"General Hospital," the innovative, award-winning drama series, celebrates 44 years of broadcasting on April 1, 2007. "General Hospital" is the longest-running dramatic serial on the ABC Television Network - having aired its 11,000th episode in 2006 - and is the longest-running daytime drama produced on the West Coast.

In April 2006, "General Hospital" made D
aytime Emmy® history - for the second year in a row - as the only daytime drama to ever receive the prestigious Emmy® Award for Best Drama a record nine times. The show also received four other Emmy® Awards during the 2006 ceremony.

The "General Hospital" tradition of passion, intrigue and adventure takes place in the fictional town of Port Charles, set in upstate New York. The glamour and excitement of those who have come to find their destinies in this familiar seaport town intertwine with the lives, loves and fortunes of beloved, well-known faces. And, as always, love and danger continue to abound on "General Hospital" with contemporary storylines and unforgettable characters.

In the past several years, "General Hospital" has worked alongside and praised by national organizations for elevating the public awareness of several important health and social issues. Most recently, as part of a summer 2006 storyline, actor Maurice Benard appeared in a Public Service Announcement on the very important issue of bipolar disorder. Produced with the assistance from the nationally-recognized Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the actor - who suffers from the disease in real life - urged viewers to get professional medical help for themselves or someone they knew with the disorder. Also in 2006, as part of the Lucas "coming out" storyline, the drama produced a Public Service Announcement with GLAAD to promote tolerance and understanding for gay, lesbian and transgender people. For the work, the show is currently nominated for a GLAAD Award. In 2004, the show won a PRISM award - given for accurate portrayals of tobacco, drug and alcohol addiction in the media - for the storyline of Courtney's addiction to pain killers. It has received three SHINE awards (formerly the Nancy Susan Reynolds Award) for its continued contribution to the awareness of sexual responsibility. The Ryan White Foundation presented its 1996 Ryan's Angels Award to "General Hospital" for the moving and thorough examination of HIV/AIDS through the characters of Robin and Stone. The show was further honored by the American Red Cross for its HIV/AIDS-related storylines. In addition, the program received the Susan G. Komen Foundation Media Award in 1995 for the story of Monica's experience with breast cancer. Several other prestigious awards have been bestowed on "General Hospital" for confronting sexual child abuse, organ donation and other social issues as well.

In the 40th Anniversary special edition of TV Guide, "General Hospital" was hailed as the "All-Time Best Daytime Soap." Also, the long-running series received the "Favorite Daytime Serial" award on the nationally broadcast Soap Opera Digest Awards for four consecutive years. The late Anna Lee (Lila Quartermaine) and the late John Beradino (Dr. Steve Hardy) received stars on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame for their work on the show. "General Hospital" has also won many awards from the Directors Guild and the Writers Guild for Outstanding Achievement.

"General Hospital" was created by Frank and Doris Hursley. Jill Farren Phelps is the executive producer. Mary O'Leary, Mercer Barrows and Michelle Henry are producers. "General Hospital" airs Monday-Friday (3:00-4:00 p.m., ET/2:00-3:00 p.m., PT).