On Tuesday, parish officials, administrators and staff of the Riverside Medical Center in Franklinton gathered to celebrate the community hospital’s 50th anniversary.

The hospital first opened its doors April 3, 1966 with 42 employees and a medical staff of four.

“This day opened a new era of healthcare for Franklinton residents,” said Lesia McQueen, the interim CEO of the hospital. She added that, a half-century later, the hospital employs 250 people and has a medical staff of 31.

In addition to the increased staff, McQueen said the hospital now has more beds and provides many more services, including a women’s health center and a cardiology unit.

As part of the celebration, Kristina Knight, the Riverside community outreach director, unveiled the hospital’s new sign and logo. The hospital’s old logo featured a highly stylized cursive R. The new logo features a printed letter R.

Knight said the new, cleaner typeface reflects “a more streamlined approach” in healthcare overall.