By ERIK SOKOLOWSKI
Virtua is set to open its new, 700,000 square foot hospital in May, and gave The Voorhees Sun an exclusive sneak peak at the new facility recently.
The towering new facility was designed to heal, and has one thing common to almost all areas of the hospital, natural light.
“Studies have shown natural light helps to heal,” Virtua vice president and COO Mike Kotzen said. “We tried to improve healing with the design.”
In addition to allowing in extra light, the floor to ceiling windows in most of the spaces, offer fantastic views of wetlands, and even a view of Center City.
“We thought about the views when we purchased the land,” Kotzen said. “There are also 40 acres of wetlands that won’t ever be developed. The architects did a great job incorporating the wetlands and retention ponds to create a very soothing experience.”
Healing should not be a problem at the new hospital, which also incorporates healing gardens, walking paths and meditation spaces for patients and families.
This, of course, is no accident.
The project was developed from the ground up using feedback from staff, patients and family members as to what they wanted in a hospital.
“There was a tremendous amount of staff and community involvement in the design,” Kotzen said.
The result will truly be unique.
“We tried to have a distinct experience for our patients,” Kotzen said.
For patients, a stay at the 368-private room hospital could be comparable to a weekend at a hotel, from an amazing kitchen, to in-room flat screen TVs and Internet access.
For starters, every room in the hospital is private, and gone are the days of the standard hospital meal. Replacing that is room service.
“Patients will be able to call down 24/7 and order food,” Kotzen said. “Of course, if the patient is restricted from eating certain things, we can tell. Our kitchen now looks much more like a restaurant.”
For family members, staying with patients has become much more comfortable.
First, all patients staying at the hospital will be able to designate a care partner.
These partners will receive 24/7 access to the facility.
The patients and family will also never have to see the “guts” of the hospital either.
In addition, every room has a dedicated family space that includes a couch that folds into a bed, and the hospital has set up a separate wireless Internet service just for visitors.
As for those who will be working while at the hospital, they had a big hand in providing the data needed to make this hospital state of the art, from updated operating rooms to streamlined ways of treating patients, to better access to equipment.
Some features about the hospital:
n Three separate, but equal sections dedicated to specific services — women, children and adults, including separate facilities for children and adult emergencies. The main emergency room is also split into acute care for more serious injuries and fast track for less serious injuries.
n A 300,000 square foot ambulatory center, larger than the current Virtua Voorhees building, which will house CHO pediatricians, the Summit same-day surgical center, a cancer treatment center and more.
n A new lab to handle all in-house needs, fit with a pneumatic tube system so physicians and lab technicians can quickly send and receive tests and needed medications.
n Seven state of the art operating rooms, including video screens for laparoscopic surgery, and specially designed rooms that keep everything, except for the patient’s bed and anesthesia equipment off the ground.
n Dedicated diagnostic and imaging centers to aid in patient flow.
n Infrastructure improvements such as decentralized equipment storage. “We invested in technology to track all of the equipment,” Kotzen said. “By decentralizing, we are able to deliver the equipment on demand and make sure it is clean and working. We want the nurses at the bedside, we’ll bring them whatever they may need.”
n All parts of the new facility will connect, while also creating separation, with a separate staff and guest corridor and elevators. “Wherever possible,” Kotzen said, “we maintained separation.”
n A 42-room neonatal unit, including connecting rooms for multiples. “This was a good example of us using feedback we received,” Kotzen said. “Originally, the neonatal rooms had glass doors on them, however, parents were concerned any cries for help might go unheard, so the doors are no more.”
n A Ronald McDonald House donated room.
n Launching pads, which are a place families can simulate a home environment for children who might have burdensome equipment to bring home.
n A separate obstetrics entrance, which will also serve as the hospitals 24-hour entrance.
n Sleep rooms for families.
“We really feel this is something the community will be very proud of,” Kotzen said.
The main hospital is scheduled to open in May, while the ambulatory care center will open in the spring of 2012.
For more information visit www.virtua.org.
By ERIK SOKOLOWSKIThe Voorhees SunVirtua is set to open its new, 700,000 square foot hospital in May, and gave The Voorhees Sun an exclusive sneak peak at the new facility recently. The towering new facility was designed to heal, and has one thing common to almost all areas of the hospital, natural light.“Studies have shown natural light helps to heal,” Virtua vice president and COO Mike Kotzen said. “We tried to improve healing with the design.”In addition to allowing in extra light, the floor to ceiling windows in most of the spaces, offer fantastic views of wetlands, and even a view of Center City.“We thought about the views when we purchased the land,” Kotzen said. “There are also 40 acres of wetlands that won’t ever be developed. The architects did a great job incorporating the wetlands and retention ponds to create a very soothing experience.” Healing should not be a problem at the new hospital, which also incorporates healing gardens, walking paths and meditation spaces for patients and families. This, of course, is no accident.The project was developed from the ground up using feedback from staff, patients and family members as to what they wanted in a hospital.“There was a tremendous amount of staff and community involvement in the design,” Kotzen said.The result will truly be unique.“We tried to have a distinct experience for our patients,” Kotzen said.For patients, a stay at the 368-private room hospital could be comparable to a weekend at a hotel, from an amazing kitchen, to in-room flat screen TVs and Internet access. For starters, every room in the hospital is private, and gone are the days of the standard hospital meal. Replacing that is room service.“Patients will be able to call down 24/7 and order food,” Kotzen said. “Of course, if the patient is restricted from eating certain things, we can tell. Our kitchen now looks much more like a restaurant.”For family members, staying with patients has become much more comfortable.First, all patients staying at the hospital will be able to designate a care partner. These partners will receive 24/7 access to the facility. The patients and family will also never have to see the “guts” of the hospital either. In addition, every room has a dedicated family space that includes a couch that folds into a bed, and the hospital has set up a separate wireless Internet service just for visitors.As for those who will be working while at the hospital, they had a big hand in providing the data needed to make this hospital state of the art, from updated operating rooms to streamlined ways of treating patients, to better access to equipment.Some features about the hospital:n Three separate, but equal sections dedicated to specific services — women, children and adults, including separate facilities for children and adult emergencies. The main emergency room is also split into acute care for more serious injuries and fast track for less serious injuries. n A 300,000 square foot ambulatory center, larger than the current Virtua Voorhees building, which will house CHO pediatricians, the Summit same-day surgical center, a cancer treatment center and more.n A new lab to handle all in-house needs, fit with a pneumatic tube system so physicians and lab technicians can quickly send and receive tests and needed medications. n Seven state of the art operating rooms, including video screens for laparoscopic surgery, and specially designed rooms that keep everything, except for the patient’s bed and anesthesia equipment off the ground. n Dedicated diagnostic and imaging centers to aid in patient flow.n Infrastructure improvements such as decentralized equipment storage. “We invested in technology to track all of the equipment,” Kotzen said. “By decentralizing, we are able to deliver the equipment on demand and make sure it is clean and working. We want the nurses at the bedside, we’ll bring them whatever they may need.”n All parts of the new facility will connect, while also creating separation, with a separate staff and guest corridor and elevators. “Wherever possible,” Kotzen said, “we maintained separation.”n A 42-room neonatal unit, including connecting rooms for multiples. “This was a good example of us using feedback we received,” Kotzen said. “Originally, the neonatal rooms had glass doors on them, however, parents were concerned any cries for help might go unheard, so the doors are no more.”n A Ronald McDonald House donated room.n Launching pads, which are a place families can simulate a home environment for children who might have burdensome equipment to bring home.n A separate obstetrics entrance, which will also serve as the hospitals 24-hour entrance.n Sleep rooms for families.“We really feel this is something the community will be very proud of,” Kotzen said.The main hospital is scheduled to open in May, while the ambulatory care center will open in the spring of 2012.For more information visit www.virtua.org.
