Campus Expansion: The Next Generation of Care Taking Shape
Throughout its more than 100 year history, Methodist Hospital has continued to grow and evolve with the changing needs of our community. A new campus expansion project is a reflection of that ongoing commitment to change with the times in order to serve our patients well into the 21st century. By planning and implementing improvements today, we'll be prepared to make tomorrow's reality better for us all.
WHAT WE'RE DOING
Plans for the project include a nearly 155,000-square-foot, five-story patient tower that will house an expanded state-of-the-art emergency department, three floors of patient rooms, a new dietary facility and dining room, and a new central pharmacy.
When completed, it will transform the physical appearance of the hospital and will position the organization for increased access to services with state-of-the-art facilities and technology. The campus project includes:
Expansion of our Emergency Department
At Methodist Hospital, we're facing the reality that an increasing number of people in our community will need our services in the coming years. We're already coping with the reality that other emergency service providers in our area have closed, increasing demands on our hospital's emergency department (ED).
And we're preparing for the possibility that a major catastrophe, either natural or man-made, could strike at anytime, affecting hundreds of thousands or more, and stretching our resources beyond the limit.
During the next decade, Methodist Hospital will transform the hospital campus, adding capacity as well as meeting all mandated seismic requirements, and positioning the hospital to serve the anticipated number of people in areas of greatest community health care needs.
- The ED will expand from the current 17 beds to 28 beds, plus an additional 18-bed observation unit.
- Improvements to ED technology and information infrastructure. New systems will speed up patient registration and admitting processes, as well as provide real-time tracking of patient status, progress, location and clinical information by physicians and specialists. Some of these systems are already in place and will be enhanced, ultimately becoming part of the expanded emergency department and the rest of the hospital.
Parking Structure
Walk around the Methodist Hospital campus and you'll already see some changes. We're building, growing and replacing old structures. One major change is our new four level parking structure, which opened July 2007. The structure provides an elevator and 348 spaces for Methodist Hospital staff and physicians, which frees up spaces in the main lot of the hospital to better accommodate visitors.
WHY WE'RE DOING IT
The Next Generation of Care underscores the hospital's strategic focus...a focus with an emphasis on people and providing the best possible care to our communities-a plan that will carry us forward into our next 100 years.
Responding to a need
The campus plan takes into consideration the multitude of issues facing our community's health care needs-most notably by providing for added medical, surgical and emergency services. During the past several years, two acute care hospitals in the San Gabriel Valley have closed. The result is the elimination of vital emergency and patient care services, which puts pressure on not-for-profit hospitals dedicated to staying open and serving the community.
At the same time, our local community is aging, especially as the Baby Boomer generation moves toward retirement. The growing number of seniors in our community will dictate the need for added capacity in specific patient services, as well as medically advanced care.
Making our buildings safer
In addition, the state of California has adopted legislation that calls for the replacement or retrofitting of inpatient hospital buildings that are unable to meet stringent new seismic safety standards. Hospitals are required to be compliant by the year 2013. Methodist Hospital's existing Berger Tower, which is where the majority of our patient care beds are currently, was one of the first seismically compliant structures built in the state. However, many of our older buildings need to be strengthened or replaced.
Continuing a tradition of whole person care
The campus plan also calls for the investment of new technologically advanced equipment so that our skilled doctors and staff have the best tools to deliver the latest diagnostic and treatment services to the community. In addition to this technologically advanced care, Methodist Hospital believes that providing exceptional care is only possible by treating the whole person-mind, body and spirit. Creating this healing environment also requires addressing the sensory needs of our patients and their families. For this reason the campus plan engages the use of natural light, outdoor areas for family, staff and patients, and the enhancement of family support areas.
For more than 100 years Methodist Hospital has been providing exceptional care to our communities...and, we will be here for the next 100 years. By building for the future and committing to meet the health care needs of our communities, Methodist Hospital will fulfill The Next Generation of Care.