Mountain View, CA - October 2, 2009 - El Camino Hospital, the hospital of Silicon Valley, will celebrate the completion of the new $470 million technologically and seismically advanced acute care hospital building on Saturday, October 3, 2009 with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by an open house for the Silicon Valley community. Patient admission to the five-story facility is planned for November 15, 2009.
"El Camino Hospital made a promise seven years ago to create the community health care destination of Silicon Valley. We are pleased today we can demonstrate how we have kept that promise while providing a state-of-the-art hospital that will enhance the quality of patient care in the community," said Ken Graham, CEO, El Camino Hospital. "We focused on quality, safety, innovation and the patient experience when designing the facility. Our activation teams worked around the clock to complete it on time and within budget."
El Camino Hospital employees, medical staff, volunteers and community leaders will gather in front of the new facility at 10 a.m. on October 3, 2009 for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event. Remarks will be made by Ken King, vice president of facilities, El Camino Hospital; Wes Alles, El Camino Hospital board chairperson; Michael Podlone, M.D.; Ken Graham, chief executive officer, El Camino Hospital; and Senator Elaine Kontominas Alquist (D-San Jose).
The Community Open House will take place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on October. 3, 2009 and will include:
- Behind-the-scenes, self-guided tours of the new 'smart' hospital
- Hourly health lectures from physicians and experts
- More than 15 information booths with healthy tips, mini-screenings, interactive exhibits and opportunities to meet staff and doctors
- Entertainment and snacks
- Healthy cooking demonstrations
According to King, who led the construction project since the groundbreaking in June 2006, the activation team has worked closely with nurses, surgeons and physicians on the design of the new facility and throughout the construction process.
"The new hospital makes the most of safety, quality and innovation initiatives such as distinct work and patient areas which maximize sanitation and cleanliness, patient rooms complete with real-time medical record bedside computers, and overall room design and equipment placement that medical staff has advised on over the past several years," said King.
Key features of the new hospital are:
- Advanced seismic safety design: The 450,000 square foot, five story hospital is among the few in the state that is built from the ground up to meet SB 1953, the state's seismic-safety standard for hospitals. Inside the hospital walls are express elevators with special alarms, alerts and safety features that protect patients and staff during a quake.
- 'Smart' hospital information management innovations:
- Biometric palm scanning patient registration
- Computer physician order entry (CPOE) built from El Camino Hospital's existing program launched originally in 1971 as the first hospital CPOE system internationally
- Medical grade bedside computers with 'real-time' medical record processing
- Advanced electronic patient beds with built-in translators for 22 languages
- Electronic ceiling lifts that help staff move patients more safely and easily
- Robots that contribute to a cleaner environment by moving independently throughout the hospital carrying medical supplies and patient meals
- Telepresence capabilities to link El Camino Hospital medical staff with colleagues across locations as well as peers at other organizations for secure discussion of patient treatment options and diagnoses
- Wall-to-wall wireless technology
The latest generation medical technologies, including:
- A cardiac cath lab with biplane angiography which can look at the heart from two different viewpoints, leading to increased accuracy and improved safety
- High performance digital imaging systems in the radiology department that provide faster, more accurate results for patient exams
- Designated robotic surgery rooms that include the most up-to-date robotic surgery devices for minimally invasive procedures
- Point of care lab testing which means reduced waiting for test results
The hospital has been designed to create an enhanced wellness environment for patients and families through features such as:
- Natural light throughout the hospital; private, quiet patient rooms, large enough for family members to stay overnight on convertible sleeper chairs
- Family friendly lounges on every patient floor that offer a relaxing space for guests to enjoy coffee or tea, read, watch TV or check email at the computer stations
- In-room Internet service, including patient access to interactive education modules and their records
- Guest services program for any personal requests such as pet care coordination and personal patient liaisons
- Personalized food selections through electronic order entry and help from a host
- Healthy food options, integrating local produce
- A labyrinth and bamboo garden for peaceful walks as well as a meditation room for quiet reflection
- Wayfinding kiosks and design features that make it easy to locate a specific department
