulate described the family’s contribution as an example of Indian American philanthropy and its connection to India-U.S. ties.
The hospital now calls the facility the Chandi Emergency Department. Eisenhower did not announce a new department or specify whether the gift will fund construction, equipment, staffing or another purpose. A diaspora publication reported that the family gave $10 million; Eisenhower’s public materials describe the contribution as a major gift but do not state its amount or spending plan.
The department operates around the clock and has 25 beds. Eisenhower says it averages more than 50,000 visits annually. Its teams include emergency physicians, nurses, pharmacists, technicians, social workers, imaging staff and other specialists. The department also serves as a Level II base station, coordinating with emergency medical services in the field.
Eisenhower’s emergency department holds a Level IV trauma designation through Riverside County’s EMS agency. That level recognizes its ability to evaluate, stabilize and resuscitate patients with traumatic injuries. The department also has bronze-level geriatric emergency accreditation from the American College of Emergency Physicians, reflecting its focus on older patients’ needs.
The dedication honors a local family with business and philanthropic ties across the valley. Nachhattar Chandi’s Chandi Group operates gas stations, convenience stores and restaurants in the region. At the ceremony, his daughter Angelie Chandi said the family felt proud to see the names of both parents on the department. “It is a testament of our family,” she said.
The naming comes as Eisenhower continues to serve a region spread across desert communities, from Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage to Indio and La Quinta. The nonprofit health system opened its medical center in 1971 and now runs a 437-bed hospital and outpatient clinics throughout the Coachella Valley.
The Chandi gift adds to the private support that helps Eisenhower maintain and expand services. The hospital says it receives no state or federal funding as a nonprofit, making donations one source of support for its facilities and programs. The public has not yet received details about how this particular gift will affect emergency care capacity or services.
